The First Salute Audiobook By Barbara W. Tuchman cover art

The First Salute

A View of the American Revolution

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The First Salute

By: Barbara W. Tuchman
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and best-selling author Barbara W. Tuchman analyzes the American Revolution in a brilliantly original way, placing the war in the historical context of the centuries-long conflicts between England and both France and Holland.

This compellingly written history presents a fresh, new view of the events that led from the first foreign salute to American nationhood in 1776 to the last campaign of the Revolution five years later. It paints a magnificent portrait of General George Washington and recounts in riveting detail the events responsible for the birth of our nation.

©1988 Barbara W. Tuchman (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Revolution & Founding United States British Empire Colonial Period War Military Americas England United Kingdom Boston
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Critic reviews

"Trenchant observations and an exciting climax....Most libraries will want this Pulitzer Prize-winner's latest." (Library Journal)

"Blackstone's inspired pairing of narrator Nadia May with the work of Barbara Tuchman introduces a new generation to...one of the twentieth century's most popular and esteemed historians." (AudioFile)

"[A] brilliant slice of American Revolutionary history....expertly weaving political and military history, Tuchman lets you feel how Washington's victory at Yorktown sent shock waves around the globe." (Publishers Weekly)

Comprehensive Historical Perspective • Insightful Naval Focus • Exceptional Narration • Rich International Context

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I really enjoyed this book and decided to write the review only after reading the criticisms. If you judge the book by the 1st negative review you will be missing a bright and insightful view of history. To most of the world our revolution was a little thing to be viewed with curiosity more then intrigue, I think one reason is that no one expected us to win. This is a good book worth of your time.

Sometime the other view is what we need.

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Tuchman delivers the goods in this excellent read. The cast of characters is worthy of study and no one ever did that better than Ms. Tuchman. The narration by Wanda McCaddon is spot on per the usual.

TUCHMAN!

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What did you like best about The First Salute? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the history of the Netherlands in the Revolutionary War. I don't think that story has been told before.
I think the story dragged on for a long ways not seeming to get anywhere. When would the war start? etc.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The view of Europe on the British predicament was the best. What would Washington do was not that interesting.

Did Nadia May do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

She has a voice like Audrey Hepburn so if that matches your view of how George Washington talked than yes she did fine.

Did The First Salute inspire you to do anything?

Read more about the early years of our nation.

Not one of Tuchman's best.

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This excellent book contains hundreds of details and insights into the backstory of the American Revolution that I've never encountered in one volume. If you think the major battles were only those on American shores, you'll think differently after this book. It is heavily focused on the international political and military story that brought England to war with her colonies and how the European and Caribbean theaters influenced the ultimate outcome. Bringing so much desperate history into focus is no easy task but our writer does so deftly. Occasionally the book bogs into detail but not for long and it never over indulges in one specific area for too long. The narrator is excellent and obviously well acquainted with the rhythms of the author. Both highly rated.

What you never knew about the Revolution

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This is the only book I ever bought from Audible that I cannot play. Disappointed.

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