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The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies 1760-1785

The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies 1760-1785
By Don Cook

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Product Description

In The Long Fuse, Don Cook investigates the American Revolution from the British side, throwing new light on this colorful age and its players. He draws from a multitude of primary sources, including personal correspondence and political memoranda, to show how Britain, at the height of her power but suffering from internal political strife, made one mistake after another, culminating in the loss of her prized colonies. In opposition to King George's American policies were such towering figures as William Pitt, Edmund Burke, and Charles James Fox; their speeches in the House of Commons are some of the best oratory in the English language. But despite their eloquence and forcefulness, they did not have the votes to prevail. In the end, the Americans rebelled as much against an English political state of mind as against the British Army. Cook takes us through the war years: King George's decision that "blows must decide" the colonies' future; Lord North's futile effort to negotiate peace after the British defeat at Saratoga, which only hastened the American alliance with France; the secret letter from Washington to Lafayette that the British intercepted, perhaps altering the outcome of the Battle of Yorktown; and the peace negotiations masterminded by Franklin and John Jay. Winner of the Colonial Dames of America Annual Book Award 1996. "The Long Fuse is a marvelous new way of understanding the Revolutionary War. Many Americans have no idea of the extraordinary combination of brilliance, ignorance, stubbornness and intelligence on the British side. We won with a majestic collection of heroes, fools, geniuses, and rogues; they lost with an unforgettable cast of colorful characters. This eye-opening book is a splendid historical synthesis." - John Chancellor

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #140822 in Books
  • Published on: 1996-09-09
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 416 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Retelling the saga of the American Revolution from the viewpoint of Mother England, Cook ingeniously portrays the 13 colonies' breakaway as a succession of inexorable blunders and collective missteps in London that led to an unnecessary, unwinnable war. Former political correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Herald Tribune, Cook lays the lion's share of blame at the feet of autocratic King George III, who prodded his government into war-provoking acts, refusing all suggestions of compromise. Cook's vivid, wonderfully readable narrative sheds new light on the origins of the American Revolution and is peopled with memorable characters: Anglophile diplomat/scientist Benjamin Franklin, testifying before the House of Commons in London against the oppressive Stamp Act in 1766; Isaac Barre, fierce, rough-talking, one-eyed British colonel, sympathetic to the American cause, who warned Parliament that a revolution could be brewing; amiable, indecisive British prime minister Lord North, totally unfit to wage war, who repeatedly tendered his resignation in vain; parliamentarian William Pitt, who dared to question the king's wisdom in fiery oratory. Cook provocatively concludes that with a more conciliatory policy, England might well have reached an accommodation that would have kept the American colonies in the British Empire.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Scientific American
Delineating the political culture of corruption and bribery that pervaded London and disgusted Americans like Benjamin Franklin, Cook convincingly concludes that the war was lost as much in London as on the colonial battlefields. Illuminating new perspective on an old topic.

From Booklist
A compelling historical document that recounts the saga of the American Revolution from the British point of view. Employing a host of primary British sources, including personal correspondence, private papers, military dispatches, and parliamentary speeches and debates, the author chronicles the multitude of mistakes George III made in dealing with the colonies. Despite the opposition of such political heavyweights as Edmund Burke, William Pitt, and Charles James Fox, the stubbornly autocratic monarch formulated a disastrous series of policies that eventually incited the colonists to rebel, plunging the British into a foolish, costly, and unwinnable war that would strip the empire of its premium possession. An enlightening new perspective on the American Revolution as well as a fascinating overview of the lively tenor of British political life during this critical era. A valuable addition to the literature of the American Revolution. Margaret Flanagan

Customer Reviews

Brilliant!5
An enjoyable, eminently readable narrative of the American Revolution. Cook concentrates on the political aspects of the revolution, particularly on the British side of the pond. He gives Ben Franklin the starring role on the American side. Despite concentrating strongly on the "high politics" of the era, Cook never bogs down in the details, and the result will be of wide interest to armchair historians and the general public alike. This book should be of interest to anyone with even a passing interest in the Revolution, Ben Franklin, or the the state of the late eighteenth century British Empire.

With thanks to Amazon's recommendations feature5
I discovered this book thanks to Amazon's personalized recommendations, and I am very grateful. This is simply a wonderful book. It opens up a side of the Revolutionary War that is rarely taught or discussed, and therefore provides a depth of understanding that is extremely valuable; and somehow, the author has made this a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing read. I literally did not want to put it down. Reading the actual text of Ben Franklin's testimony to the House of Commons was very compelling, particularly in the context the author created. Although I must admit I am a big history fan, I believe that anyone with even a mild interest would be very happy that they read this book.

Institutional stupidity revealed!5
If you've ever wondered how the British could have been so continually and incredibly stupid as to lose their American colonies, this book will answer your questions! It provides a view of the Revolution not often encountered by Americans. Your view of the American Revolution is not complete without this view. Highly recommended.