Just the kind of book I like - well-written history.
This covers the difficult middle years of the war.
Dense with details, the sentences pile on and give you the sensation of being taken right into the scenes - all his books are like this, a real gift.
1777 a rough year - hadn't realized the British took Philadelphia while Continental Congress fled to York, lots of stuff was stored at Lancaster. Big success for Americans up north against Burgoyne (big win at Saratoga) - partly because the main British force had relocated from NYC to Philadelphia. Not much success for Washington in general this year, and Valley Forge winter quarters are tough.
Brits just abandon Philadelphia by orders from England after wintering there. Thought to be untenable to hold it given manpower constraints etc and Burgoyne's loss (need to defend NYC).
Burgoyne news motivated French to get off the fence and become allies (early 1778).
I like how Atkinson presents perspectives from both England and France. French role probably more important than I thought.
In some ways not much happened. Main armies were struggling to find manpower and maintain supplies, were reluctant to get into major engagements. France and Spain with huge fleets, but mostly inept - though very important in terms of stretching Brit resources - needed to keep lots of ships home to protect the Channel.
Getting the French involved was super important. Franklin influential.
Looking forward to volume 3 of this trilogy.
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