Another Review at MyShelf.Com

American Spring
Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution
Walter R. Borneman
Read by Tom Taylorson

Hachette Audio
May 7, 2014 / ISBN May 6, 2014
History / Revolutionary War / USA / Audiobook - Unabridged / Download & CD

Reviewed by Brenda Weeaks

 

“It seems we have troublesome times a Coming for there is a great Disturbance a Broad in the earth & they say it is tea that caused it.”
– Diary of Jemima Condict, October 1774

One can only imagine what it was like as our forefathers labored to build a new country and dealt with England’s government and taxes. Resentment was a given. The author explains why the subject of Taxes became so heated and how the resent became unbearable as the Crown’s troops took over colonists’ homes. Boston had become an "occupied" town. On December 13, 1774 Paul Revere (silversmith/rebel) delivers news to Samuel Cutts (merchant/rebel). George the III’s government has banned the import of arms and gunpowder. A cache of arms are stored at a Fort in New Hampshire and Revere thinks they should retrieve it before the British march that way. And so it begins…

In American Spring readers/listeners get a close up look at the first few months of the American Revolutionary War – a war that was never planned. The author relays the first battles involving the minute men, the colonist militias and the British Army -- battles that would seal our history. He presents the views of all involved -- colonists, slaves, women, as well as loyalist. He doesn’t come across as a writer taking sides. The most interesting to me was Ben Franklin’s trip to England and the game of Chess meant to sway him from patriot to loyalist. I love history and found it highly informative. Borneman’s personal description of the historical period is memorable. The book includes Maps.

Tom Taylorson’s narration of the audio version is incredibly smooth -- perfect for this historical period. He has a voice that allows me to time travel. Whenever I stopped what I was doing and closed my eyes, I could actually see Taylorson in historical clothing delivering the Borneman's lesson in history.

Tom Taylorson is a Chicago-based actor. He narrates various genres, including Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Secret Files (The Junior Novelization) which again fits his youthful, clear tone. Taylorson also narrates TV and Radio commercials.

Reviewer Note: Graphic battle scenes.
Reviewed 2014
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