Washington at Valley Forge

Freedman, Russell. 2008. WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780823420698 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-9]

REVIEW
In the meticulous style for which he has become so widely respected, Russell Freedman reveals the details of one of the most pivotal six months in American History: George Washington’s winter at Valley Forge. “This is the story,” says Freedman, “of how an embattled band of American revolutionaries struggled against all odds to survive and eventually triumph.” In 100 landscape-formatted pages, he provides nine chapters of text, and plentiful images that help bring to life that harrowing winter of 1777 to 1778 in which “George Washington’s Army almost perished.” Images include period artwork—engravings and familiar oil paintings—and some contemporary photographs. Always the historian, Freedman points out images that present a less than accurate view: a familiar view of Washington crossing the Delaware, for example, depicts the wrong type of boat. A two-page timeline of the Revolutionary War helps put things in perspective and Freedman’s thorough source notes, bibliography, and index hint at his careful scholarly approach. Readers of this unique biography will gain renewed respect for both Washington, the subject, and Freedman, the biographer.

CONNECTIONS
Learn more about Valley Forge today by exploring the Valley Forge National Park website at http://www.nps.gov/vafo. Take special note of the section called ‘History and Culture” which provides information on the people, places and stories associated with this landmark of American history.

RELATED BOOKS
Other books focusing on George Washington:
Adler, David. GEORGE WASHINGTON: AN ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY. ISBN 9780823418381
Allen, Thomas. GEORGE WASHINGTON, SPYMASTER: HOW THE AMERICANS OUTSPIED THE BRITISH AND WON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. ISBN 9780792251262
Allen, Thomas. REMEMBER VALLEY FORGE: PATRIOTS, REDCOATS AND TORIES TELL THEIR STORIES. ISBN 9781426301490

By Suzy Parchman
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