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1776 Audiobook
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(4.00) - 50,977 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
America’s beloved and distinguished historian presents, in a book of breathtaking excitement, drama, and narrative force, the stirring story of the year of our nation’s birth, 1776, interweaving, on both sides of the Atlantic, the actions and decisions that led Great Britain to undertake a war against her rebellious colonial subjects and that placed America’s survival in the hands of George Washington.
In this masterful book, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence—when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.
Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is a powerful drama written with extraordinary narrative vitality. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known.
Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough’s 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.
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"This is not your typical history book. Staying true to the story of America's beginnings, McCullough makes history accessible and entertaining to everyone. I love history, but had never spent much time studying the American Revolution. This book sparked that interest for me, and opened me up to learning even more."
— Leigh (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“One of the most compelling nonfiction works McCullough has written and should be required reading in living rooms from coast to coast.”
— Denver Post -
“Fluent and engaging...[a] brilliant work.”
— Boston Globe -
“A classic—brilliantly written, scrupulously researched, tremendously informative, and endlessly entertaining.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“A master storyteller’s character driven account of a storied year in the American Revolution. A sterling account.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“This is a narrative tour de force…This is history writing at its best from one of its top practitioners.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“McCullough brilliantly captures...Washington’s miraculous victories at Trenton and Princeton. An altogether marvelous contribution that deserves to be read by every American.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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A #1 New York Times bestseller
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A #1 USA Today bestseller
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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A 2006 Audie Award Finalist
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A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year in Nonfiction
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A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
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A Barnes & Noble Pick of Best American History in Audiobooks
1776 Listener Reviews
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Patricia Krawinkel, 8/22/2021
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Sharon Baker, 10/3/2020
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" I have never read a more engrossing and emotionally moving account of our countries birth "
— Kyle, 2/18/2014 -
" Probably my favorite work of nonfiction to date. McCullough is flawless. I was in suspense even though I knew the outcome. History that reads like a novel. "
— Jacob, 2/16/2014 -
" A very good book. While you are reading it you will wonder how we won. "
— Philip, 2/5/2014 -
" This is an excellent account of military actions of the Revolutionary War during the crucial year of 1776. McCullough does an brilliant job of weaving a narrative by utilizing historical accounts and personal correspondence. "
— Josh, 2/2/2014 -
" I very much enjoyed this book. I liked how it gave a sort of "untold" side of the revolution. And I really enjoyed the character's depth and even lack of depth. "
— Blake, 1/28/2014 -
" Ok, so I didn't actually finish this one... but a wise person once told me that if I didn't like a book, I didn't have to finish it. So no friends, I did not get into this one/didn't really like it, but I know many people who probably would. "
— Alissa, 1/13/2014 -
" Wish all historians wrote like him. "
— Katy, 1/11/2014 -
" I didn't really remember much from my grade school history lessons. David McCullugh had a good narrative of events that year peppered with personal accounts that made it come to life. "
— Stephen, 1/4/2014 -
" What can one say who has read other historical works by David McCullough? He is through and a great story teller. This should be on every American's reading list. "
— Anthony, 12/27/2013 -
" Author ran out of gas at end of book. Excellent for early part of year. "
— Paul, 12/16/2013 -
" Very good summary of the events of that year. After I read this book, I felt I had a better grasp of the American Revolution as a whole. "
— Carol, 12/2/2013 -
" Well written history without being textbook-ish. Kept my interest. "
— Mary, 11/27/2013 -
" This is an incredible story to tell and makes you appreciate all that our forefathers went through to give us what we have today. I have read many books on this era and felt the author did a wonderful job of portraying how things were back then. "
— Cheryl, 10/10/2013 -
" It was interesting, but too slow paced. "
— Aleeta, 7/11/2013 -
" The only fault I can find with this book is that it ends at the year 1776. I was left wishing McCullough had written an entire history of the war. Powerfully written. "
— Paul, 4/17/2013 -
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Gloria Swaine, 4/15/2013
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" An inspirational account of how the United States came to exist. I never realized how perilous the fight of the founding fathers was until I read this book. "
— Evan, 1/27/2013 -
" This book did, indeed, teach me about 1776. There was a lot of good information, it was just long and hard to get through at times. "
— Jennifer, 12/23/2012 -
" What was there, was really good. But I wanted more. I guess I should be satisfied...it covered the year. :) "
— Robert, 12/15/2012 -
" Love his books. Have read many of them. "
— Sherida, 5/28/2012 -
" This certainly changes your view of history from what is taught in school. What a rag-tag bunch of disorganized, disagreeable bunch we called our "army"! It becomes clear that luck (or providence) had a lot to do with our independence. An excellent book "
— Janiece, 5/27/2012 -
" Fact-filled historical accuracy AND great reading. Will be reading more from McCullough :) "
— Julie, 2/22/2012 -
" Spoiler alert: the Americans win. "
— Jim, 11/14/2011 -
" I love David McCullough!!!! I was never a history buff,but my Brother-in-law recommended it. Very weell written book! I enjoyed finding out what was going to happen next. I know that most history books are not the whole truth, but I researched some of what David said and they were all true. "
— Lisa, 8/11/2011 -
" Entertaining AND Educational; I love multi-tasking. "
— Allison, 6/30/2011 -
" I'm not usually a non-fiction type of person but this was riveting. Also it was horrifying and inspiring. I loved the details about the real people involved, especially Washington. With such a beginning, it is hard to believe they actually pulled it off in the end (way after this book)... "
— Erin, 6/24/2011 -
" Such a great book. This is a 'must read' for anyone with ANY interest in U.S. History. "
— Jen, 6/23/2011 -
" This should be a must read for every American. My appreciation for George Washington is so much greater after having read this book. "
— Carol, 6/22/2011 -
" I learned alot about the American Revolution (at least one year of it). "
— Amy, 6/16/2011 -
" Totally interesting. I realized I knew nothing about the Revolutionary War. This book also makes it clear that it's essentially a miracle that we weren't clobbered by the British early in the conflict. "
— April, 6/15/2011 -
" I appreciate the suffering of the American "Yankee Doodle" Army more. It is a pretty big bummer to get to the end though and realize that there were 6 more years and you've just got to find another book to read to cover them... "
— Jackie, 6/10/2011 -
" Historical fiction. Tells the story of the Revolutionary War combining real characters and fictional characters. "
— Ashley, 6/9/2011 -
" A very easy read for being a documentory. McCullough is so far my favorite historian. This was not my favorite book he has done but would recomend it to anybody. "
— Cameron, 6/8/2011 -
" Good book. It was, however, a little frustrating to get to the end and realize that it was the end--i.e., I would have liked for this book to treat the <em>entire</em> history of the Revolutionary War, and not the literal year 1776. "
— Ian, 6/7/2011 -
" Competent, well-executed, but unexciting history of the American Revolution. Suffers some from the rather arbitrary focus on a single calendar year, but does a good job of indicating just how remarkable the survival of the Continental army was. "
— Rob, 6/5/2011
About David McCullough
David McCullough (1933-2022), acclaimed historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author, twice won the Pulitzer Prize, for Truman and John Adams, and twice received the National Book Award, for The Path between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback. His other acclaimed books are 1776, Brave Companions, The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, The Greater Journey, and The Wright Brothers. He was awarded numerous honors and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, and more than forty honorary degrees. In 1995, the National Book Foundation conferred on him its lifetime Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.