1777

The Year of the Hangman

By: John S. Pancake

Narrated by: Robert Thaler

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

"A revisionist view of the Revolution's most crucial year...it explodes many of the myths surrounding Burgoyne's Canadian expedition and Howe's Pennsylvania campaign. There is a wealth of fascinating detail in this book, including information on arms and supplies, rations for women camp followers, and even the numbers of carts (30-odd) carrying Burgoyne's luggage." (History Book Club Newsletter)

©1997 The University of Alabama Press (P)2016 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"A revisionist view of the Revolution's most crucial year... it explodes many of the myths surrounding Burgoyne's Canadian expedition and Howe's Pennsylvania campaign. There is a wealth of fascinating detail in this book." (History Book Club Newsletter)

"Smooth and easy reading, enlivened by anecdotes (with which the author has a sure touch) and based on extensive research." ( Journal of American History)

"A timely addition to the literature of the War of Independence, useful both to scholars and to general readers." ( American Historical Review)

Very Good

Would you consider the audio edition of 1777 to be better than the print version?

Maybe. Its well read and dramatic. Maybe it makes it easier to understand. The audio is required along with the book for our class in American History over the summer here in college.
I guess the author has written a classic according to our history Prof. John S. Pancake is quoted often by other students of the American Revolution and I sure was impressed

What did you like best about this story?

Well battle strategy in the book is pretty cool. Quite a bit of detail on the armies, how they fought, why they fought,etc. who was making up the armies on either side, who the generals were, why the countries went to war

Have you listened to any of Robert Thaler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't. I don't listen to audiobooks often. This one was required listening for the course. The guy's voice was special and he seemed like he was right in the thick of it. Like he was a general or something.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

don't know what you mean by tag line actually. This thing was 13 hours long and I can't really sum it up in 3 or 4 words

Any additional comments?

Very professional writing. Very professional sounding. Lots of stuff I did not know before about George Washington. There are chapters I might leave out early in the book but then it really gets moving and is quite exciting actually. You keep thinking the Americans are going to lose the war because they lose so many of the battles.

Liked it

Would you consider the audio edition of 1777 to be better than the print version?

Yes.
Print version is dry. Narrator sells it with his voice.

What other book might you compare 1777 to and why?

I read quite a bit of battle history. The format and style are similar to Bruce Catton. The writer does not have the flair of Shelby Foote but the book does work and that would be asking too much

Which scene was your favorite?

Freeman's Farm and the Hessians holding the center of the Brit line there.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The flanking and collapse of Putnam's wing under Washington at Long Island I think it was. SHould never have happened. Poorly generaled. Poorly scounted. They screwed the pooch on that one Actually scared me, it was very close to the end early in the War at that point.

Any additional comments?

I'm pretty critical when it comes to history and battles. So many of them are not accurate or are exaggerated to sell the damn book. Not the case here. Pretty sobering account of the first years of this great conflagration. I'm glad they found a guy with a strong delivery to read it, maybe he served in the military or something.

A Concise History

Would you listen to 1777 again? Why?

Yes. I am an assistant Professor of History at a small college here in the South and am asking my students to both listen to the audio and purchase the book. It is a critical analysis of a very specific time in the American Revolution and handles the material deftly and with dramatic flair. and originality.

What did you like best about this story?

I am using the book in class to discuss similarities and parallels between military politics of that time and today. Certainly the British General Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne was not unlike several contemporary and recent principals in American leadership and strategic capacities. How and why does this theme repeat itself thru history?

Which character – as performed by Robert Thaler – was your favorite?

One gets quite a feeling for the weight,character and sensitivity of George Washington from the narrator's readings of his letters and reflections at different moments in the book. Washington's despair after Long Island, his craft in tracking the enemy along the Brandywine, his befuddlement at Germantown, and his restrained nature in dealing with plotters, schemers and the incompetence demonstrated by Gates,Conway and Putnam.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was quite surprised by the balance and depth the book demonstrates. It is both approachable and entertaining besides being instructional. It is of course too academic in the early going as many history texts tend to be. The first few chapters move slowly in an attempt to provide a foundation for all the drama and chaos which is to follow. Mostly the writer succeeds and my hat is off to him, that is why I wanted to review it.

Any additional comments?

I intend to read now this same autho'rs work on the Southern campaigns of the Revolution. The reader by the way feels highly competent and gives good weight and depth to the material. I would fault some of the writing early on in the book. I don't think so much needed to be written in the early chapters about the British Minister Lord George Germaine. It was a bit academic and pedantic and a tad too labyrinthine.

ENJOYED IT

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

my girlfriends told me about this. we are in a Soap fan club . Its super cool to hear Robert's voice again.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

no a clue

What about Robert Thaler’s performance did you like?

all of it. We loved Robert on "Santa Barbara" . that was a while ago. He has a sexy voice.We are going to tell Robin Wright about this, she and Robbie were lovers on that show.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

George Washington was a hero. Wow.

he crossed the river in the middle of the night.

Any additional comments?

the audiobook was educational but hard for me to understand sometimes

. I was so happy to listen to Robert Thaler, he was a star back then. Does he read romance stuff too?

Special

What made the experience of listening to 1777 the most enjoyable?

I was a big soap opera fan of Mr Thaler's years back. Its why I bought the audio. He was my favorite soap star all time. A great actor.

What other book might you compare 1777 to and why?

I don't really read much history so can't compare. I like fiction mostly

Which character – as performed by Robert Thaler – was your favorite?

I actually liked the character of the narrator he played.Its nothing like who he is. In the audio he is different from the kid he played on the Soap because here he is sophisticated and sharp, Neat how actors can do that. George Washington in the audio was great, so was the funny English dude who was the General.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I listened in the gym working out. This is the first audio book I have listened tto

Any additional comments?

You should hire more t.v. stars to do this stuff, they would love it and your audience would too.

some objections

Would you listen to 1777 again? Why?

yes but avoid chapter 2, its a boring chapter. Chap 1 is alright but this book doesn't get hot until Chap 3 or therebouts

Who was your favorite character and why?

George Wash. I mean come on, the guy was a hero

What does Robert Thaler bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I knocked him down a star because he read chapter 2 way too formally. I hated that chapter and I hate when history books are written in that style. The rest of the book cooks though and the narrator guy gets good after chapter 2, glad I kept listening I guess

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no. It would make a good graduate book in a college somewhere, guys who dig battle scenes would like it and lots of queer details too

Any additional comments?

you have to adjust to the style like you have to in most history books. I prefer romance and horror stuff

Heavyweight history

What did you love best about 1777?

detail of the field campaigns. Kips Bay,Trenton,Princeton,BrandyWine,Germanville etc., all were accounted for in great detail. I found the stories about Benedict Arnold particularly moving as he has been given a short end of the stick by historians otherwise. Washington's failures as a tactician were made evident thru out, the fact that he was unfamiliar with the ground he was fighting on at Long Island and at the Brandywine was surprising. There was no hesitation in discussing the limitations and weaknesses of both armies.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Burgoyne. He was a colorful,conflicted loser, a gambler, impulsive and arrogant in these accounts. But determined. How could you not like a character who scolds his own officers for traveling with too much baggage when his own personal cart was 40 odd trunks of fluff and luxury. Or a guy who loses big but still bluffs his hand to the very end at Saratoga.

Have you listened to any of Robert Thaler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

never heard him before but I hope I do again. An original. If he reads the phone book I might show for the performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

i did feel sad for the pathetic state of the British after Freeman's Farm. Their fall from grace was spectacular. I found the stories about the Indian mercenaries to be delightfully politically incorrect. These were not the 'noble savages' we are accustomed to hearing about now but I won't say more as I don't want my facebook account spammed.

Any additional comments?

My girlfriend requested that Mr Thaler please read the phone book for her next Valentine's Day.

I think this book was worth the money, sometimes the author repeats himself, at times his points are academic and unnecessary but the man did a ton of research, has documented an original piece that is compelling and the coverage was very thorough. In one or several of the reviews I had read on Amazon people said this could be a primer for a University or graduate level course on the American Revolution and I would agree, Its a kind of classic reference imo.

5 Star surprise

If you could sum up 1777 in three words, what would they be?

Moving,scholarly,exciting

Who was your favorite character and why?

Benedick Arnold. He was the best fighter under Washington, bold and dynamic and as portrayed in the book his clash with Horatio Gates was especially funny and sad at same time

What does Robert Thaler bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

this man was sensational. Haven't heard a narration with as much depth,power and clarity in a long time. He moves the piece. Stays a distance but has a powerful sense of rhythm and keeps everything together. and what a voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Power,glory and Sacrifice

Any additional comments?

I felt like the book was equivalent to a graduate school course in the history of the Revolution. I thought the author a bit redundant at times. His need to illustrate arcane points was a tad much and fortunately did not get in the way of the story. His explanation in detail of the battle campaigns was superb, his thorough telling of the Colonies political relationships with England was on the money, he got down well with the personalities and conflicts.

One of best ever on the revolution

Would you listen to 1777 again? Why?

The book is packed with detail,description. There is so much new stuff and the author illuminates with so many stories you just don't digest all of it in a single pass.

What other book might you compare 1777 to and why?

Writing is thorough, but he doesn't travel into too much speculation like so many historians, he tells it straight whatever side he is talking about, not British or the Americans get a free pass.

Have you listened to any of Robert Thaler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. He was too smooth for me. Professional no doubt but I like my history flat and I like it monotonous like David McCullough. That way you figure out for yourself what is happening.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How the War was won

Any additional comments?

Pancake is second to none because he gives weight to all angles of this war, its background,causes,Generals,fights and all of it, at times the quotes and footnoting feel a tad academic and when you listen you do not have the benefit of maps but the writing is dead on

a fine historical account

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes of course. actually i heard about it from someone else. This is a very driven and clear account of a critical period and I love history.

What did you like best about this story?

the contrast between George Washington and most of the British General staff.

Which character – as performed by Robert Thaler – was your favorite?

I loved the illustration of Benedick Arnold and his feud with Horatio Gates. Arnold,Gates,Washington,Franklin on the American side and Howe,Burgoyne, the King and Henry Clinton were all distinct and the accounts fascinating. Some of the Hessian officiers too and the Frenchman Lafayette.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

the author does not hesitate to expose the flaws and weaknesses in most of the characters which makes the book quite funny at times.

Any additional comments?

its a fine text on the American Revolution, a fine reference for anyone studying the period, the why's and how's of the campaigns and the intrigue in London,Paris and Philadelphia. A few of the chapters have a kind of formal style I think reflecting the period, people spoke differently back then, but the reader keeps it moving dynamically and once into the book you just go with it and feel like a close observer. ,