Amid a great collection of scholarship and narrative history on the Revolutionary War and the American struggle for independence, there is a gaping hole; one that John Ferling's latest book, Whirlwind, will fill. Books chronicling the Revolution have largely ranged from multivolume tomes that appeal to scholars and the most serious general readers to microhistories that necessarily gloss over swaths of Independence-era history with only cursory treatment.
Written in Ferling's engaging and narrative-driven style that made books like Independence and The Ascent of George Washington critical and commercial successes, Whirlwind is a fast-paced and scrupulously told one-volume history of this epochal time. Balancing social and political concerns of the period and perspectives of the average American revolutionary with a careful examination of the war itself, Ferling has crafted the ideal book for armchair military history buffs, a book about the causes of the American Revolution, the war that won it, and the meaning of the Revolution overall. Combining careful scholarship, arresting detail, and illustrative storytelling, Whirlwind is a unique and compelling addition to any collection of books on the American Revolution.
Industry Reviews
A nuanced study of the American Revolution ... accomplished scholar [John] Ferling employs his extensive knowledge ... A first-rate historian's masterful touch conveys the profound changes to colonists' 'hearts and minds.' -- starred review, finalist for 2015 Book Prize, "Best Books of 2015" Kirkus Reviews [A]n objective history ... Ferling has created another accessible yet scholarly work on the American Revolution. Library Journal Ferling handles the conflict's ups and downs with a professorial ease, complemented by mastery of a broad spectrum of primary and secondary sources ... He also excels at detailing the hammering out of governmental institutions from a kaleidoscope of provincial assemblies, town meetings, and church pulpits. Publishers Weekly Ferling's vivid descriptions will compel you to read this treasure repeatedly. San Francisco Book Review [Ferling] seamlessly integrates the root causes of the American Revolution, the war that won it, and its larger meaning. HistoryBookClub.com