First published 2013
Joseph J. Ellis turns his attention to the summer of 1776, those critical months that shaped America's founding. The thirteen colonies united in their decision to break away from the British Empire just as Britain assembled its largest naval force ever sent across the Atlantic. This massive fleet appeared off Staten Island in early July. The Continental Congress and Continental Army had to make crucial choices quickly, creating solutions as historic events unfolded around them. Ellis connects the political and military threads into one cohesive account, demonstrating how battlefield developments shaped congressional decisions and vice versa. This approach brings fresh perspective to well-known historical moments, showing how improvisation and quick thinking during those summer months determined the nation's future.
Genres: historical-fiction, political-science, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: improvisation, quick-thinking
Setting: Staten Island, British Empire
Period: 1776, Summer
240 pages · Hardcover · Knopf