Valley Forge

A Novel

By: Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: William Dufris, Callista Gingrich

Length: 18 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In To Try Men's Souls, Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen cast a new light on the year 1776 and the man who would become the father of our nation, George Washington.

Valley Forge picks up the narrative a year after Washington’s triumphant surprise attack on Trenton, and much has changed since then. It’s the winter of 1777, and Washington’s battered, demoralized army retreats from Philadelphia. Arriving at Valley Forge, they discover that their repeated requests for a stockpile of food, winter clothing, and building tools have been ignored by Congress.

With no other options available, the men settle down for a season of agony. For weeks, the dwindling army lives under tents in the bitter cold. Food runs out. The men are on the point of collapse, while in Philadelphia the British, joined by Allen van Dorn, the Loyalist brother of the dead patriot, Jonathan van Dorn, live in luxury.

In spite of the suffering and deceit, Washington endures all, joined at last by a volunteer from Germany, Baron von Steuben. Von Steuben begins the hard task of recasting the army as a professional fighting force capable of facing the British head-on - something it has never accomplished before - and in the process he will change the course of history.

Valley Forge is a tour-de-force about endurance, survival, transformation, and rebirth. Washington and his Continental Army, against all odds, will be forged into a fighting force that will win a revolution.

©2010 Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Wonderful book about the dark days Valley Forge

I thought I knew some history of the American Revolution. After listening to this great book I was interested from the first word to the last. The characters are very believable. Thank you for the great book. I am looking forward for more from this team of writers.

newts wife isn't the best voice for story telling

I think everything about it was great, the best, with the exception of newts wife no offence, I'm sure she is a great lady, but she just doesn't have a story tellers voice.

Good

I like the style. An interesting story of history that shows what the country really was founded on.

I couldn't stop listening

Not only was I given a stirring accounting of the history of my nation, it gave me personal stories that were woven in. I found myself sitting in my garage after driving home from work so I could listen longer.

The bravery, suffering and endurance made me teary. I'll be recommending this book to my friends and family

Good history book, horrible readers

I have enjoyed all of Gingrich's and Forstchen's history novels very much but Gingrich's daughter is a horrible reader and can only barely be tolerated. Durfris is not very good but becomes more acceptable as you progress through the novels. Callista is horrible and never changes regardless of which character she reads.

Our Liberty came with Great Sacrifice

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; I cried, laughed and was impressed by the depiction of the sacrifice & endurance needed to give us the Republic we now take for granted.

WOW!

There were so many moments where this book almost brought me to tears. It is such a compelling story of the sacrifices that so many Americans made so that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we have today. It talks about the contributions made by so many different Americans that it warms the heart.

In these trying times it helps put into perspective that the challenges we face today are not nearly what our fore fathers faced.

Great book!

I really enjoyed this and highly recommend! It is a great story and historical presentation.

The Forging of America

Gingrich and Forstchen have produced a magnificent account of the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. It is not only the story of 12,000 men who entered Valley Forge demoralized, untrained, unsupplied but under the leadership of Washington and the shear force of will and skill of Generals Wayne, Lafaayette and Von Steuben that they marched out of Valley Forge aa a true army finally equipped with enough training, supplies and pride to take on the British.

Although generally familiar with the Valley Forge story, I was left with a sense of pride, awe and inspiration of what Washington and his men were able to accomplish. Gingrich and Forstchen have a way of making you feel like you are actually there - feeling the cold, snow and hunger. You can imagine the suffering even the healthy men endured let alone those who were injured or stricken with diseases.

Besides Washington, the other key characters are Lafayette, Baron Von Steuben and a ficitonal character Allen Van Dorn. Washington provided the leadership, Lafayette the heart and Von Steuben the knowledge for colonists to march out of Valley Forge as real army with a real chance to stand toe to toe with the British for the first time. Van Dorn is a colonist who joined the British army. Through his eyes, you can experience the decisions that the colonists had to make on who to support.

If you like history and historical novels you will love this book.

My Eyes Have Been Opened

The story is compelling. It shows how depth of character meant so much when our Country was forming. It means just as much now, and the past twenty four years has demonstrated what the lack of character does to a nation. I'm not only talking about government, but our classrooms, and the choices our citizens make on a daily basis.