This book was recommended to me by John Ferling, author of "John Adams A Life". I was looking for a book that went into detail about the events surrounding Bunker Hill. This is the most comprehensive look at the eventful day just outside of Boston. I never thought you would be able to devote an entire book to this one battle, but Fleming has done it without being redundant. This is a fabulous piece of American literature. You actually feel like you are there fighting along side the brave men who so nobly defended the hill(s). Sprung to life in this book is the great patriot Joseph Warren. His impact on the events that led up to this occasion as well as his bravery in fighting along side his fellow soldiers is unparalleled. He died gloriously in battle. This book is appropriate for general Revolutionary knowledge, but is best served for those interested in the details of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
I recommend this highly to all history buffs and can guarantee that you will come away with a broader understanding of this battle as well as the general psychy of the masses.

Thomas Fleming wrote an outstanding book not only about the famous Battle of Bunker Hill, but about the relationship between Great Britain and the American Colonies. Fleming makes his point very well when he describes the close family ties between prominent families on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the eventual dissatisfaction that both the crown and the colonies unfortunately had.

Military leaders on both sides of the issue, British and American did not want to fight against each other. From Sir Thomas Gage, the British General who's wife was an American to John Adams who until the start of the armed hostilities considered himself a subject of the Crown, Fleming tells about the hesitance of conflict. Alas, unfortunately due to delayed communications of the 18th Century, British and American arrogance, and other factors, harmed hostilities did indeed break out and thus the American Revolution began.

Fleming writes not only about the Battle of Bunker Hill but also the immediate events that led to the British Army and Marines marching up the hill, such as Lexington and Concord, Revere's famous midnight ride, the illegal meetings of men who wanted to break free from Great Britain such as Samuel Adams, Dr. Joseph Warren (a true patriot in every sense of the word), John Hancock, John Adams, et al.

The battle itself is told in gruesome yet rivoting detail. Many brave British and American soldiers died at Breed's/Bunker Hill. What a tragedy to hear of British Major John Pitcairn who died in his sons arms. Pitcairn was a friend of both British and American soldiers, yet he carried out his tragic orders to capture Americans and stop the revolt of the "American Rebels".

The British Army was slaughtered as they marched up the hill, yet due to their dedication of duty they ultimately captured Bunker Hill at the high cost of many lives. American soldiers died tragically that day as well. Many patriots sacrificed their lives, such as Dr. Joseph Warren who was a true leader of men. What his contribution to the war and the founding of the United States will sadly be unknown due to his death at Bunker Hill.

General Gage after seeing many men dead on the field of battle was truely dumbfounded and had no words of what he felt. A truely tragic and bloody battle that I suppose had to fought.

Bunker Hill showed the British Army for the first (and not the last) time that their American "cousins" were no pushovers and as Gage later said "the Rebels had an army who knew very well what they were about".

This is a very highly recommended read to all who are interested in the American Revolution and would be a welcome addition to any library or U.S. History classroom as required reading or as a companion book of information in any U.S. Colonial/Revolutionary War History Class. This book has been out of publication for many years, and in my opinion should be re-issued again so that more Americans should know what a costly yet heroic battle Bunker Hill was.

Highly Recommended!!

This book has pictures and it tells you all you need to know if you are doing a report on this and if you are doing history day on this, you're garrenteed an A+++++++++++++++.

Mr. Fleming skillfully disects a significant year in US history, providing a detailed and fascinating tableau of the events that occured. As an American history buff, I was very surprised to realize how much I did not know about 1776. When I finished, I found myself hoping that the author would do the same for the other years of the American Revolution. I ran across this book and took a chance on it, despite not knowing about the writer. I was very surprised at how much I liked it and highly recommend the book.

Mr. Fleeming is one of my favorite historians when it comes to writing about the American Revolution. He brings up so many small details about the war that many other historians simply gloss over, but are important to understanding what really happened during 1776. I first read his WE ARE NOW ENIMIES (Bunker Hill) several years ago, and also highly recommend it.

I could hardly put this book down, a fascinating read from the page one. This book does away with all the myths about the American revolution, and tells the reader how things really happened.

Boy, are we lucky...

While I admire the historical background of this novel, I couldn't believe how unbearable dull it was! I couldn't believe this was written by the same man who wrote LIBERTY TAVERN, THE OFFICERS' WIVES and THE SPOILS OF WAR. What a disappointment!

In 1827, Columbia University students Jeremy Biddle, George Stapleton, and John Sladen had become the freres trois for their close friendship. However, their harmony is destroyed when Jeremy's Ohio cousin, Caroline Kemble, arrives in town. Upon disembarking, Caroline introduces her cousin and his two friends to former President Monroe, who sailed on the same ship. Soon Jeremy's two buddies compete for Caroline's regard. Undecided between the two obviously different suitors, Caroline heeds the advice of George's wily grandfather, Hugh Stapleton, who convinces her that she could be a major force if she marries George, who has a major political future ahead of him. Caroline also has an affair with John, which leads to a child.

While George and Caroline marry, Jeremy pays John to leave town. In 1832, George becomes the senator from New Jersey with Caroline being the true power behind the scenes. John has become a major player in southern politics. Over the next several decades, their paths will cross as slavery takes center stage throughout the nation.

Renowned historian Thomas Fleming scribes a fascinating novel centering on the decades between the end of the Monroe presidency to the Civil War. The Stapletons remain an intriguing political family and the genuine use of real figures and events add much flavor to the crisp story line. Unlike REMEMBER THE MORNING, THE WAGES OF FLAME falls a bit short because the three primary characters never seem to come across as real as the secondary cast, including the glimpses of historical personage. Still, fans of Americana fiction will relish Mr. Fleming's latest saga.

Harriet Klausner

In 1827, Columbia University students Jeremy Biddle, George Stapleton, and John Sladen had become the freres trois for their close friendship. However, their harmony is destroyed when Jeremy's Ohio cousin, Caroline Kemble, arrives in town. Upon disembarking, Caroline introduces her cousin and his two friends to former President Monroe, who sailed on the same ship. Soon Jeremy's two buddies compete for Caroline's regard. Undecided between the two obviously different suitors, Caroline heeds the advice of George's wily grandfather, Hugh Stapleton, who convinces her that she could be a major force if she marries George, who has a major political future ahead of him. Caroline also has an affair with John, which leads to a child.

While George and Caroline marry, Jeremy pays John to leave town. In 1832, George becomes the senator from New Jersey with Caroline being the true power behind the scenes. John has become a major player in southern politics. Over the next several decades, their paths will cross as slavery takes center stage throughout the nation.

Renowned historian Thomas Fleming scribes a fascinating novel centering on the decades between the end of the Monroe presidency to the Civil War. The Stapletons remain an intriguing political family and the genuine use of real figures and events add much flavor to the crisp story line. Unlike REMEMBER THE MORNING, THE WAGES OF FLAME falls a bit short because the three primary characters never seem to come across as real as the secondary cast, including the glimpses of historical personage. Still, fans of Americana fiction will relish Mr. Fleming's latest saga.

Harriet Klausner

3/30/02 Thomas Flemings The Good Shepherd pubished by Doubleday in 1974 and presented as a condensed book by Reader's Digest in 1974..shows the Archbishop Matthew Mahan running a big city diocese(So far I've been totally curious as to how the archbishop rationalized his trying to save wayward priest from various self-destructions by finding 'nun-owned' hospitals to admit them to...vacations to send them to,when they seemed burnt out,..and promises to 'undump them'(they usually put them in with non clergy(e.g. the laity) so laiticing them still gave them hope of returning to religious duties after they'd been rehabilated.Being the 'broad shoulders for divorced women to cry on didn't help much for their celibacy vows.(in all cases the eternal sentence"I feel so unworthy," be it congregation or clergy seems to throw rational out the window.3/30/02 abj

This novel is about ordinary Americans during the time of the revolution. The novel protrays the revolution as America's first civil war, not only because American was fighting against Britain, of which of course it was a part, but also because the revolution divided family and friends. The novel helps bring the revolution to life and is realistic in showing good and bad people on both sides--unlike, for example, the movie The Patriot, which portrays the Americans as being all good and the British as all bad. The Patriot would have been a far better movie had it been based on this book.

I found the book somewhat difficult to get into at first, because there is a bewildering array of characters who I had trouble keeping straight. As I got into the book and the central characters became clear, though, I was able to follow the plot without difficulty.

Few novels have captured my attention as much as this one. My grandfather fought during WWI, a fact I'm sure contributed to my interest in this story. The way the characters Malvern Bliss and Polly Warden were woven into the historical story of the American experience 'Over There', syphoned my imagination into the perils and pitfalls of that era, and rekindled childhood memories of stories my grandfather told of his experiences. I gained a greater respect for the men and women who actually lived the events depicted in this story. The characters brought to life events that have been shoved back into the recesses of the history books and mostly forgotten by today's generation. To fully understand The Second World War, one must understand the events surrounding the breeding ground where the roots of that conflict were planted. This novel captures the tragedy that was WWI through strong and powerful characters caught up in events no person can fully comprehend. Although it is fiction, it is must reading for all war history enthusiasts. America's roll during WWI has been down played in the history books, but this novel helps to shed light on the significant contribution the 'Doughboys' made. They were big and brawny, and in the end, pulled off some heroic efforts even the battle hardened British and French were unable to do. 'Over There' beautifully captures that effort.