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To Try Men's Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom |  | Authors: Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen, Albert S. Hanser
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Category: Book
List Price: $26.99
Buy New: $13.49
as of 11/22/2009 11:36 CST details
You Save: $13.50 (50%)
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Seller: pr1103
Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 207
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 368
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4
ISBN: 0312591063
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312591069
ASIN: 0312591063
Publication Date: October 20, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
After two bestselling series examining the Civil War and WWII, Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen have turned their sharp eye for detail on the Revolutionary War. Their story follows three men with three very different roles to play in history: General George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn, a private in Washington’s army. The action focuses on one of the most iconic events in American history: Washington cross - ing the Delaware. Unlike the bold, courageous General in Emanuel Leutze’s painting, Washington is full of doubt on the night of December 25, 1776. After five months of defeat, morale is dangerously low. Each morning muster shows that hundreds have deserted in the night. While Washington prepares his weary troops for the attack on Trenton, Thomas Paine is in Philadelphia, overseeing the printing of his newest pamphlet, The Crisis. And Jonathan Van Dorn is about to bring the war to his own doorstep. In the heat of battle, he must decide between staying loyal to the cause and sparing his brother who has joined up with the British. Through the thoughts and private fears of these three men, Gingrich and Forstchen illu minate the darkest days of the Revolution. With detailed research and an incredible depth of military insight, this novel provides a rare and personal perspective of the men who fought for, and founded the United States of America.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
 Very good historical fiction that lets us see real people struggling in the fight. November 20, 2009
Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In their books on Pearl Harbor, Gingrich and Forstchen played a fascinating "what if" game with history. Here, they use pretty straight historical fiction to tell the story of the Revolutionary War at the end of 1776, particularly the Battle of Trenton on December 25th and 26th. The time frame of the novel skips around for dramatic purposes, but is very easy to follow.
The authors weave their story around three characters: General George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn. Obviously, the first two are historical figures, but are given fictionalized words, thoughts, and so forth as part of the novelization of history. I believe, and could be wrong, that Jonathan Van Dorn is a completely fictional character to help us see the familial conflicts, human struggles, and cruel deprivations suffered by the common soldier as they fought to give birth to our nation.
Here, Washington knows what he has to do, knows what role he has to play, knows what is at risk, but is quite human in his thoughts and heart. I found his portrayal quite moving and that my understanding of Washington is a bit deeper now. The Paine character seems pretty true to what I know of the man. Obviously, the specific circumstances of how ideas came to him and how he came to the various phrases are fictionalized, but the kind of experiences the character has in the novel were exactly the kinds of experiences our soldiers were facing. The summer soldiers of the summer before were well outfitted and relatively comfortable. These same soldiers in winter were full of deprivation, nakedness, frostbite, illness, and the inability to get dry. I understood why so many deserted. This book helped me feel the cold hard ground, the inability to get warm, and the absurdities these men had to overcome to win our freedom.
I think this is a great book for anyone interested in the history of the early Revolutionary War and can separate fact from fiction and realize the truth that can be expressed through fiction. Young people would be much better off with this novel than much of the assigned readings they get in their schools.
Very much worthwhile. Also, while this battle has been put into films previously, I think this particular novelization could make a really fine movie or mini-series.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
 History was good, but writing style left something to be desired November 15, 2009
Montgomery Scott (Philadelphia, PA USA)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
To start with, I like to read historical novels, and have enjoyed David McCullough's books greatly. This is the first book I've read by Mr. Gingrich. Honestly, since the man has been hyping man-made Global Warming with Nancy Pelosi, education reform with Al Sharpton & Arne Duncan, and defending Republicans who support an end to secret-ballot union elections through card-check, I have a hard time reading anything by him without thinking there must be some agenda. That being said, I can review the book on its merits and leave my personal feelings for Mr. Gingrich aside.
The history was quite good, but I felt the execution was off. Just a few pages in, I read the words "shut up", and I really wondered if such an idiom was in use that long ago. Add in repeated uses of the word "damn", and I felt that some of the richness of early American dialogue may have been lost. Also, there is a floating perspective used which can be hard to follow.
American history is long forgotten in our country. We're so busy trying to figure out the next way to rob our neighbors through the ballot box, we cannot remember what people sacrificed for the right to just live free, and be free to live or die by their own actions. I commend Mr. Gingrich for his effort in this book, and I can recommend it as a decent read. However, I would first advise a reader to go to a book such as John Adams, which I feel truly tells the story of America far better. Another reviewer here put it well---others have told the same story, and told it better.
I would give this more stars if they were available. November 10, 2009
gigi (Texas)
Speaker Gingrich, and Mr Forstchen,
I am only half way through To Try Men's Souls, and I take my hat off to you. Your book has renewed my faith in what this country was founded on. Giants once walked among us in the form of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, and let us not forget the common soldiers. Where are our giants today? Our soldiers still fight with the same dedication and loyalty, and would probably leave bloody footprints in the snow if their duty called for it--but where are the leaders? Where have the giants gone?
Thank you for a wonderful book. My son and daughter are waiting for me to finish so they can read it.
Outstanding perspective on the severe challenges our fouding fathers faced. November 1, 2009
C. J. McConnaughay
Absolutely outstanding. It truly makes you think about the harsh realities our founding fathers endured and renews your appreciation for all that we enjoy. I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
 "Victory or Death" October 30, 2009
MagicSkip (Marriottsville, MD)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book was one of my first forays into Historical Fiction, so I'm going to start with a big grain of salt and say that this really might not be the best genre of literature for me.
Let me spare everyone the first 100 or 150 pages:
It's Christmas on 1776, and it is cold Cold COLD, wet Wet WET, and the army is miserable Miserable MISERABLE. Did I mention it was cold, wet, and miserable? Oh, and it was cold, wet, and miserable. The soldiers were mostly barefoot, hungry, and frozen. But they are sustained by the writings of Tom Paine. Flashback to various times in the last month: Tom Paine is there, cold wet and miserable, with the army. And he's a drunk. And it's cold, and most of the army doesn't have warm or dry clothes, coats, shoes, etc. Many of the "Sunshine Patriots" ran off, deserting the army for the warmth of home.
Okay -- after that part (and did I mention it was cold wet and miserable?) -- the book is pretty interesting. It does a fine job of putting a human face on very difficult attack, at least in the character of Jonathan Van Dorn. Frozen and sick, but still going because he *really believes* in the cause of freedom.
Washington is shown with doubts, with longing for home, and with determination to not show doubt, fear, or lack of confidence. His leadership his shown to be strong, as is his ethic and respect for the men working with him towards liberty.
Paine is suffering from his alcohol abuse, but has a strong spirit (no pun intended), and overcomes his pain and drunkeness to embolden the continentals. His words were as bold a weapon as any musket.
It's a good book. Reduce the first 150 pages to 25 or so, and it could be a great book.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
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