Reviews
"Fischer's vision of the crossing is every bit the masterpiece Leutze's is.... The most dramatic moments come as the history Fischer presents outshines the myths you've been told. The Hessians for example, were not drunk on Christmas ale that night. And they were highly skilled, significantlymore experienced than their American adversaries. Even Fischer, after 42 years of teaching American history, was surprised to learn how close the Americans came to losing. But perhaps most valuable is Fischer's portrait of Washington. Instead of presenting the Napoleonic hero of the painting, heshows a proud youth who evolved into a humble democratic leader. (The moment when Washington weeps as he watches the Americans surrender in New York is especially poignant.)"--Newsweek, "A vivid, fast-paced narrative that is further characterized by impressive research and new interpretations.... Washington's crossing that stormy night has never been told with more clarity or stirring detail."--Chicago Tribune, "Fischer's thoughtful account describes how Washington, in a frantic, desperate month, turned his collection of troops into a professional force, not by emulating the Europeans but by coming up with a model that was distinctly American."--The New Yorker, "An eminent, readable historian, Fischer here delivers an outstandinganalytical narrative.... A must-read for military-history fans, Fischer's workwill also draw those who want to know more about the historical reality behind acelebrated image."--Booklist (starred review), "Although 1776 is a fine book, it is, in almost every respect, inferior to David Hackett Fischer's Washington's Crossing, which was published last year and which has just earned the Pulitzer prize for history. Mr Fischer, a professor of history at Brandeis University, is Mr McCullough's equal as a writer but superior in capturing the full historical picture. He fully demonstrates something Mr McCullough ignores: notably the impact of British atrocities--rape, execution and pillage--on the people of New Jersey."--The Economist "Outstanding."--Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times "'Washington's Crossing' is a highly realistic and wonderfully readable narrative...that corrects all the inaccuracies in the Leutze painting but preserves the overarching sense of drama.... Fischer has devised a storytelling technique that combines old and new methods in a winning way...providing an overarching picture of the way armies move, with a genuine sense of what it looks and feels like to face a bayonet charge or to witness the man abreast of you disemboweled by a cannonball.... Fischer's ability to combine the panoramic with the palpable is unparalleled in giving us a glimpse of what warfare back then was really like."--Joseph J. Ellis, The New York Times Book Review "In Fischer's narrative, the reader...cannot help but be caught up by the spirit of these events. Washington's Crossing is history at its best, fascinating in its details, magisterial in its sweep....superb features... add depth and insight to Fischer's narrative."--Boston Globe "A tale told with gusto, punctuated by finely rendered accounts of battles and tactics. If it remains part of the historian's obligation to make scholarly writing accessible beyond the academy, David Hackett Fischer deserves to be recognized for a job well done. Not least because it helps us understand anew a great American icon."--Fred Anderson, The Los Angeles Times Book Review "A vivid, fast-paced narrative that is further characterized by impressive research and new interpretations.... Washington's crossing that stormy night has never been told with more clarity or stirring detail."--Chicago Tribune "Fischer's vision of the crossing is every bit the masterpiece.... The most dramatic moments come as the history Fischer presents outshines the myths you've been told. The Hessians for example, were not drunk on Christmas ale that night. And they were highly skilled, significantly more experienced than their American adversaries. Even Fischer, after 42 years of teaching American history, was surprised to learn how close the Americans came to losing. But perhaps most valuable is Fischer's portrait of Washington. Instead of presenting the Napoleonic hero of the painting, he shows a proud youth who evolved into a humble democratic leader. (The moment when Washington weeps as he watches the Americans surrender in New York is especially poignant.)"--Newsweek "In a fascinating narrative of the moves and countermoves of American, British, and Hessian forces, Fischer persuades us that the war itself was the source of political and social developments that continue to this day. His mastery of the historian's craft enables him to embody his argument in telling us what happened and who it happened to, taking care not to clog the story with lengthy didactic interruptions. He thus resuscitates Washington's reputation as a field general and at the same time demonstrates his role in establishing an American way of warfare and in fixing the place of the military in the republic that the Revolution created."--Edmund S. Morgan, The New York Review of Books "A model of modern historical writing."--National Review "Fischer's thoughtful account describes how Washington, in a frantic, desperate month, turned his collection of troops into a professional force, not by emulating the Europeans but by coming up with a model that was distinctly American."--The New Yorker "Fis, "A meticulous and brilliantly colored account of the period surrounding George Washington's famous sally across the Delaware river in 1776." --Wall Street Journal "Fisher's thoughtful account describes how Washington, in a frantic, desparate month, turned his collection of troops into a professional force, not by emulating Europeans but by coming up with a model that was distinctly American." --The New Yorker "History at its best, fascinating in its details, magisterial in its sweep." --Boston Globe "Perhaps most valuable is Fischer's portrait of Washington. Instead of presenting the Napoleonic hero of the painting, he shows a proud youth who evolved into a humble democratic leader." --Newsweek "Fischer...describes in moving detail the military campaign of 1776-1777 and the British, German and American soldiers who fought it. As in the familiar 1850 painting by Emmanuel Leutze that inspired Fischer's title, Washington stands firmly at the book's center. His actions as commander of the American army were pivotal for both his future and that of the fledgling American republic." --Washington Post Book World "A model of modern historical writing." --National Review "A highly realistic and wonderfully readable narrative... Fischer's ability to combine the panoramic with the palpable is unparalleled in giving us a glimpse of what warfare back then was really like." --The New York Times Book Review "A tale told with gusto, punctuated by finely rendered accounts of battles and tactics... Helps us understand anew a great American icon." --Los Angeles Times Book Review, "Fischer's vision of the crossing is every bit the masterpiece Leutze'sis.... The most dramatic moments come as the history Fischer presents outshinesthe myths you've been told. The Hessians for example, were not drunk onChristmas ale that night. And they were highly skilled, significantly moreexperienced than their American adversaries. Even Fischer, after 42 years ofteaching American history, was surprised to learn how close the Americans cameto losing. But perhaps most valuable is Fischer's portrait of Washington.Instead of presenting the Napoleonic hero of the painting, he shows a proudyouth who evolved into a humble democratic leader. (The moment when Washingtonweeps as he watches the Americans surrender in New York is especiallypoignant.)"--Newsweek, "In a fascinating narrative of the moves and countermoves of American,British, and Hessian forces, Fischer persuades us that the war itself was thesource of political and social developments that continue to this day. Hismastery of the historian's craft enables him to embody his argument in tellingus what happened and who it happened to, taking care not to clog the story withlengthy didactic interruptions. He thus resuscitates Washington's reputation asa field general and at the same time demonstrates his role in establishing anAmerican way of warfare and in fixing the place of the military in the republicthat the Revolution created."--Edmund S. Morgan, The New York Review ofBooks, "A tale told with gusto, punctuated by finely rendered accounts of battles and tactics. If it remains part of the historian's obligation to make scholarly writing accessible beyond the academy, David Hackett Fischer deserves to be recognized for a job well done. Not least because it helps usunderstand anew a great American icon."--Fred Anderson, The Los Angeles Times Book Review, "A meticulous and brilliantly colored account of the period surroundingGeorge Washington's famous sally across the Delaware River in 1776. The tale istold in the style of a master thriller writer who keeps us reading even thoughwe know--or think we know--how it all turns out.... Washington's Crossing is arebuke to those who believe that scholarly seriousness and popular appeal cannotexist together. This superbly wrought book, with its open invitation to a widerpublic, is just the sort of democratic scholarship that the soldiers of 1776would have hoped for."--Steven Lagerfeld, Wall Street Journal, "A superb addition to the literature of the Revolution, by one of the bestchroniclers in the business."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review), "At the core of an impeccably researched, brilliantly executed militaryhistory is an analysis of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River inDecember 1776 and the resulting destruction of the Hessian garrison of Trentonand defeat of a British brigade at Princeton. Fischer's perceptive discussion ofthe strategic, operational and tactical factors involved is by itself worth thebook's purchase."--Publishers Weekly, "In a fascinating narrative of the moves and countermoves of American, British, and Hessian forces, Fischer persuades us that the war itself was the source of political and social developments that continue to this day. His mastery of the historian's craft enables him to embody his argumentin telling us what happened and who it happened to, taking care not to clog the story with lengthy didactic interruptions. He thus resuscitates Washington's reputation as a field general and at the same time demonstrates his role in establishing an American way of warfare and in fixing the place ofthe military in the republic that the Revolution created."--Edmund S. Morgan, The New York Review of Books, "Fischer's thoughtful account describes how Washington, in a frantic,desperate month, turned his collection of troops into a professional force, notby emulating the Europeans but by coming up with a model that was distinctlyAmerican."--The New Yorker, "In Fischer's narrative, the reader...cannot help but be caught up by the spirit of these events. Washington's Crossing is history at its best, fascinating in its details, magisterial in its sweep....superb features... add depth and insight to Fischer's narrative."--Boston Globe, "A meticulous and brilliantly colored account of the period surrounding George Washington's famous sally across the Delaware river in 1776." --Wall Street Journal"Fisher's thoughtful account describes how Washington, in a frantic, desparate month, turned his collection of troops into a professional force, not by emulating Europeans but by coming up with a model that was distinctly American." --The New Yorker"History at its best, fascinating in its details, magisterial in its sweep." --Boston Globe"Perhaps most valuable is Fischer's portrait of Washington. Instead of presenting the Napoleonic hero of the painting, he shows a proud youth who evolved into a humble democratic leader." --Newsweek"Fischer...describes in moving detail the military campaign of 1776-1777 and the British, German and American soldiers who fought it. As in the familiar 1850 painting by Emmanuel Leutze that inspired Fischer's title, Washington stands firmly at the book's center. His actions as commander of the American army were pivotal for both his future and that of the fledgling American republic." --Washington Post Book World"A model of modern historical writing." --National Review"A highly realistic and wonderfully readable narrative... Fischer's ability to combine the panoramic with the palpable is unparalleled in giving us a glimpse of what warfare back then was really like." --The New York Times Book Review"A tale told with gusto, punctuated by finely rendered accounts of battles and tactics... Helps us understand anew a great American icon." --Los Angeles Times Book Review, "'Washington's Crossing' is a highly realistic and wonderfully readable narrative...that corrects all the inaccuracies in the Leutze painting but preserves the overarching sense of drama.... Fischer has devised a storytelling technique that combines old and new methods in a winningway...providing an overarching picture of the way armies move, with a genuine sense of what it looks and feels like to face a bayonet charge or to witness the man abreast of you disemboweled by a cannonball.... Fischer's ability to combine the panoramic with the palpable is unparalleled in giving usa glimpse of what warfare back then was really like."--Joseph J. Ellis, The New York Times Book Review, "'Washington's Crossing' is a highly realistic and wonderfully readablenarrative...that corrects all the inaccuracies in the Leutze painting butpreserves the overarching sense of drama.... Fischer has devised a storytellingtechnique that combines old and new methods in a winning way...providing anoverarching picture of the way armies move, with a genuine sense of what itlooks and feels like to face a bayonet charge or to witness the man abreast ofyou disemboweled by a cannonball.... Fischer's ability to combine the panoramicwith the palpable is unparalleled in giving us a glimpse of what warfare backthen was really like."--Joseph J. Ellis, The New York Times Book Review, "A vivid, fast-paced narrative that is further characterized by impressiveresearch and new interpretations.... Washington's crossing that stormy night hasnever been told with more clarity or stirring detail."--Chicago Tribune, "A meticulous and brilliantly colored account of the period surrounding George Washington's famous sally across the Delaware river in 1776."--Wall Street Journal "Fisher's thoughtful account describes how Washington, in a frantic, desparate month, turned his collection of troops into a professional force, not by emulating Europeans but by coming up with a model that was distinctly American."--The New Yorker "History at its best, fascinating in its details, magisterial in its sweep."--Boston Globe "Perhaps most valuable is Fischer's portrait of Washington. Instead of presenting the Napoleonic hero of the painting, he shows a proud youth who evolved into a humble democratic leader."--Newsweek "Fischer...describes in moving detail the military campaign of 1776-1777 and the British, German and American soldiers who fought it. As in the familiar 1850 painting by Emmanuel Leutze that inspired Fischer's title, Washington stands firmly at the book's center. His actions as commander of the American army were pivotal for both his future and that of the fledgling American republic."--Washington Post Book World "A model of modern historical writing."--National Review "A highly realistic and wonderfully readable narrative.... Fischer's ability to combine the panoramic with the palpable is unparalleled in giving us a glimpse of what warfare back then was really like."--The New York Times Book Review "A tale told with gusto, punctuated by finely rendered accounts of battles and tactics.... Helps us understand anew a great American icon."--Los Angeles Times Book Review, [NYTBR continued]"For reasons beyond my comprehension, there has never been a great film about the War of Independence. The Civil War, World War I, World War II and Vietnam have all been captured memorably, but the American Revolution seems to resist cinematic treatment. More than any other book, 'Washington'sCrossing' provides the opportunity to correct this strange oversight, for in a confined chronological space we have the makings of both 'Patton' and 'Saving Private Ryan,' starring none other than George Washington. Fischer has provided the script. And it's all true."--Joseph J. Ellis, The New YorkTimes Book Review, "A tale told with gusto, punctuated by finely rendered accounts of battlesand tactics. If it remains part of the historian's obligation to make scholarlywriting accessible beyond the academy, David Hackett Fischer deserves to berecognized for a job well done. Not least because it helps us understand anew agreat American icon."--Fred Anderson, The Los Angeles Times Book Review, [NYTBR continued]"For reasons beyond my comprehension, there has never been a great film aboutthe War of Independence. The Civil War, World War I, World War II and Vietnamhave all been captured memorably, but the American Revolution seems to resistcinematic treatment. More than any other book, 'Washington's Crossing' providesthe opportunity to correct this strange oversight, for in a confinedchronological space we have the makings of both 'Patton' and 'Saving PrivateRyan,' starring none other than George Washington. Fischer has provided thescript. And it's all true."--Joseph J. Ellis, The New York Times BookReview
Synopsis
Six months after the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. Yet, as David Hackett Fischer recounts in this riveting history, George Washington--and many other Americans--refused to let the Revolution die. On Christmas night, as a howling nor'easter struck the Delaware Valley, he led his men across the river and attacked the exhausted Hessian garrison at Trenton, killing or capturing nearly a thousand men. A second battle of Trentonfollowed within days. The Americans held off a counterattack by Lord Cornwallis's best troops, then were almost trapped by the British force. Under cover of night, Washington's men stole behind theenemy and struck them again, defeating a brigade at Princeton. The British were badly shaken. In twelve weeks of winter fighting, their army suffered severe damage, their hold on New Jersey was broken, and their strategy was ruined., Six months after the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. A powerful British force had routed the Americans at New York, occupied three colonies, and advanced within sight of Philadelphia.Yet, as David Hackett Fischer recounts in this riveting history, George Washington--and many other Americans--refused to let the Revolution die. On Christmas night, as a howling nor'easter struck the Delaware Valley, he ledhis men across the river and attacked the exhausted Hessian garrison at Trenton, killing or capturing nearly a thousand men. A second battle of Trenton followed within days. The Americans held off acounterattack by Lord Cornwallis's best troops, then were almost trapped by the British force. Under cover of night, Washington's men stole behind the enemy and struck them again, defeating a brigade at Princeton. The British were badly shaken. In twelve weeks of winter fighting, their army suffered severe damage, their hold on New Jersey was broken, and their strategy was ruined.Fischer's richly textured narrative reveals the crucial role of contingency in these events.We see how the campaign unfolded in a sequence of difficult choices by many actors, from generals to civilians, on both sides. While British and German forces remained rigid and hierarchical, Americansevolved an open and flexible system that was fundamental to their success. The startling success of Washington and his compatriots not only saved the faltering American Revolution, but helped to give it new meaning., Six months after the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. A powerful British force had routed the Americans at New York, occupied three colonies, and advanced within sight of Philadelphia. George Washington lost 90 percent of his army and was driven across the Delaware River. Panic and despair spread through the states., Six months after the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. A powerful British force had routed the Americans at New York, occupied three colonies, and advanced within sight of Philadelphia. Yet, as David Hackett Fischer recounts in this riveting history, George Washington--and many other Americans--refused to let the Revolution die. On Christmas night, as a howling nor'easter struck the Delaware Valley, he led his men across the river and attacked the exhausted Hessian garrison at Trenton, killing or capturing nearly a thousand men. A second battle of Trenton followed within days. The Americans held off a counterattack by Lord Cornwallis's best troops, then were almost trapped by the British force. Under cover of night, Washington's men stole behind the enemy and struck them again, defeating a brigade at Princeton. The British were badly shaken. In twelve weeks of winter fighting, their army suffered severe damage, their hold on New Jersey was broken, and their strategy was ruined. Fischer's richly textured narrative reveals the crucial role of contingency in these events. We see how the campaign unfolded in a sequence of difficult choices by many actors, from generals to civilians, on both sides. While British and German forces remained rigid and hierarchical, Americans evolved an open and flexible system that was fundamental to their success. The startling success of Washington and his compatriots not only saved the faltering American Revolution, but helped to give it new meaning.
