My American Revolution

Crossing the Delaware and I-78

By: Robert Sullivan

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

In My American Revolution, Robert Sullivan investigates the true history of the crossing of the Delaware, its down-home reenactment each year for the past half a century, and - toward the end of a personal odyssey that involves camping in New Jersey backyards, hiking through lost "mountains", and eventually some physical therapy - he evacuates illegally from Brooklyn to Manhattan by handmade boat.

He recounts a Brooklyn historian's failed attempt to memorialize a colonial Maryland regiment; a tattoo artist's more successful use of a colonial submarine, which resulted in his 2007 arrest by the New York City police and the FBI; and last but not least, along New York harbor, Sullivan re-creates an ancient signal beacon.

©2012 Robert Sullivan (P)2012 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"A nostalgic, witty, and always informative topographic retrospective of the sites pertinent to the American Revolution takes Vogue contributing editor and journalist Sullivan to the action seen by the middle colonies especially - New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey... Sullivan's historic anecdotes form a loose-limbed, irreverent, surprising take on American history." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Readers are sure to learn plenty from [Sullivan's] travels... Tailor-made for trivia lovers and readers who don't mind the scenic route." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"[An] engaging, humorous, and often surprising series of personal reflections upon critical episodes in the birth of a nation. Sullivan combines solid historical knowledge, sensitivity to the physical landscape, and a wry sense of the absurdities inherent in mythmaking to provide a thoroughly enjoyable and original perspective on our revolution." ( Booklist)

Its ok - just ok

This book is a little disjointed in the fact that it doesn't cover one area but is a bunch of different essays that the author writes about the Revolutionary War. The history is interesting but it really has little to do with crossing the Delaware and more about this guy's adventures in researching the Revolutionary War. An interesting read but really not that good.

Random Rants and Walks

Would you try another book from Robert Sullivan and/or Mike Chamberlain?

Yes and no. I would not choose a book written by Robert Sullivan. It was just random thoughts of interest to the author, but not to me. Mike Sullivan lent excitement in his voice to a singularly non interesting book. But the loan did not save the book

What was most disappointing about Robert Sullivan’s story?

There was no tethered story at all.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Mike Chamberlain?

Yes, there was, at least in his voice, an interest in the meanderings and wanderings of Robert Sullivan's "story." With a real story, he would be very good.