Right now, I am outlining the book as a series of individual stories, focused on people who were present at or led individual campaigns or battles across the world during the War of the American Revolution.
I intend on posting a proper living outline soon, but I have begun researching of the first stories I will detail: the U.S. naval attack on Nassau in The Bahamas in 1776. Led by Esek Hopkins, it is a small but important example of the war beyond the colonies.
Some research updates: my wife has managed to secure a copy of the out-of-print book from a university library. I should have it in a few days. Pro-tip: have a spouse or significant other in a major university if you want to write a book.
I’ll be sharing Google documents containing both my (living!) outline and bibliography soon. I will try to set it up so that you can’t change the document but you can leave comments. I might regret that, but I can always turn it off.
In reading The American Revolution: A World War, I’ve realized that its actually an exhibit catalog of sorts from a Smithsonian exhibit which just closed in DC. I encourage you to flip through the exhibition website. It looks like something I would have enjoyed.
I was particularly pleased to see that the exhibit showed the “Braddock Pistol.” This 1750’s flintlock pistol was made for General Edward Braddock, who was George Washington’s superior during the French and Indian War. At some point during the war before we was killed in Western Pennsylvania, Braddock gave this pistol to GW.
I love this because decades ago I was on a “storage room” tour of the National Museum of American History that allowed me to put on the white gloves and, briefly, handle this pistol. I can’t tell you what that felt like: this is a weapon which was both handled by George Washington and was present at the events which, at lease in part, eventually forced the American Revolution.
I’m not a Podcaster, I just write a lot. – What Big Pun would write if he were writing this blog post. Which he’s not. Because he’s dead.
With the end (for now) of the History You’ll Never Read podcast, I’m moving on to my next history project: writing a book.
I can honestly say I found the podcast process increasingly frustrating as it went on. Both the brevity and the style were not agreeable to me. In the future, I may turn to a more conversational style podcast with a partner, but while I’m still enthusiastic about history content, I believe it’s time to finally write a book.
It will be in the popular history style and be on the American Revolution as it took place outside the 13 colonies. Instead of the French being miraculous saviors that happen to show up at Yorktown and the Battle of the Chesapeake, we will look at their actions globally, from the Caribbean to India. The Spanish and the Dutch also have a role to play, from the Sieges of Pensacola and Gibraltar to the Battle of Dogger Bank. And I will certainly look at the role of the U.S.’s most accidental ally, the Sultan of Mysore.
There have been a couple of academic anthologies on this topic, but nothing that I have seen for the mass public. So often the Revolution is depicted as a hermetically sealed effort by the colonials to free themselves from Britain with a little reluctant help from the Ancien Régime. I hope to bring the global conflict to readers and show how much more indebted the United States is to other powers and how globally integrated the colonies were even before the war began.
I’m starting off with one of those anthologies: The American Revolution: A World War. This book appears to be filled with valuable information but it doesn’t have the narrative flow so vital to a popular history.
I’m also looking for a decently priced copy of: The American Revolution: A Global War. It appears to be out of print, so any leads I would appreciate.
This blog will be an ongoing record of research and documentation as well as particularly juicy bits I find interesting as I put it together. By following here, you’ll get a near real-time view into writing a history book.
Comments, questions and recommendations should be sent to carl@carloberg.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Carl Oberg 