Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Glorious Cause (American Revolutionary War (1770-1783) #2)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 2,398 ratings · 176 reviews

In Rise to Rebellion, bestselling author Jeff Shaara captured the origins of the American Revolution as brilliantly as he depicted the Civil War in Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure. Now he continues the amazing saga of how thirteen colonies became a nation, taking the conflict from kingdom and courtroom to the bold and bloody battlefields of war.

It was never a w...more In Rise to Rebellion, bestselling author Jeff Shaara captured the origins of the American Revolution as brilliantly as he depicted the Civil War in Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure. Now he continues the amazing saga of how thirteen colonies became a nation, taking the conflict from kingdom and courtroom to the bold and bloody battlefields of war.

It was never a war in which the outcome was obvious. Despite their spirit and stamina, the colonists were outmanned and outfought by the brazen British army. General George Washington found his troops trounced in the battles of Brooklyn and Manhattan and retreated toward Pennsylvania. With the future of the colonies at its lowest ebb, Washington made his most fateful decision: to cross the Delaware River and attack the enemy. The stunning victory at Trenton began a saga of victory and defeat that concluded with the British surrender at Yorktown, a moment that changed the history of the world.

The despair and triumph of America’s first great army is conveyed in scenes as powerful as any Shaara has written, a story told from the points of view of some of the most memorable characters in American history. There is George Washington, the charismatic leader who held his army together to achieve an unlikely victory; Charles Cornwallis, the no-nonsense British general, more than a match for his colonial counterpart; Nathaniel Greene, who rose from obscurity to become the finest battlefield commander in Washington’s army; The Marquis de Lafayette, the young Frenchman who brought a soldier’s passion to America; and Benjamin Franklin, a brilliant man of science and philosophy who became the finest statesman of his day.

From Nathan Hale to Benedict Arnold, William Howe to “Light Horse” Harry Lee, from Trenton and Valley Forge, Brandywine and Yorktown, the American Revolution’s most immortal characters and poignant moments are brought to life in remarkable Shaara style. Yet, The Glorious Cause is more than just a story of the legendary six-year struggle. It is a tribute to an amazing people who turned ideas into action and fought to declare themselves free. Above all, it is a riveting novel that both expands and surpasses its beloved author’s best work.

From the Hardcover edition.(less)

Paperback, 680 pages

Published June 3rd 2003 by Fawcett (first published October 29th 2002)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Recommended Historical Fiction

312th out of 1,091 books — 1,055 voters

The Black Dragons by Richard A. Hackett Jr.

Historical Military Adventure

6th out of 104 books — 31 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 03, 2013 Don rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is an extraordinary, historical novel by Jeff Shaara.

From the opening chapter about the murder of a fisherman in Brooklyn’s Graveshead Bay by invading, sea-borne British troops (which in present day is nestled between the Verrazano Bridge to the north, and Sea Gate to the south), Shaara’s descriptive writing, coupled with his historically accurate research, creates a book of epic proportions, which left me extremely disappointed that his 638 page, single-spaced, page-turner, had to actuall...more This is an extraordinary, historical novel by Jeff Shaara.

From the opening chapter about the murder of a fisherman in Brooklyn’s Graveshead Bay by invading, sea-borne British troops (which in present day is nestled between the Verrazano Bridge to the north, and Sea Gate to the south), Shaara’s descriptive writing, coupled with his historically accurate research, creates a book of epic proportions, which left me extremely disappointed that his 638 page, single-spaced, page-turner, had to actually end.

Shaara takes the reader on a tours de force of Long Island - via Brooklyn and Queens, culminating in the Battle of Long Island/Battle of Brooklyn, through present day Lower Manhattan, up to The Throgs Neck, Harlem and Fort Washington (now known as Washington Heights), and across the Hudson to The Palisades, all in the first 100 pages.

In short order, you become privy to the intimate details of the lives of George Washington, Charles Cornwallis, Nathaniel Greene, Marquis de Lafayette, Nathan Hale and many other notable personalities in the Colonial War. What intrigued me was Shaara’s ability to merge his fictionalized account of the interactions of the participants in this eight-year struggle, with the accurate, verifiable historical account of both the Colonist’s and British strategy, tactics and results.

I actually used Shaara’s book as a roadmap for my travels through Princeton, Trenton and Philadelphia. If you are both diligent and patient, evidence of the historic events that he writes of, and which actually occurred, not just where Pennsylvania and New Jersey meet on the Delaware River at Washington’s Crossing, but throughout this book, allow the reader to literally go back in time.

Shaara’s story reminds America of the sacrifice that mere citizen-soldiers, who were under-manned, under-supplied, under-nourished and unappreciated, for their immeasurable sacrifice in forming our country, gave unselfishly in circumstances that were at best - overwhelming. Shaara allows the reader to live vicariously during the war that solidified the original thirteen colonies. His inimitable story telling is the reason you should read this excellent book.
(less)

like · see review

May 02, 2012 Joe rated it 3 of 5 stars

In The Glorious Cause, Shaara picks up where he left off in Rise to Rebellion and relates the events of the lion share of the Revolutionary War (the fall of 1776 to the final negotiations in 1783.) Gone are many of the characters so crucial to the Declaration of Independence and greater space is given to the key players of the war: Washington, Greene, and Cornwallis and those crucial diplomats: Franklin and Adams.

Shaara does a great job in capturing the desperate nature of the war: Washington se...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2011 John rated it 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to an old friend for both introducing me to and loaning me this book. Right along the same vein as the Biography of John Adams I read, this book deals with the American Revolution. While not 100% verifiable - it IS historical fiction, it feels just right to me. The research meshes with that done for John Adams. Interestingly, he is almost completely absent from this book, so it makes a good companion piece, as they complement each other.

I gained a(nother) new appreciation for the way Prov...more

like · see review

Oct 13, 2010 Grayson Coleman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Grayson Coleman
Ms. Minniear
1st period
10/11/10
The Glorious Cause is a historical fiction book written by Jeff Shaara. It is set in the new country
of America during the Revolutionary War.
It is told so that all the commanding generals of both sides tell the story. For example one
chapter might be titled “Washington“, and the next “Cornwallis.” There is really no main character but
here are some of the characters, George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Charles Cornwallis, and William
Howe.
The story...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 11, 2010 Steven Peterson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jeff Shaara has written his familiar novels about a number of wars--beginning with his Civil War novels, and continuing with works on the Mexican War, World Wars I and II. This fictional narrative explores the Revolutionary War.

His by-now-familiar style of using several characters to report on the events works reasonably well, although it sometimes prevents a birds-eye view from a larger perspective.

In this volume, key actors include George Washington, his crack lieutenant Nathanael Greene, Be...more

like · see review

Mar 10, 2009 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

The second half/conclusion of Shaara's Revolutionary War narrative focuses primarily on the military aspects, mostly from the perspectives of Washington, Greene and Cornwallis. The diplomatic end of the story appears through Franklin's eyes, but somewhat infrequently. Other characters prominent in the first book, such as John Adams, are barely mentioned in the second.

I did enjoy it - personally, I find the earlier days of the Revolution (the events covered in the first book) to be of greater int...more

like · see review

Jul 23, 2011 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

This epic sequel to "Rise to Rebellion" continues the story of the American Revolution, with this novel covering the years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence through the war's conclusion. Shaara does an admirable job of covering so much action and history through the eyes of several characters. My only complaint is that, while "Rise to Rebellion" included the battles as well as the pursuit of the congress and some of the home lives, this book is almost exclusively about the...more

like · see review

Aug 14, 2011 Charles Cummings rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Glorious Cause is book 2 on of Jeff Shaara’s two book set on the American Revolutionary War. This book really shined through as an excellent piece from Shaara. It goes from the invasion of New York to the siege of Yorktown. The primary focus of the book is the battles and the armies. Shaara writes from the point of view of different people (Washington, Lord Cornwallis, Greene, etc). The history is true; the conversations are Shaara’s idea of what was said. If you are interested in the Americ...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 11, 2010 Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's been a long time since I laid down a book having finished it completely, and come away with the same feeling of thorough satisfaction. Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause by Jeff Shaara completely filled the hours of my evenings and nourished my thoughts for almost three months. Never once did my interest lag as so often had happened in the past when working through the twists and turns of some fictional novel. It's true I had come to these books with an already piqued interest in hist...more

like · see review

Jan 15, 2013 Christine Boyer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: American history, war strategists, George Washington, history teachers

This was even better than his other book, "Rise to Rebellion"! I was crying at the end with the moving scene of Washington returning to Mt. Vernon & Martha after giving 8 grueling years of blood, sweat, and tears to what seemed and impossible feat. Again, I'll give the same tip as I did in Shaara's other book. It's very long - over 600 pages - and very detailed. Even though it is fiction, it still includes all the dates and scenes as true to the documentated evidence that we have - so not fo...more

like · see review

Mar 16, 2013 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Actually, maybe the best Shaara book of the bunch. Other than the inexcusable absence of Adams' perspective, mysteriously dropped from this book (I'll have to read the new book that inspired the mini-series), this book really made the characters real and the events. I felt like I knew Washington and Franklin. I also was introduced here to Morgan, Greene, Lafayette, and even the infamous Charles Lee. Giving history faces is a real talent that Shaara has. It may surprise Americans to note he is fa...more

like · see review

Apr 25, 2013 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

25hr and 58 min of History that is wrapped in some fiction as to give the main figures voice.
It is important for Americans to know what we went thru to become Nation. I especially enjoyed the parts detailing LaFayette and many Battles in South Carolina. Growing up there I heard as much about the Revolution as I did the Civil War due to the fact SC had more Revolutionary battles than any other state.
I digress. Washington was a great man and this book gives an insight into his character. Many othe...more

like · see review

Jan 28, 2012 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the follow-up novel to Rise to Rebellion about the American Revolution; this books is just as good. General George Washington lead the Colonials through victories and loses from New York to Pennsylvania. The stunning victory at Trenton began a saga of victory and defeat that concluded with the British surrender at Yorktown, a moment that changed the history of the world.

Jeff Shaara does great research and makes his novels interesting and compelling. I really enjoyed both books. They giv...more

like · see review

Oct 04, 2012 Mike Grady rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010s

Another solid work by Jeff Shaara. The Glorious Cause is an engaging work that represents the second "half" of the Revolution as started with Rise to Rebellion. In contrast to the previous entry, The Glorious Cause details several of the major engagements of the war, culminating with Yorktown.

Going into this book I has a fair working knowledge of the American Revolution - the dates, events and more notable players. The Glorious Cause has helped fill in several of my knowledge gaps and has encour...more

like · see review

Feb 24, 2009 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

It took a little bit to get into this book but once started I got hooked . It made me really appreciate what our founding fathers did for this country and what a miracle that America ever came to be. Once again Jeff Shaara has done meticulous research so you come away feeling like you know a few of the men who made America a little better. I have new feelings of patriotism for our country not that I didn't before but now my feelings are heightened. For one of the first times ever I can say thank...more

like · see review

May 20, 2013 Suzanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: around-the-usa-challenge, historical-fiction, us-revolutionary-war

The Glorious Cause is the second book in Jeff Shaara’s narration of the American Revolution. Having read and loved the first, I already knew what I was in for when I picked up this novel. Wow! Shaara is such a master at presenting history in a way that is thrilling and even, at times, nailbiting. It doesn’t matter that we already know how the story turns out, this book is fantastic!

Again, Shaara changes perspective with each chapter, featuring such important players as George Washington, Charles...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 21, 2012 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ares, military, 2011, 18th-century, revolutionary-war

Themes: freedom, class, politics, war, destiny, sacrifice

Think you know the Revolutionary War? So did I, but I find the more I read, the more I didn't know. This book picks up with Brooklyn and goes through to the final siege of Yorktown.

Nobody writes war stories like Shaara. He does such a great job of describing the key figures, of telling the story behind the conflict, and of explaining where things are happening. I have a hard time picturing things out without a map. I'm not really a visual...more

like · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Rachel G rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio, around-the-states, read-2011, historical-fiction, rart, hf-challenge

This is the story of the American Revolution as told by the men who fought in it and for it. Shaara is known for this style of storytelling, and it is done very well in this novel. Those who help narrate the story include George Washington, Charles Cornwallis, Benjamin Franklin, and Nathaniel Greene. Because of the variety of points of view, this historical fiction takes place everywhere from Paris to New York to Yorktown. It shows just how close the war was, especially in its infancy. An indepe...more

like · see review

Jan 26, 2012 Nathaniel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Nathaniel read this book, thought, "my, this book is a piece of crap and Jeff Shaara is a lazy hack coasting off of his much more talented father's reputation." Sitting in a train station in Spokane for 14 hours with nothing but a half-filled container of sunflower seeds, he cursed the bookstore at which he had purchased this volume for $2. Then the British attacked uneventfully and he got to meet George Washington engaged in existential struggle. Or something.

Seriously, though, this is just ab...more

like · see review

May 14, 2007 Jonelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: history buffs, fans of historical fiction

I ended up loving this book more by the end than I initially did.

(One point of personal interest for me as realizing how many Revolutionary figures are notable names near where I live (Greene, Pickens, Huger, Sumter, Marion...)..all streets and counties near me.)

But the main love I have for this book comes from the re-awakening about just how amazing it is that a scrappy bunch of farmers and craftsmen beat the most professional and experienced army in the Western world at the time. The passages...more

like · see review

Sep 30, 2010 Jonathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book covers the American Revolution and follows the same format as the previous book, telling the story from the viewpoint of actual people (Washington, Cornwallis, Greene and Lafayette) are the main characters. I never realized that so much of the Revolutionary War was standing around. Every time the British would win a battle they would take a really long break, (sometimes almost a year it seemed), before they felt the need to do anything else. This of course helped out the Continental Ar...more

like · see review

Apr 17, 2012 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Some of the scenes were riveting. I enjoyed getting deeply into this story since, when I think of it, I cannot believe that any group of people would have thought they could take on a superpower like England was at the time and win! What were they thinking?! It was great of Jeff Shaara to do all the research for me so it was in this book. I was on the edge of my seat when George Washington was traveling to West Point and Benedict Arnold was betraying the United States. Although you know it did n...more

like · see review

Aug 01, 2011 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-revolution, historical-fiction

A wonderful companion to "Rise to Rebellion", Shaara takes us through the American Revolution military campaigns through the eyes of both Washington and Cornwallis. The history is solid (I check constantly)and Shaara helps bring to life the thoughts of each general, from Washington's frustrations with support and performance of his army, to Cornwallis' frustrations with the ineptitude of his commanders. Also chronicled is Benjamin Franklin's brilliant diplomacy. I loved both volumes. Thank you J...more

like · see review

Aug 05, 2012 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite historical fiction novels. Shaara, gives a personality (through extensive research) to some of the best known but most understood people of our countries history. You really get a sense of not just what Washington and the founding fathers felt but the average man and solder, the people. This book and the other in the series really gave me a better appreciation for the history of our country at this time.

like · see review

May 07, 2013 Bill Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love this author and his ability to make history so interesting and enlightening. Historical fiction by definition takes certain amount of liberties but encourages you to delve into historical events that you may not have studied or bothered with. Read this book and get an appreciation of our country's struggles and the people who endured them.

I found this follow-up to "Rise to Rebellion" much more intriguing as this book details battle tactics and strategies more so than the first book which...more

like · see review

Mar 09, 2008 Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Americans, history-lovers, non-readers with short attention spans

I have been waiting several years to hear how the American Revolution concluded :) Now I no longer have to wait for David McCullough to write a 1777.

Again, Jeff Shaara delivers in a real, living way the heroes & villian* of our nation's founding. The story gets considerably more complex as Washington moves on from the victory at Boston and upholds the Declaration of Independence. If I hadn't been reasonably sure of the victor, I would've reached into my CD player and strangled Charles Lee an...more

like · see review

Jun 12, 2012 Adam rated it 4 of 5 stars

After reading Rise to Rebellion twice, it is natural that I have read this book twice. This 2nd book of a 2 part series may not be classroom-worthy, but it sure reveals the human side of men and women who helped shape what would become the United States. This book gives light to our first civil war, with the loss, heartache, failures, and victories.

like · see review

Jan 01, 2009 Mary Karlee rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I found my heart beating as each new battle unfolded. Of course I knew the Americans won the war, but since my Revolutionary War knowledge was limited to cliches like "the crossing of the Delaware" and names like Vally Forge, I never knew how each individual battle would turn out. I surprised myself by really getting into the battle strategies and even studying maps. I now have such a profound admiration for George Washington, too. What a great leader! We won the war, but it t...more

like · see review

Nov 03, 2009 Nathaniel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. And yes, I like commas (but not as much as this author). I usually prefer history books to historical fiction, but this was very good. It had enough details to keep me interested and didn't get too ridiculous. It had a nice balance of emotions, speaking, and nuggets of fact.
You really get hooked on the book because it plays out the Revolutionary War from the first-person viewpoints of the people who made it happen. The events and timeline are real, but obviously the d...more

like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 Valerie Curtis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-revolution, war

This is a very well written story on the build up and the beginning of the revolutionary war. It is not a blood and guts book. It is a story that identifies and introduces to a few of the main players of the American Revolution. I quite enjoyed it, giving me a little more perspective on a few of these characters.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (14)

More editions...

Genres

Historical Fiction

156 users

War

15 users

History > American History

12 users

War > Military

10 users

United States

4 users

Academic > School

3 users

Novels

2 users

Military > Military History

2 users

Literature > American

2 users

Literature > 18th Century

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jeff Shaara

Jeff Shaara, a descendant of Italian immigrants, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey ("Shaara" was originally spelled "Sciarra"). He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Criminology. From age 16, Jeff operated a rare coin business, first out of his home, then in a retail store. After moving to Tampa, Jeff became one of the most widely know...more Jeff Shaara, a descendant of Italian immigrants, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey ("Shaara" was originally spelled "Sciarra"). He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Criminology. From age 16, Jeff operated a rare coin business, first out of his home, then in a retail store. After moving to Tampa, Jeff became one of the most widely known coin and precious-metals dealers in Florida. In 1988, Jeff's father, Michael Shaara, died, and Jeff made the decision to sell his business, and take over the management of his father's estate.

Onboard the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Mustin in the Persian Gulf.

In 1993, the motion picture "Gettysburg" was released, which was based on his father's classic novel, The Killer Angels. After the critical and commercial success of the film, Jeff was approached about the possibility of continuing the story, finding someone to write a prequel and sequel to The Killer Angels. After some considerable soul-searching, Jeff decided to try to tackle the project himself. The decision was difficult in many ways, but most challenging because Jeff had no previous experience as a writer.

In 1996, Ballantine Books published Jeff's first novel, Gods and Generals, the prequel to his father's great work. Gods and Generals leapt onto the New York Times Bestseller List, and remained there for fifteen weeks. Critics nationwide praised the book and Jeff's writing ability, and the book was awarded the American Library Association's Prestigious "Boyd Award". No one was more surprised than Jeff himself. In 1998, the sequel, The Last Full Measure, was published, with the same result: thirteen weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, and universal praise from critics and fans nationwide. Two years later, Jeff published his third novel, Gone For Soldiers, which followed many familiar Civil War characters back to their experiences in the Mexican-American War of the 1840's. Received with much critical acclaim, the book became Jeff's third bestseller.(less)

More about Jeff Shaara...

Books by Jeff Shaara

Rise to Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution

The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II (World War II: 1939-1945 #1)

To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Glorious Cause

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Glorious Cause
avg rating	preview: The Glorious Cause Goodreads rating: 4.19 (2398 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/785003.The_Glorious_Cause?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320436067l/785003.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/785003.The_Glorious_Cause?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Glorious Cause by Jeff Shaara[/url]

The Glorious Cause (American Revolutionary War (1770-1783) #2)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website