The Compleat Victory

Saratoga and the American Revolution

By: Kevin Weddle

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

In the late summer and fall of 1777, after two years of indecisive fighting on both sides, the outcome of the American War of Independence hung in the balance. Having successfully expelled the Americans from Canada in 1776, the British were determined to end the rebellion the following year and devised what they believed a war-winning strategy, sending General John Burgoyne south to rout the Americans and take Albany. When British forces captured Fort Ticonderoga with unexpected ease in July of 1777, it looked as if it was a matter of time before they would break the rebellion in the North. Less than three and a half months later, however, a combination of the Continental Army and Militia forces forced Burgoyne to surrender his entire army. The American victory stunned the world and changed the course of the war.

In the end, British plans were undone by a combination of distance, geography, logistics, and an underestimation of American leadership and fighting ability. The outcome forced the British to rethink their strategy, inflamed public opinion in England against the war, boosted Patriot morale, and led directly to the Franco-American alliance. Weddle unravels the web of contingencies and the play of personalities that ultimately led to what one American general called "the Compleat Victory".

©2021 Oxford University Press (P)2021 Tantor

Excellent resource

This is my first book covering the Saratoga campaign but it had everything you need to understand the battles, the commanders, the battlefields and the issues on both sides. A very thorough book, that I am going to use as a reference in the future. The narrator was good as well.

Great insight to the tactical and strategic impacts of Saratoga.

Excellent blend of background, context and action so as not to bog down the narrative. I hope there are more works coming from this author.

A reasonable summary of the revolutionary War of the Northern Army

Like many Americans. the depth of my knowledge of the Revolutionary War was pretty thin. This book is a pleasure to listen to and does a good job filling the details of the conflicts that lead to the surrender of Brit Gen Burgoyne. it is written from a "field" perspective and so is thin on the perspectives of Cornwallis, Clinton and Howe.

At least from this books perspective it seems the Britsh Army's leaders largely got their commands based upon peerage more than competence. A cautionary tale to consider in modern times that seem too focused on things other than accomplishment.

Good book

I have read almost every book on Saratoga published in the last twenty years and prior good this is almost the best ones.

Great history of the battle as well as the corresponding campaigns

This book is not just about the battle. It’s about the corresponding campaigns the personalities involved in the overall history just tremendous.

Excellent Book

This is a well told story about a critical event in American history. It is highly recommended.