This was a well written narrative of the year that America won the Revolutionary War. The author concentrates on the military and diplomatic history with a good dose of the politics on both sides of the water thrown in. I always enjoy reading about the English arguing with each other about just about everything. Clinton and Cornwallis never got along and if they had put as much energy into fighting the Americans as they spent on their intramural spats as they might have won the war. The English were not solidly united politically either but neither were the Americans.
Most of 1781 was spent fighting the English Southern campaign and on the American side that was a war between neighbors. I remember when I was very young watching Leslie Nielsen play the part of the "Swamp Fox", Francis Marion. Two of my favorite Revolutionary War battles, Cowpens and King's Mountain, were fought in 1781. The author does a good job on the description of these and the other battles during that year. King's Mountain was fought strictly between the Americans and I have always been intrigued by the way the Patriots got themselves together and won very convincingly. Cowpens was a good example of General Daniel Morgan's talent in his use of the militia troops. He just asked them to stand and get off two good volleys and then they could leave the field. He got good use out of the troops and didn't ask too much from them.
The author gave Washington and Lafayette places of prominence in the action. Lafayette enjoyed being the young protege of Washington and a leader of the Revolution. The more I learn about Washington the more admiration and respect I have for him. His leadership of the Americans and his ability to work well with the French were but a small part of his overall leadership.
I enjoyed the book very much. It is a relatively short audio book and I listened to it twice back to back. This type of book is my idea of a good time. A well written narrative history of an interesting topic. The author won a Silver Star for his exploits in the Vietnam War. After 27 years of service in the army he retired with the rank of colonel. Unfortunately that opens up something I find very upsetting. I deeply respect those who served their country in the Vietnam War. My problem is how did America, one of the first countries that was created by a political revolution, allow itself to become the most powerful country fighting to maintain colonial power. It is just a rhetorical question but the whole thing makes me feel ashamed. ( )