Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814 (Bluejacket Paperback) by Anthony S. Pitch ISBN: 1-55750-425-3 Publisher: Naval Institute Press Pub. Date: June, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 (20 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Terrific fast-paced impeccably-researched history!
Comment: Based on countless personal stories that Anthony Pitch uncovered in his extensive research, this book reads almost like a novel. It races along through familiar territory; marches through the Maryland countryside, incursions on Capitol Hill and the President's House, Baltimore and Fort McHenry. By focusing on eye witness accounts and the lives of private and public figures (both British and American) and their roles in the handful of days of the Washington campaign, the narrative has an intimacy and immediacy that involves the reader, placing him or her in the midst of the historic seige. There are heroes and scoundrels on both sides. It's a fascinating read and a wonderful way to absorb history.
Rating: 4
Summary: WASHINGTON SACKED BY FOREIGN ARMY !!
Comment: I imagine most Americans would think the above title reflected historical fiction rather than fact.
The fact is that most contemporay Americans thought the Burning of Washington would live on forever in the American mind as an ignoble moment of shame and humiliation. That it has largely been forgotten is a testament to how America has changed and grown since 1814 -- rendering what has become one of our "little wars" largely to the history books with an occasional reprieve when the Star Spangled Banner is considered. It is worth considering that President Madison is remembered today as the father of the Constitution, and not as the rascal who allowed the White House and the Capitol to be burned by a foreign army during a war so ineptly fought by our side. I imagine that had this occurred in any number of other countries, his moment of singular presidential humiliation would attach itself more largely to his name. We remain an optimistic people.
Anthony S. Pitch has written a very good account of the British occupation and sacking of Washington, D.C. in his book "The Burning of Washington. The British Invasion of 1814." The author makes good use of contemporary sources and observations from American and British combatants as well as civilians. The background is sketched well enough to allow the reader to understand why the British stood at the mouth of the Potomac River ready to invade our capitol city. Personalities of American and British commanders as well as President Madison and especially Secretary of War John Armstrong - to whom can be attributed the immediate blame for Washington's unprepardness - are well summarized to give the reader a good feel for how individuals affected the events covered in the book.
The story covers the Battle of Bladensburg, the march on and occupation of Washington, the burning of the public buildings (focusing on the Capitol and White House), as well as the British attempt to take Baltimore, which failed before the walls of Ft. McHenry. Francis Scott Key's penning of our national anthem is also covered, as well as the British retreat. The book ends with summaries of the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war, as well as Jackson's incredibly lopsided victory over Gen. Packenham before New Orleans.
All in all this is a good and interesting book. The author keeps the pace moving while giving enough detail to both satisfy curiosity as to why events are unfolding as they did as well as add the flavor and feel that can come from a judicious use of diary entries and contemporary accounts. I recommend this to any history buff who would like to know more about a now overlooked -- but still astonishing - part of American history.
Rating: 4
Summary: Decent Account of the Burning of Washington in 1814
Comment: 'The Burning of Washington' by Anthony Pitch is a detailed and well written account of the British invasion of 1814 during which the British defeated the opposing American forces before marching into the Capital and putting parts of Washington to the torch, including the White House. This book is a most enjoyable read and in my mind is as good as Walter Lord's book 'The Dawn's Early Light' which was first published in the early 1970's.
The book covers the Battle of Bladensburg, the abandonment of the Capital and its subsequent occupation and destruction by the British. The narrative then continues with the fighting around Baltimore and the end of the war after the British defeat at the Battle of New Orleans. The author also tells the story of Francis Scott Key and birth of the American national anthem, an interesting story in itself.
Anthony Pitch has used a number of first-hand accounts taken from the letters of participants on both sides of the conflict including, soldiers, sailors and civilians. Material has been utilised from diaries, journals and newspaper accounts to fill in this stirring and vivid narrative of this fascinating period of American history. Overall this is a decent piece of historical writing and I am sure that most people will enjoy the author's account of the invasion of 1814. The one negative point that I have to raise in regards to this book is the lack of detailed maps to follow the invading forces and the subsequent battles.
 |
Title: The Darkest Day: The Washington-Baltimore Campaign During the War of 1812 by Charles Geoffrey Muller ISBN: 0812218434 Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
 |
Title: Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea by ROBERT K. MASSIE ISBN: 0679456716 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 28 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
 |
Title: The First World War by Hew Strachan ISBN: 0670032956 Publisher: Viking Books Pub. Date: 22 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
 |
Title: What If?: The World's Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been by Robert Cowley, Stephen E. Ambrose ISBN: 0425176428 Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group Pub. Date: 12 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: Benjamin Franklin : An American Life by Walter Isaacson ISBN: 0684807610 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
