Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Coffee Table Book on the American Revolution
Review: Fleming's book is not for everyone, since the inherent limitations of the format will turn off some readers wanting a more in depth analysis of the war, its causes, or its numerous battles and personalities. If you purchase the book thinking you are buying a beautifully illustrated, well-written coffee table book about the Revolution, with numerous interesting "asides" on topics ranging from the Liberty Bell, origins of the Flag, etc., then you will be richly rewarded with this purchase.Fleming has done his research, and I thought the text was well-written and detailed enough to provide a well-rounded overview of the struggle. Many of the war's colorful characters, like Banastre Tarleton, Nathaniel Greene, Benedict Arnold, John Burgoyne and Samuel Adams, are explored well both in print and in the excellent illustrations. For those readers whose curiosity is piqued by this book, and who want a more thorough account of the war as well as a detailed discussion of the political and biographical backgrounds that Fleming cannot include here, I recommend Robert Leckie's excellent one volume George Washington's War.
Rating:
Summary: Fleming continues lively "Revolutionary" writing...
Review: I continue to be surprised with these movie "companion" books (the Civil War by Geoffrey Ward and Panther by Mario Van Peebles are other notable works). This is an excellent summary of the Revolution and, at some levels, exceeds other more celebrated accounts. We get all kinds of "context" presented with the numerous pictures and paintings as well as little "side-bars" that richly describe,among other things, life in the 13 colonies, the Liberty Bell story and the truth concerning Betsey Ross and the American Flag. Fleming's writing is good, if not a tad "dry", but some details are covered better here than in other histories (the little-known battle of Monotomny as the British are retreating from Concorde is given excellent coverage, for example...). The post-war era up to and including the development and the signing of the Constitution is remarkably detailed and, from which, I learned much. The biggest critique that I'd discuss is the almost criminal lack of maps...these types of books generally make their reputations on the inclusion of excellent battle maps (again, Ward's "Civil War" is the standard), but they are very noticably lacking here. Finally, as other reviewers have stated, this should not be viewed as a comprehensive covering of the war, but it is an excellent introduction and, notwithstanding the movie, completely stands on it's own.
Rating: 
Summary: Revolutionary
Review: I read this book twice, and will probable read it again sometime in the near future,not because I have a low absorbsion threshold, rather because of the many fine details and side bar stories that the author tells, ie, he spends one page on the histoy of the liberty bell. The color rendidions are wonderful. If you only read one book on the A.W.I, this should be it
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful to look at
Review: In all fairness this book is more than just a pretty coffee table book. It's also a well written historical text. It isn't a in-depth historical text that one might read at university level, but I found that to be refreshing.It is a popular history and there is nothing wrong with that. It also is a valuable addition to the television series, not just filler.It's beautifully illustrated and I like the fact that Mr. Fleming focused on the military aspects, a facet of the conflict that all too many historians ignore - for some inexplicable reason. He isn't a revisionist historian and he dosen't look at the Revolution in cynical terms. I found it to be a good read and having greater depth than one usually finds in so-called coffee table books. I purchased my copy at the book store in the basement of the Smithsonian's American History museum. I'm glad I went with my impulse because this is a nice book. If you should be able to find a copy go ahead and buy it. You won't regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: A revolution in oils
Review: It is doubtful whether any other book on the American Revolution could compete with Thomas Fleming's 'Liberty' when it comes to artwork. This illustrated history is ablaze with colour- including great paintings of the Battle of Concord, the redcoats advancing up Breeds Hill (often mistakenly called Bunker Hill in other works),the fierce fire-fight at the Guildford Courthouse,Washington and von Steuben reviewing that ragged Continental army at Valley Forge, and much more. In fact, the failing of illustrated histories is that they often distract from the text or, alternatively, have an inadequate text (Fleming however, writes well and for an overview of the Revolution this is a fine book).The other distraction is the frequent stories within the story. Whilst giving additional information( eg on women in the revolution,the role of indians, or life in the 13 colonies etc) it tends to distract the readers attention from the main text. These criticisms aside, this book could never be described as dull-either in text or pictures- and is a good starting point for the general reader to learn more about America's beginnings as a nation.
Rating:
Summary: A revolution in oils
Review: It is doubtful whether any other book on the American Revolution could compete with Thomas Fleming's 'Liberty' when it comes to artwork. This illustrated history is ablaze with colour- including great paintings of the Battle of Concord, the redcoats advancing up Breeds Hill (often mistakenly called Bunker Hill in other works),the fierce fire-fight at the Guildford Courthouse,Washington and von Steuben reviewing that ragged Continental army at Valley Forge, and much more. In fact, the failing of illustrated histories is that they often distract from the text or, alternatively, have an inadequate text (Fleming however, writes well and for an overview of the Revolution this is a fine book).The other distraction is the frequent stories within the story. Whilst giving additional information( eg on women in the revolution,the role of indians, or life in the 13 colonies etc) it tends to distract the readers attention from the main text. These criticisms aside, this book could never be described as dull-either in text or pictures- and is a good starting point for the general reader to learn more about America's beginnings as a nation.
Rating:
Summary: Give me Liberty!
Review: The volume, 'Liberty! The American Revolution' by Thomas Fleming, is a companion volume to the wonderful PBS series by the same name, a six-part treatment of the period leading up to and including the American Revolution in the mid-to-late 1700s. As Fleming shows in his text, the seeds of the American Revolution were planted long before the actual conflicts began. This was not an overnight decision on the part ofthe colonists or the British; intense negotiations and political attempts were made for years prior to the outbreak of hostilities. The colonists largely came from Britain; the leadership certainly looked to Britain for political, moral and cultural guidance, as well as primary trade and security vis-a-vis the Spanish, the French, and the Native Americans. American leaders were, by and large, British leaders too -- George Washington held a commission and fought with the British in the French and Indian War. This was a family break-up in many ways -- Fleming's astute use of the actual words of the people of the time show the emotions that conflict, the love-hate relationship both sides embodied. The first chapter shows the beginnings of discontent on both sides, with the colonists beginning to be stressed over being ignored by the British leadership, and the British leadership, in the form of George III, newly ascended to the throne, and various high-powered ministers, feeling that the colonists were rather ungrateful toward their (so-they-considered-themselves-to-be) rightful lords. Liberty, ironically, was what George III and his first minister, William Pitt, were all about. The Seven-Years War was won as a fight for liberty; the colonies in America and elsewhere were won over to Britain, who had a parliamentary democracy (however poorly enacted) as opposed to absolute monarchy (such as in France). So, the break-up between Britain and the American colonies becomes all the more troublesome -- not only were the opposing sides practically family, but largely believed the same things. Fleming never makes the direct comparison, but one can get the sense of Jonathan Swift here, that the battles are fought over relatively minor things (like which side of the egg to crack) -- in the scheme of world politics then and now, the controversies were relatively slight. However, the issues of taxation, governance and respect were important, not perhaps so much for what they were, but for what they did portend as future treatment, and the colonists did not like being second-class citizens in a British-dominated world, even if, to the British leadership, being second-class British was better than being almost anything else. There was also the spectre of the Irish tyranny, perpetrated by the English, that loomed large as a possibility. Sadly, one cannot say that these fears were unjustified. Fleming's book is intriguing, introducing sides to the conflict that one doesn't recall from grade-school and high-school civics classes -- the conflicts among the colonies themselves; the dissent among the colonies who often wanted a repair rather than a break with Britain; and the personal reflections and fears of the founding fathers and mothers (yes, there were many women involved in this process). Using diaries, correspondence, official documents and media reports of the time, Fleming weaves together a narrative history that achieves a good popular balance between historical detail and narrative reporting. Fleming's admiration for the founding Americans, their bravery and their intelligence, is very apparent. Fleming's concern to present the British in a fair and balanced light is also apparent, and often portrayed as trying to be reasonable and responsive to many of the colonial concerns, if not always pleasant and courteous to the colonial leaders themselves. The writing is interesting and thoughtful, and done in a popular tone that gives personality to the people who figure in the events. Fleming's final chapter looks at the aftermath of the war, and the struggle for unity as a nation. George Washington's statement that liberty could be both a blessing and curse was taken to heart -- when the Constitutional Convention met to amend the Articles of Confederation, it went far beyond its original mandate, and it was telling that not all colonies sent representatives, and not all that were sent agreed to stay through the proceedings. The format of the book is quite nice to read -- there are pull-quotes, text boxes, full-colour pictures, drawings, maps, and charts. There are 'visual interest' items on every page, from grand paintings of conventions and major persons, to small details, such as the 'dove of peace' weathervane Washington installed at Mount Vernon prior to his depature to become President. The book is well-indexed, and matches the companion television series very well, but is also perfectly suitable as a stand-alone volume. A great read in many ways, it makes a great gift for anyone (or to oneself) with an interest in history.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent overview of the American Revolution
Review: This book gives a very clear and concise overview of the American Revolution. It is also very readable, managing to stay away from the usual dry-as-dust tone of many history books. To me, the most important thing this book did was to humanize the great men who shaped our nation. Too often all we know about men like Benjamin Franklin or George Washington are myths and half-truths. Here they are portrayed as men. Men who have doubts, men who grow weary, lose their tempers, feel dispair. Perhaps not ordinary men, but certainly not mythical figures. The one overriding message I took from this book was how precarious our revolution really was and how close to failure it came. The paintings and historical sidebars add to the overall understanding of the period. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: This is a disappointing companion to the excellent vido by the same name. Whereas the video is absorbing, the book is boring. It is not well written, although the illustrations are good. The book is fun to browse in, but not to read word for word. A much superior one-volume book about the American Revolution is Benson Bobrick's Angel in the Whirlwind.
Rating:
Summary: Great Visuals, Good Overview of Revolution
Review: Thomas Flemming's coffee table companion to the television series Liberty is a good book to have around. It's the kind of easy-to-pick-up-and-browse book that will entertain and inform on a moment's notice. It's accessibility is a positive -- its the kind of book that children can pick up and browse, take in a few vignettes and become attracted to the Revolution at their own pace without the intimidation provided by a more typical history. This is a well illustrated book making good use of period paintings and maps. The side vignettes on break out topics often provide fascinating highlights to the main story. The writing is good, although the amount of information provided classifies this book as an overview. The serious student may want the book for the illustrations, but the words cover the broad sweep of the war at a level they will already be familiar with. These factors make it an excellent introduction to the topic.
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