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To Try Men's Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom
After two bestselling series examining the Civil War and WWII, Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen have turned their sharp eye for detail on the Revolutionary War. Their story follows three men with three very different roles to play in history: General George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn, a private in Washington’s army. The action focuses on one...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
October 20th 2009
by Thomas Dunne Books
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Stephen
rated it
Having not previously read any of the historical fiction novels by Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen (who I assume does much of the “in the trenches”work on this), I was very pleasantly stunned by how terrific this novel was. The story is engaging and very well written and it’s clear that it was also painstakingly researched. Yet, despite the significant amou...more
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A Patriotic epic of Revolutionary Combat -- what's not to like?
Well, there's no combat to speak of, till the last fifty pages. About three quarters of the book is Washington crossing the Delaware -- but it's all men tripping, falling, cursing, muddy trails, snow down the back of the neck, endless paragraphs about innocent farm boys shivering uncontrollably and dying slowly. I mean, I get it -- heroes make sacrifices. But I've seen William Forstchen write novels where the combat acti...more
Well, there's no combat to speak of, till the last fifty pages. About three quarters of the book is Washington crossing the Delaware -- but it's all men tripping, falling, cursing, muddy trails, snow down the back of the neck, endless paragraphs about innocent farm boys shivering uncontrollably and dying slowly. I mean, I get it -- heroes make sacrifices. But I've seen William Forstchen write novels where the combat acti...more
Told through three voices - George Washington, Thomas Paine, and a soldier named Jonathon - we embark upon the famous crossing of the Delaware. Men sloshed for miles in a blinding snowstorm barefoot and with threadbare clothes that didn't even cover their bodies anymore. They were hungry, sick, and heartbroken from the recent defeats they suffered. Families were divided and entire towns hid wondering if they should support the Torries or the Patriots.
The story was riveting. At times ...more
The story was riveting. At times ...more
This book is about George Washington and his men; and what transpired during those weeks before they crossed the Delaware. This novel is written in the voice of Gen George Washington, Thomas Paine and that of a lowly Jersey Militia man Jonathan. We read of the incredible suffering these men indured, how they did not let anything including the many defeats leading up to the struggle to get across the Delaware where they were finially victorious. They were a rag tag army of men who would not give ...more
Loved this historical fiction account of the Crossing of the Delaware, a story with which every American should acquaint himself. You feel every tick of the clock as you wait on the shore with George Washington, the suspense building as you wonder whether in fact you will be able to pull off the surprise attack.
I was disappointed that the book contained a fair amount of vulgar talk from the soldiers--(something that rendered William Forstchen's other book unreadable to me)---but ultimately...more
I was disappointed that the book contained a fair amount of vulgar talk from the soldiers--(something that rendered William Forstchen's other book unreadable to me)---but ultimately...more
I've always been fascinated by Revolutionary American History and with a story about Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Night before retaking the town of Trenton, New Jersey it sounded perfect. I wanted to LOVE it...... but didn't. I was half-way through it and still hadn't hit upon any story. Most of it is personal thoughts, fears and LOADS of self-doubt, which is ok up to a certain point. There were MANY flashbacks that held more suspense than the "present" timel...more
I had a really hard time following the beginning of the book and found the reading somewhat laborious. However, the end redeemed this one for me. Once the storyline stopped jumping around so much I really enjoyed it. I don't know that it is the best revolutionary war novel I have ever read as entertainment, but it definitely brings perspective in regards to the sacrifices that were made and the uncertainties that surrounded the founding of this country. It seems it was probably pretty factually...more
Really well written retelling of the historic accounts. The only major point of criticism i might have with this version is the extreme often usage of flashbacks to enable the authors to start with the preparations of the famous crossing of the delaware instead of with the New York Campaign and the flight from Long Island which is arguably the earliest really outwritten happening in the book (even when others like the declaration of independence or the boston tea party and massacre are mentioned...more
It took a little while to get into this book because it was hard to keep the people straight (I listened to this on an audiobook). However, after a while, I got where I really enjoyed it and was moved by it. It is the retelling of Washington's crossing the Delaware and the attack at New Jersey, the first battle the Americans won and the story of Thomas Paine writing America in Crisis, the document that has the phrases about the "sunshine patriot" and "these are the times that try ...more
This book could have been cut in half and it still would have conveyed the same message. There was so much redundancy that it just about bored you to death. It seemed that every few pages reminded you of what you'd read in the previous chapter; I guess the average reader has a short attention span? It was laborious reading up until about the 55% mark (I was reading on my Kindle), when you finally got to see the battle scene. I found the first half of the book to be tedious and confusing, and I n...more
This is a historical-fiction story of the Continental Army's flight across New Jersey in 1776. The story ends with the Continental Army's victory at Trenton, New Jersey on December 26. I believe the basic history is correct (I'm not a scholar on this subject so so inconsistencies might exist), but I don't have enough knowledge of the cast of characters in the story (Thomas Paine, Henry Knox, or Col. Rall of Hesse) to know if their placement in the story is based on fact. The story was interes...more
I am so glad that I found this book. This book taken the battle for Trenton, NJ and portrays it in a manner that can be understood. It does this through the thoughts and eyes of Paine, Washington and a fictional soldier. Not only is the battle portrayed but many of events leading to the battle. Paine's documents are discussed in detail. The fictional soldier's family is made up of a patriot, a deserter, and a torri. An excellent book and I will read more from these two authors.
It was good to put a human side to the events surrounding one of the pivotal moments in the American Revolution. If the events are true, and the weather was that awful, and the conditions of the soldiers that horrid, then we owe more to those brave men that I had realized. Often we look back on the revolution as a simple matter of proclaiming our freedom and it was ours. We forget the price paid by many to free us from tyranny. This is a good reminder of history we think we know well.
I am relearning and adding to my knowledge of American history. You can't protect the freedoms that you have unless you know how we started as a country, A Republic, what we represent, and where we have been as a people. All of that should direct us on the proper path ahead. I would classify this book as an historical novel. It is excellent. Relive crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Eve, in the midst of an ice and snowstorm, with George Washington. I'm almost half way through it.
Having read the Pearl Harbor books, which take history and 'what if' something different had happened, I was pleased to find this was a historical account of what actually happened. It takes you through the build up to the battle, how lucky they were to win, how it changed the tide of the Revolution. It supposed the thoughts of some of the main characters, like George Washington and Thomas Paine, but I found that added to the overall richness of the book.
My one minor complaint was that it ...more
My one minor complaint was that it ...more
Still reading the book but so far I find it interesting being a student of American History. Teh writing style makes me wonder of the dialog between characters if the words used in the text were actual words or phrased used in 1776. I don't think George Washington would be using words such as "Damn" being a man of high christian standing and highly educated for the times.
Finished the book now 1/23/11. I enjoyed it very much. It picked up pace as the battle started about 2...more
Finished the book now 1/23/11. I enjoyed it very much. It picked up pace as the battle started about 2...more
This book describes Washington's crossing of the Delaware and the Battle of Trenton, along with the writings of Thomas Paine and the common Revolutionary War soldier. The basic facts involving Washington's crossing of the Delaware are fairly well known, and this book attempts to fill in some of the blanks of the story by giving the reader an idea of what may have transpired on a personal level of some of the leaders and soldiers. The dialogue crafted was a little melodrammatic, so I thought th...more
I really enjoyed this book. I kept putting off reading it and then when I finally got started I went right through it. When reading these types of books I leave with such awe & wonder. Those men (& women that supported them) had such a clear view of what they stood for. General Washington was an amazing man with more integrity in his little finger than most people I know today. Well written, great detail, good read.
You may not agree with his life or his politics but Gingrich and Fortschen really bring history to life. I enjoyed this bool more than their other forays into historical fiction ( Civil War and WWII) because in this one they showed how the American patriots may have felt that bleak cold Christmas Day in 1776 when the revolution was saved and democracy was born
This was a very interesting novel about the revolutionary war, with the fictionalized focus on Thomas Paine, George Washington and a very uncommon young foot soldier. It was well done and gave me an increased awareness of the sacrifices the patriots made to win our freedom. It pleased me that proper credit was given to the influence of divine intervention.
Somehow I missed putting this one here in Goodreads. A wonderful and historically well supported account of Washington's legendary crossing of the Delaware. Wow! Well worth the read. Written by a couple of history PhDs who can tell a story, it drags a little in the details, but it also brings the fight to life.
Historical Non-fiction is generally not my genre of choice but I'm glad I read this one.
The men who fought for the freedom of our nation were absolutely incredible. Their sacrifices were not just some words on a page and I appreciate Newt bringing that herroic effort to me personally.
One of the books you hate to read but must!
The men who fought for the freedom of our nation were absolutely incredible. Their sacrifices were not just some words on a page and I appreciate Newt bringing that herroic effort to me personally.
One of the books you hate to read but must!
This should be required reading for all High School students in America! Most of our elected officials should read it as well. An outstanding book that captures the sacrifice and commitment of the common man in Revolutionary America.
My heartfelt thanks to the them and to all our Armed Service men!
My heartfelt thanks to the them and to all our Armed Service men!
When I first searched for this one I typed in To Try Men's Soles"- get it? A lot of the men who fought with Washington ended up barefooted, therefore their soles were tried. Really the men there fought a hard battle and it was a miracle that the battle was won. Everyone should read this.
An excellent historical novel about the battle for Trenton, NJ when Washington crossed the Delaware River and surpirsed the British troops and won the battle. It was an interesting story which I recommend if you want to learn more about the Revolutionary war. It was fiction, but well researched.
This book was AMAZING. Hard to describe but loved how it followed the sequence of events. The book was written differently than the previous novels I've read by Mr. Gingrich. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not.
If one of your heroes is George Washington (and he should), read this book!
If one of your heroes is George Washington (and he should), read this book!
I learned just how the Revolutionary War affected the life of Jonathan, a soldier in Washington's army. It literally split his family down the middle. His family doesn't understand his passion for the cause Jonathan is willing to risk his life for. They think he's jumping on a bandwagon that is surely going to fail in the end.
I learned more about Thomas Paine and the risk of printing "Common Sense", his famous call for finishing the fight for freedom.
I learned about G...more
I learned more about Thomas Paine and the risk of printing "Common Sense", his famous call for finishing the fight for freedom.
I learned about G...more
Wow! A great book for Revolutionary War students. Authors have outdone themselves. I could feel the soldiers' pain. "To Try Men's Souls" brings this most important conflict to life. I am going back and finishing, if not beginning again, "John Adams" by David McCullough.
I really enjoyed learning about the Revolutionary war because I hardly knew anything about it before. The book made me appreciate those men who fought for our freedom. I had no idea what they went through. I thought there was excessive swearing though.
Terry Moffitt
added it
Excellent book that really brings the individual sacrifice and Divine intervention that occured in the American Revolution home. Though this is a work of fiction it has prompted me to re-examine the lives and history of the era.
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Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich (born Newton Leroy McPherson) is an American politician who served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. In 1995, Time magazine selected him as the Person of the Year for his role in leading the Republican Revolution in the House, ending 40 years of the Democratic Party being in the majority. During his tenure as Spea...more
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