Remember this post from last week where I was talking about how great the book was, partially because it goes into the military tactics of the British during the American Revolutionary War?

Well, this book was similar in that it went into the very specific circumstances of the battles of Lexington and Concord. Some of it was military, a lot of it was political, but it was very good. Author (and historian) Walter R. Borneman covered a lot of ground but kept it specifically to the spring of 1775.

Borneman detailed the political rise and influence of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, Paul Revere’s ride, Patrick Henry, and more ordinary Americans who were protecting American military supplies and consequently there at Lexington and for the Battle of Bunker Hill – which was nothing short of a disaster. He also debated the merits of who fired the first shots at Lexington.

Borneman also focuses on Mercy Otis Warren. A poet and playwright before the war, she became a political writer and propagandist during it. It was fun to hear about her. She is, unfortunately, left out of a lot of narratives, but she was a correspondent and adviser to many of our heroes, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.

There was a theme of how there was a lot of pressure for individuals to take sides as violence began to break out. Benjamin Franklin’s family was a prime example, with one of his children being the royal governor of New Jersey and Benjamin Franklin, being, well, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin wasn’t close with his son and the rift only grew as his son was a loyalist and Franklin was a rebel.

The book ultimately closed when George Washington took command of the continental army in July of 1775. I guess by then it was summer. But American Spring was a detailed, interesting look at some of the most consequential months in American history that was both manageable in length and density; a good book for all readers intrigued by those who study American history both causally and in depth.

Tagged: authors: walter r. borneman, books: american spring, genre: history