Rise to Rebellion

Abridged
Author: Jeff Shaara
Narrator: Victor Garber
Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Random House (Audio)
Date: July 2001
Length: 6 hours
Ratings:
  • Book Rating: 3.5/5
Formats:
  • CD

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Overview

Jeff Shaara dazzled readers with his bestselling novels Gods and Generals, The Last Full Measure, and Gone for Soldiers. Now the acclaimed author who illuminated the Civil War and the Mexican-American War brilliantly brings to life the American Revolution, creating a superb saga of the men who helped to forge the destiny of a nation.

In 1770, the fuse of revolution is lit by a fateful command??Fire!??as England?s peacekeeping mission ignites into the Boston Massacre. The senseless killing of civilians leads to a tumultuous trial in which lawyer John Adams must defend the very enemy who has assaulted and abused the laws he holds sacred.

The taut courtroom drama soon broadens into a stunning epic of war as King George III leads a reckless and corrupt government in London toward the escalating abuse of his colonies. Outraged by the increasing loss of their liberties, an extraordinary gathering of America?s most inspiring characters confronts the British presence with the ideals that will change history.

John Adams, the idealistic attorney devoted to the law, who rises to greatness by the power of his words . . . Ben Franklin, one of the most celebrated men of his time, the elderly and audacious inventor and philosopher who endures firsthand the hostile prejudice of the British government . . . Thomas Gage, the British general given the impossible task of crushing a colonial rebellion without starting an all-out war . . . George Washington, the dashing Virginian whose battle experience in the French and Indian War brings him the recognition that elevates him to command of a colonial army . . . and many other immortal names from the Founding Family of the colonial struggle?Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee? captured as never before in their full flesh-and-blood humanity.

More than a powerful portrait of the people and purpose of the revolution, Rise to Rebellion is a vivid account of history?s most pivotal events. The Boston Tea Party, the battles of Concord and Bunker Hill?all are recreated with the kind of breathtaking detail only a master like Jeff Shaara can muster. His most impressive achievement, Rise to Rebellion reveals with new immediacy how philosophers became fighters, ideas their ammunition, and how a scattered group of colonies became the United States of America.

Selected Reviews

*yawn*

by Anonymous
  • Book Rating: 3/5

Disappointing

by Kathleen Ross
  • Book Rating: 3/5

More...

Read All 5

Reviews (5)

*yawn*

Written by Anonymous on May 16th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 3/5

*yawn* Unless you REALLY like the time period, the story isn't compelling enough to keep ones interest. I'm a huge history buff, but I can't get into this subject matter. I sent it back after 1 CD.

Disappointing

Written by Kathleen Ross on April 27th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 3/5

I was so excited to get this book. I am a huge history buff, especially the American Revolution. I hoped a novel about the period would add flesh and blood and human emotions to a time period I already love. Instead, it gave me nothing new. It read like a history book, which is great if that is what you want, but since it was a novel, it was less because you don't know how much is true. I wanted more personal characters instead of the broad strokes we get in history class. If you don't the period, you will learn a lot, but it was disappointing for me.

Rise to Rebellion (abridged)

Written by Andy on February 1st, 2006

  • Book Rating: 5/5

ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMENDED. Shaara succeeds in bringing history to life. This historical novel provides insights into the likely thoughts of the forefathers of colonial America during very tense relations with Britain. The novel explains how men with clear intentions and confidence in their abilities to decide the future are overcome by events out of their control, while others ably influence their generation into action. Having served in Iraq, I see parallels to our presence there. The enemy rebels in Iraq are very adept at influencing public opinion against us, while drawing us into frustrating situations that result in civilian deaths, prisoner mistreatment, and destruction of property; all of which detract from our mission to provide security and stability. Listen to this novel to appreciate how the Iraqi people might view our president as King George. I would love to read or listen to an unabridged version of this book.

Rise to Rebellion [abr]

Written by Anonymous on August 30th, 2005

  • Book Rating: 3/5

Enjoyable and easy to follow. Shaara writes about historical events but makes them "human" by telling them as a series of stories.

Excellent

Written by Anonymous on March 22nd, 2005

  • Book Rating: 4/5

Excellent story describing the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.

Selected Reviews

*yawn*

by Anonymous
  • Book Rating: 3/5

Disappointing

by Kathleen Ross
  • Book Rating: 3/5

More...

Read All 5

Author Details

Author Details

Shaara, Jeff

"Jeff Shaara was born in 1952 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University in 1974, with a degree in Criminology. From age 16, Jeff operated a rare coin business, first out of his home, then in a retail store. In 1974, he moved to Tampa, Florida, and the business expanded. Eventually, Florida Coin Exchange became one of the most widely known precious-metals dealers in Florida. In 1988, Jeff's father, Michael Shaara, died, and Jeff made the decision to sell his business, and take over the management of his father's estate.

In 1993, during production of the Turner film ""Gettysburg,"" based on his father's classic novel, The Killer Angels, Jeff became friends with film director Ron Maxwell, who had been close to Michael Shaara for the many years it took to bring The Killer Angels to the screen. After the critical and commercial success of ""Gettysburg,"" Maxwell approached Jeff about the possibility of continuing the story, finding someone to write a prequel and sequel to The Killer Angels. After some considerable soul-searching, Jeff decided to try to tackle the project himself. The decision was difficult in many ways, but most challenging because Jeff had no previous experience as a writer.

Two years later, Ballantine Books published Jeff's first novel, Gods and Generals, the prequel to his father's great work. Two weeks after its debut, Gods and Generals leapt onto the New York Times Bestseller List, and rode a fifteen-week wave as a national bestseller. Critics nationwide praised the book and Jeff's writing ability. No one was more surprised than Jeff himself. In 1998, the sequel, The Last Full Measure, was published, with the same result: Thirteen weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, and universal praise from critics and fans nationwide.

Now a full time author, Jeff has recently completed his third novel for Ballantine, Gone for Soldiers, which will be released in the May 2000, and is beginning research on more historical projects.

Jeff, his wife Lynne, and their two cats divide their time between Florida and New York."