Subtitles in history books often convey more than the (often shorter) title, which is no less true with this book’s subtitle of “America, Britain, and Europe in the Revolutionary War.” In terms of the vast matrix outside of Britain and the American colonies, the average student of history knows that the support, and eventual formal entry into the war, of France was crucial. This book is the opportunity to move beyond that true but simple view. Hence the subtitle. As with some of Ferling’s other books, this works through the chronology of the Revolutionary War by looking at the battles, the strategies, and the personalities in America (American and British), with over a dozen other dynamics. One gem among these is the look at George Washington, not just his strengths but insights into his character, motivation, and weaknesses. But the uniqueness of this book is the detailed insight into what was happening in England and France. There is much less detail with Spain, and even less devoted to the rest of Europe. It would have been helpful, again per the subtitle, to learn a little more about the islands in the Caribbean, as well as Florida. Yet the book still succeeds resoundingly in broadening our horizon, both of how Europe viewed the war, and how infant America viewed Europe.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for an advance copy of this book that tells the history of the American Revolution not just from the rebels and the English side, including the other European powers that had much to gain from a long war, and in many ways had much to lose.

The American Revolution has been the subject of many books, many hagiographies, propagandas, reappraisals, and lots based on legends and myths. And some very good books. History is not something we as a people seem to care about anymore. We print the legend, believe the legend, and do our own research to make sure the legend is all that anyone talks about. People remember the Minuteman, the original not the militia group, Washington's teeth, Benedict Arnold and his treachery, and well freedom for select people. Revolutions are hard because there are many reasons why people revolt. Telling a tale of rebellion one has to look from a different viewpoints. The winners, the losers, those caught in the middle and suffered the most. Those who saw in opportunity, and took advantage of a war to weaken a Great power, and maybe gain a new trading partner. I have read many books on the Revolution, but few talk about the expanse of the Revolution, how many countries were involved, maybe the first proxy war, something America will become famous for. Shots Heard Round the World: America, Britain, and Europe in the Revolutionary War by educator and historian John Ferling is a look at the larger ramifications of the war, how it could have been stopped, the goading from outside forces, and how it changed the world.

The book begins with England changing the way that they were dealing with the American colonies. Ways in which suddenly a lot of money would be at stake. Britain tried to cut down on smuggling by enforcing certain trad laws, and also tried to control the growth of the colony. This heavy handedness hurt the pocket books of land speculators, no growth no money, and merchants, trade problems, less smuggling, less money. Ferling discusses how if cooler heads had prevailed, these problems could have been dealt with, and history might have been quite different. We follow the growth of the war, the march on Lexington, the colonies attempts at invading Canada. There are many familiar names, but there are more internation players added too. Spain looking to keep colonies, and power. France giving material, men, money and support in many ways, hoping to keep English off-balance allowing the French to rebuild their power base. Ferling follows the war, a war which was not fought well, where victory could have been seized by either side much earlier than the outcome.

One would think that after 250 years everything would have been written about the Revolution. Ferling does more than that, looking at the war in different ways, showing different key moments where victory was lost by just a few bad decisions, or even by bad luck. Ferling is a very good author able to look at events from different view and never lose the narrative. As I mentioned most of the big names are mentioned, but it is in the people that are lesser known that really make the story. The men who could see that the possibilities, those who tried to slow down what was coming, and those who could profit off it. A book that really puts the Revolution in a new light.

This is the first book I have read by Ferling, and I enjoyed the way he told not only a familiar story, but made it new and different. Though I know the conclusion, I still enjoyed reading this larger take of the Revolution on a grand scale. I look forward to reading more by John Ferling.

I wasn't sure if Ferling could truly have anything more to say on the Revolution, but I was wrong. This book is a remarkably comprehensive, world-wide look at the American Revolution and War of Independence. It breaks out of a myopic view that focus on key players and an American-centric narrative. It's a great follow up to Ferling's Independence; furthermore, it expands the reader's understanding of the many contexts of the events of the war and diplomacy that had taken place as the Revolution played out. It is not simply an American and British story, either. France figures largely as well as Spain. Ferling's work makes the case that this War for Independence was not the seminal event of the time that we Americans consider it to be, but part of a larger global struggle for international dominance. Ferling's work as been important to the historiography of the Revolution, especially over the last 20 years. This book builds on his past work and gives us the larger narrative that up until now, has not adequately been pieced together.

You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, <a href="https://www.mrbooksbookreviews.com">Mr. Book's Book Reviews.</a>

Thank you, Bloomsbury, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mr. Book just finished Shots Heard Round The World: America, Britain, and Europe in the Revolutionary War, by John Ferling.

This book will be released on April 1, 2025.

This book purported to be not only be about the military aspects of the Revolutionary War, but also focus on the political decisions, being being made both here and abroad. The coverage was thorough on the military, but did not go overboard on tactics. For someone who is not really interested in the specifics of battles, I appreciated that part. But, I found this one lacking in terms of the political aspects.

I have already read four of Ferling’s books about the revolutionary era, and early America history, and have given all four of them A’s. But, due to having enough about the political aspects of the war, I did not enjoy this one as much as his others.

So, I give this book a B. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, a B equates to 3 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews

Mr. Book finished reading this on October 9, 2024.