I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book incredibly interesting the author really kept me hooked until the end. very well written I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read review this book. Did not finish. I thoroughly enjoy reading good military history. This was well written but contained errors that could not be ignored. Early on the author describes the Battle of Bunker Hill. He does not mention that the fighting actually took place on Breed's Hill. though this is not historically well known, it matters to a historian. I could not continue thinkg about other possible discrepancies while I read. Sorry.

Winning Independence is the book both for those of us who are looking beyond what was covered in our history classes and for anyone who wants a better and deeper presentation of the hows and whys of the US War of Independence. Most importantly, the reasons behind political and policy decisions, and the effort and the sheer amounts of skullduggery involved, are illustrated--France's decision to align and support the nascent United States doesn't spring from the seafoam; it is a calculated decision by France to out-maneuver the UK in an ongoing cold war as well as gain traction in the North American continent via political alliances.

Ferling's writing draws the reader in and keeps their interest with vivid descriptions. This is the book about the US War of Independence we wished we had in our history courses.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54860226-winning-independence

FREE ARC from NET GALLEY, the PLACE for real READERS!!!!!!!!!!

Too many readers of history (like me) don;t think there is much new out there concerning the revolutionary war and that we are not going to learn anything new.

This author will be a pleasant surprise for you. Meticulously researched he brigs to life the opinions and thoughts of commanders on both sides enabling the reader to make their own tactical decisions.

Few of us have seen the southern campaigns which were critical in rebuilding the morale and faith of the fledgling army of the US and yet Ferling does a masterful job in doing just that.

Many will be surprised at how close Britain was to victory and yet failed to capitalized on seizing several southern colonies.

Well done!!

I'm usually a fan of Ferling's work, especially his prior books on American Independence. And while there is much to like about 'Winning Independence,' I feel he does the reader a disservice by not immediately getting into the action in the Southern colonies. There just seems to be a great deal of covering what had happened from the beginning of hostilities leading up to the war in the South. There is also a lack of discussion regarding rebel leaders like Francis Marion and their motivations against the British, and maybe too much speculation about the thoughts of generals Clinton, Cornwallis, and Washington. For example, it's mentioned more than a few times that Washington did not go south himself because he wanted to make an assault on New York and was waiting for Rochambeau to sail there in support. And that is just one example of several instances Ferling repeats himself throughout the narrative. The book does get three stars for his writing regarding the various battles such as King's Mountain, Cowpens, and Guilford Courthouse. Overall, the writing and research is strong, I just wish the author had cut down on the preceding chapters and gone straight into the narrative about the war's later years.