1776

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: David McCullough

In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence, when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats, who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known. But it is the American commander-in-chief who stands foremost: Washington, who had never before led an army in battle.

The darkest hours of that tumultuous year were as dark as any Americans have known. Especially in our own tumultuous time, 1776 is powerful testimony to how much is owed to a rare few in that brave founding epoch, and what a miracle it was that things turned out as they did.

Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough's 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.

©2005 David McCullough (P)2005 Simon and Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon and Schuster Audio Division, Simon and Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Narration by the Author
• 2005 Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award, Nonfiction

"A first-rate historical account." (Booklist)

"A narrative tour de force, exhibiting all the hallmarks the author is known for: fascinating subject matter, expert research, and detailed, graceful prose.... Simply put, this is history writing at its best from one of its top practitioners." (Publishers Weekly)

"A stirring and timely work, reminding us that it's soldiers rather than 'tavern patriots and windy politicians' who have always paid the price of American idealism and determined its successes. (The New York Times)

Can't quit talking about 1776

I am definitely a "sneezer" when it comes to 1776. I can not quit talking about this book and about what this history means to me. If you wnat a lesson on perseverance, this is the right book!David McCullough brings the Revolutionary War right in your living room. The way McCullough writes, you feel as though you have been placed right in the middle of everything that was going on in 1776. GET THIS BOOK!!!!!!

a great approach to telling a great story

great narrative. It succeeds in placing you in the perspective of one viewing the events without the benifit of the knowledge of the outcome. And by exuming this sliver of time one understands that it was our finest hour, our 1939 when we stood for the most part alone against the superpower of the world, till all relized how serious and devoted we were to this newly born cause of freedom.

LOVE hearing Mr. McCullough

I really enjoyed this volume but not as much as John Adams. Not that 1776 was ill treated, but that John Adams has so much more, more, more of everything. I listened to John Adams and had to get the book and am now reading it. The audio of 1776 will be enough. But I sure enjoy listening to David McCullough and will listen again.

too apt a title!

I really enjoyed this book, and was amazed at how little I knew about the Revolutionary War. By about 2/3 of the way through, however, I found myself really wishing this book was entitled 1775-1783 instead! I understand that the focus and point of the book was just the war campaign over a single important year, but now I wish it had covered the whole war!

Excellent narrative

Excellent historical narrative, wonderfully read by author, even better in audio than print.

A Great Book, but . . .

This book tied the histories that I have been reading (Washington, Jefferson, Adams) together in a very understandable way. I have totally enjoyed learning so much about this period in our history. It makes me reverence the founding fathers as I never have before. And not just the founding fathers, but those who put their lives on the line, many of them knowing they had little chance of survival. That would have to include the signers of the Declaration of Independence, whose lives were never the same, and in many cases, who lost everything in pursuit of freedom. I hope we can turn things around in this country and get back to the basics that it was founded on.

It is so unusual to have an author be a great narrator also. David was good at narrating his own book, but certainly not great. Too bad, because it is a wonderful book.

Excellent as usual

Really enjoyed this as I have most of Mccullough's books. Incredibly thorough in his history and his writing, and a wonderful narrator, my only disappointment is I wanted it to continue! I wish he had a book like this for EVERY year of the Revolution---I'd read them!

Binge worthy!

Quite possibly the most riveting history book I've ever come across. The author does a great job of inserting human interest into this historical tale, making it very attainable and absolutely fascinating.

McCullough's skill is unrivaled

David McCullough's '1776' provides a clear, concise, accurate and most importantly, meaningful portrayal of the Revolutionary saga for the reader. True story-telling skills with solid historical reference and explanations immerses one into the events of this period with emotional impact. McCullough has once again topped my reader's list! Thank you!

Great read

This is a wonderful story, made better because it is real and it is read with feeling and understanding. A must for American History Majors, and for Americans in general