The Declaration

Tales from a Revolution: South Carolina

By: Lars D. H. Hedbor

Narrated by: Shamaan Casey

A hardworking tobacco farmer in the Carolina Uplands, Justin Harris wants only to provide for his family. The outbreak of revolution turns his life upside down, and he cannot anticipate how even his seemingly most inconsequential actions will touch the lives of generations yet to come. Through crushing setbacks and hard-won victories, Justin's perseverance serves as a gift to his descendants.

©2008 Lars D. H. Hedbor (P)2018 Lars D. H. Hedbor

History Brought to Life!

Where does The Declaration rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I always enjoy a good historical fiction and this one was definitely a fun one. I'll admit that when it started I wasn't sure if I would like it... the narrator's very deep voice (reminiscent of James Earl Jones) was an adjustment for me- didn't fit the initial characters- but as I got deeper into the story it all fit together. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. The story pops back and forth from current time and the Revolution Era and each is so well developed that you look forward to the switches between them wanting to know how each turns out.

Any additional comments?

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

The Declaration

Excellent!The finding of a document among papers in an attic set the scene for a tale of past and present of one family both in the Revolutionary war and now.Shamaan Casey was a wonderful narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

Enjoyable

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request, via Audiobook Boom, and have voluntarily left this review."
When I first started listening I didn't think I would like the story but as I continued to listen and delve into the Harris story I became more involved with the characters and the story. I liked how the story went back and forth from what was happening now to what happened in the past.
The narrator was very good and kept me listening well into the night so I could get to the end of the story, Good history lesson.

Amazing

Another book by this author and narrator that is amazing. I finished this book in one day because i couldn't put it down. I love how the author went very smoothly back and forth in time very seamless and amazing. I love history and this author brings it to life and makes it even more interesting. The narrator breathed life into the characters and just mesmerizes you with this tale. His smooth voice is easy to listen to and has so much character that you feel like you are there with the characters.
I had never heard of the document discussed in this book and it makes me really want to do some research on it. I also love that the author gives you more information on the history everything at the end of the book.

4/5 stars

Narrated by Shamaan Casey
Run Time: 5 hrs and 1 min
Genre: Historical Fiction; Revolutionary War Tales
Summary:
Justin Harris struggles to keep his tobacco farm up and running in the midst of the revolutionary war.

Hundreds of years later, Katie Harris helps her grandmother clean out her house and stumbles upon the find of a lifetime.

Additional Comments:
• The author didn’t have much to say in this story; hence, the frame. It provided an interesting touch. The inner and outer tales worked well, but neither had much of a plot.
• The main characters didn’t do much of anything. I felt like I was hearing a short story.
• I love Shamaan Casey’s voice. I’m fairly easy to please in terms of narrators, but there are still voices that stand out as exceptional, such as Casey.
• The historical note at the end didn’t annoy me as much as some others have.
• Several threads were left unresolved, such as Terrence’s fate. He got a quick, this happened, then this happened, then this happened sort of wrapup, which helped but wasn’t as satisfying. We learn they sold the main document, but nothing is said about the other pieces or if the family learns about who did what in terms of who’s descended from whom.

Conclusion:
You can read the series in any order. They’re always clean and have an interesting tidbit or two about the revolutionary war.
*I was given a copy of the audiobook. I have freely chosen to review it. All thoughts are my own.

Engaging Historical Drama

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.

This story is told by mixing a present day story of the owners of a property with flashbacks to the owners of the same property during the time of the Revolutionary War. Here, Katie has volunteered to help pack up her grandmother's house so that it can be sold and her grandmother moved to a nursing home. As Katie is going through the attic, she finds a chest containing papers dating back to the Revolutionary War. A local historian is called to authenticate the documents. During the Revolutionary War, the same property is owned by tobacco farmer Justin Harris and his family. The Harris family is forced to make decisions related to their farm, becoming involved in the uprising against Britain and their slave Terrance.

I am a big fan of historical fiction - escpecially when the story is based on lesser known historical facts. The author deftly weaves together the present and past to create an engaging tale. History comes to life with real heart and thanks to this author's stories, the people who persevered are longer faceless cold facts in a long forgotten history book.

The narrator did a wonderful job. He did various voices for the different characters and really made the story come alive.

It’s the little things we do

This story is set in both the past and the present. We follow a present-day grandmother and granddaughter as they find a copy of an old paper up in their attic. It was kept safe for many generations and finding it has a huge impact on their lives.
We also follow the story of their ancestors during the time prior to the writing of the Mecklenburg Declaration. The colonists, due to the horrible treatment by the British troops, band together to fight back and protect their own. Our main character joins the Committee of Safety’s patrol. We get insight into the plight of his family and other colonists. We also get a glimpse into the hardships endured by the slaves on the tobacco plantations. Many colonists suffered injustices under the British, but many more slaves suffered by the hand of the British soldiers and the colonists.
I read / listen to a lot of historical fiction and I found it unique that the main family is not inserted into pivotal roles or conveniently by the side of those that made the Declaration. They are everyday people doing what they feel is right to survive. That makes this book read more like a historical biography than fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this author and I will look for more! A lot of research went into this book.

Narrator did a great job voicing this book. Distinct voices were used for each character and the female voices were well done. He did everything from a young woman, to grandmother, to a deep voiced man. His cadence was very pleasant. I’d love to listen to another story by this narrator.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review

Exciting and Original Revolutionary Tale

I have listened to several of Lars Hedbor's books on the Revolutionary War, all of which are quite good, but this is by far my favorite. The back and forth between present time and the Colonial/Revolution timeframe kept me on the edge of my seat. There are also interesting elements of mystery to keep things interesting. Perhaps most of all, once again the author highlighted a perspective from the American Revolution with which I was not at all familiar, in this case an earlier declaration. Shamaan Casey is excellent as usual, very easy to engage with when acting the different characters. Outstanding overall - I'm looking forward to my next read.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

great book

liked the book. the narrator did a good job. I will look farward to listening to more of his work.

Excellent!

audiobook, historical-fiction, historical-places-events -----
Disclaimer: our family used to be American Revolutionary War reenactors.
I thought that this was an excellent historical. The idea of a family of today finding a prewar document is possible, and the parallel voicing of today and then is very well done. The characters are interesting and engaging and quite believable. Good for nearly any age.
The choice of narrator is interesting, but as I loved listening to him that says it all.
I requested and received a free review copy.