The Rambling Writer Review: “The American Revolution” a Ken Burns documentary
An immersive tour through the complex history of the American Revolution.
I do not pretend to be a historian, so these are my impressions as simply an American viewing this documentary. I welcome any feedback from those with more knowledge of history. That said, I strongly recommend watching this series for a real understanding of the complicated issues, motives, and events that led to the founding of our country. It’s certainly far from the fairy-tale version I was taught in school, and I doubt it’s the “patriotic history” expounded by most MAGAts!
The documentary features interview snippets with many historians, visuals often using classic paintings, some videos of war reenactors and landscapes, graphics illustrating movements of armies and navies, and a narrator explaining events. What it reveals is a tumultuous time for Europe and the Americas, as the scope of the war touched all of the British colonies whether directly or not, and the crucial involvement of France (supporting the revolution) ended up inspiring its own revolution, which of course ended rather differently.
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You will find The Rambling Writer’s blog posts here every Saturday. Sara’s latest novel from Book View Café is Pause, a First Place winner of the Chanticleer Somerset Award and an International Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection. “A must-read novel about friendship, love, and killer hot flashes.” (Mindy Klasky). It’s also a love letter to the stunning beauty of her native Pacific Northwest wild places. Sign up for her quarterly email newsletter at www.sarastamey.com
5 thoughts on “The Rambling Writer Review: “The American Revolution” a Ken Burns documentary”
For those inclined to read about the American Revolution I recommend “Founding Mothers” by Katie Curic. She bases her theories on the network of correspondence among the wives and mothers of those fighting the war in the field and in politics. A fascinating perspective.
Thanks, Phyl. I really enjoyed the excerpts from women’s letters in the documentary, read by voice actors who personified the women. Interesting details of domestic life then, as well as the work women did in following and supporting the troops.
A fascinating documentary. I knew the streamlined version from grade school history books, but the doc really brought it to life. It’s amazing how many lucky breaks were involved in achieving independence.
Yes, it really was luck that the militia members happened to catch the British spy with the documents that revealed Benedict Arnold’s betrayal, in time to save West Point. Could have gone badly for the Patriots.
Talk to an older, hard core Mason. They have yet another perspective on how the British threw away the war.