Scars of Independence Audiobook By Holger Hoock cover art

Scars of Independence

America's Violent Birth

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A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE

A magisterial new work that rewrites the story of America's founding

The American Revolution is often portrayed as an orderly, restrained rebellion, with brave patriots defending their noble ideals against an oppressive empire. It’s a stirring narrative, and one the founders did their best to encourage after the war. But as historian Holger Hoock shows in this deeply researched and elegantly written account of America’s founding, the Revolution was not only a high-minded battle over principles, but also a profoundly violent civil war—one that shaped the nation, and the British Empire, in ways we have only begun to understand.

In Scars of Independence, Hoock writes the violence back into the story of the Revolution. American Patriots persecuted and tortured Loyalists. British troops massacred enemy soldiers and raped colonial women. Prisoners were starved on disease-ridden ships and in subterranean cells. African-Americans fighting for or against independence suffered disproportionately, and Washington’s army waged a genocidal campaign against the Iroquois. In vivid, authoritative prose, Hoock’s new reckoning also examines the moral dilemmas posed by this all-pervasive violence, as the British found themselves torn between unlimited war and restraint toward fellow subjects, while the Patriots documented war crimes in an ingenious effort to unify the fledgling nation.

For two centuries we have whitewashed this history of the Revolution. Scars of Independence forces a more honest appraisal, revealing the inherent tensions between moral purpose and violent tendencies in America’s past. In so doing, it offers a new origins story that is both relevant and necessary—an important reminder that forging a nation is rarely bloodless. Revolution & Founding Wars & Conflicts United States British Empire Military War Americas United Kingdom Imperialism Boston Latin America

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As an American and amateur history buff I greatly enjoyed the information contained within Holger’s book. I had heard or read bits and pieces of how violent our Revolutionary War had been. I think he was right on when he called this our first civil war. What I didn’t like was Holger’s implication that it was uniquely violent. William Tecumseh Sherman put it best when he said that “war is hell.”

One thing that did surprise me was how inhumanely the British prosecuted the war. For 50% of American causalities to have occurred as POWs is eye opening. I got the impression that the theme of Mel Gibson’s movie “Patriot” was entirely possible given what Holger reported.

I would suggest that Holger delete his epilogue with his pontifications, that added absolute nothing to his book. If anything it was a distraction.

William Tecumseh Sherman

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Wow. Really made me think. For the first part of the book I was appalled by Americans brutality by both sides, and glad we became more civilized. But by the end, I kept comparing the angry over taxed mind set of gun hording conservatives against the actions of rioting protesting liberals wanting more taxation in exchange for government care. I realize now that we are right back to square one, and while police may not be able to do anything about burglars or vandals, they are the only thing keeping buckets of tar on the hardware store shelves.

we've come full circle

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I can’t say enough good about this scholarly work.
The research and organization were outstanding and very completing.
The narration was superb.
I thought I knew a lot about the American Revolution.
My eyes have opened to the complexities and dynamics of this violent conflict which had huge military, political, cultural, racial, ethnic, and personal impacts.
This is one of my all-time favorites.

A Masterpiece

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Holger Hoock, as a German "outsider," presents a highly-nuanced view of "America's First Civil War," as he terms it, that avoids the biased narratives that often accompany both American and British histories of the war. While you may not agree with all of his conclusions, his research is impeccable.

Engaging, Unusual Perspective on The Revolution

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The author, being German, is clearly an 18th century history expert. He masterfully portrays wrongs done by both Americans and Britons in this fantastic work. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone looking for a better understanding of the revolutionary war.

Excellent portrait of the Revolutionary War’s atrocities

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