Book of the Week--The Real Revolution: The Global Story of American Independence by Marc Aronson

From SLJ October 2005 (Starred Review)

Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA -- School Library Journal, 10/10/2005

ARONSON, Marc. The Real Revolution: The Global Story of American Independence. 221p. maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. notes. Web sites. CIP. Clarion. 2005. Tr $20. ISBN 0-618-18179-2. LC 2005001088.

Gr 7 Up–In this fascinating, insightful volume, Aronson investigates the origins of the American Revolution and discovers some startling global connections. The colonies' quest for independence is tied to such seemingly unrelated incidents as Robert Clive's triumph over the French in India in 1750 and John Wilkes's accusations against the king in his newspaper, The North Briton, in the 1760s. In his introduction, the author explains how remarks by John Adams helped him define the scope of his book: "'What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760 to 1775.'" Employing a new approach called "transnational" history, Aronson demonstrates the evolution of the colonists from English subjects to an entirely new breed–Americans–and points out such ironies as the fact that slavery made it possible for wealthy Virginia squires to have the leisure to ponder the concept of freedom. The numerous illustrations include portraits, engravings, maps, reproductions of documents, and period political cartoons, which are explained for modern readers. Extensive endnotes, a lengthy bibliography, a list of Web sites, and a time line will encourage readers to explore history on their own. This outstanding work is highly compelling reading and belongs in every library.