The ideals of freedom and individual rights that inspired America's Founding Fathers did not spring from a vacuum. Along with many other defining principles of our national character, they can be traced directly back to one of the most pivotal events in British history—the late-seventeenth-century uprising known as the Glorious Revolution.
In a work of popular history that stands with recent favorites such as David McCullough's 1776 and Joseph J. Ellis's Founding Brothers, Michael Barone brings the story of this unlikely and largely bloodless revolt to American readers and reveals that, without the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution may never have happened.
Unfolding in 1688–1689, Britain's Glorious Revolution resulted in the hallmarks of representative government, guaranteed liberties, the foundations of global capitalism, and a foreign policy of opposing aggressive foreign powers. But as Barone shows, there was nothing inevitable about the Glorious Revolution. It sprang from the character of the English people and depended on the talents, audacity, and good luck of two men: William of Orange (later William III of England), who launched history' s last successful cross-channel invasion, and John Churchill, an ancestor of Winston, who commanded the forces of the deposed James II but crossed over to support William one fateful November night.
The story of the Glorious Revolution is a rich and riveting saga of palace intrigue, loyalty and shocking betrayal, and bold political and military strategizing. With narrative drive, a sure command of historical events, and unforgettable portraits of kings, queens, soldiers, parliamentarians, and a large cast of full-blooded characters, Barone takes an episode that has fallen into unjustified obscurity and restores it to the prominence it deserves. Especially now, as we face enemies who wish to rid the world of the lasting legacies of the Glorious Revolution—democracy, individual rights, and capitalism among them—it is vitally important that we understand the origins of these blessings.
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"Apple never falls far from the tree "
— Scott (4 out of 5 stars)
“Applying a readable historical contingency to these complex events and their ramifications for America, Barone’s account will be welcomed by avid history readers.”
— Booklist[Stephen Hoye] keeps the pacing good, and his timbre is pleasing.
— AudioFile" Excellent background on why America's founding fathers set up the government the way they did. Reminds us that just because we have a democracy now, it doesn't mean that we always will. "
— Bill, 9/22/2013" Apple never falls far from the tree "
— Scott, 4/9/2013" A boring professorial book with little or no new information "
— Daryl, 11/26/2012" A decently informative book, but pretty boring. Barone repeats the same information sometimes. I see some parallels to the American Revolution, but I think he gives William too much credit for shaping the world how it is today. "
— Natasha, 3/10/2012" Did not finish. See Pflentov's 12/16/09 review. "
— Ray, 6/12/2010" A boring professorial book with little or no new information "
— Daryl, 5/14/2010" Did not finish. See Pflentov's 12/16/09 review. "
— Ray, 12/27/2009" Excellent background on why America's founding fathers set up the government the way they did. Reminds us that just because we have a democracy now, it doesn't mean that we always will. "
— Bill, 4/6/2008Michael Barone is a senior writer at US News and World Report and a Fox News Channel contributor. He is the author of Our First Revolution, Our Country, and Gangster Government.
Stephen Hoye has worked as a professional actor in London and Los Angeles for more than thirty years. Trained at Boston University and the Guildhall in London, he has acted in television series and six feature films and has appeared in London’s West End. His audiobook narration has won him fifteen AudioFile Earphones Awards.