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Samantha Wilcoxson
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Women of the American Revolution Hardcover – 16 Sept. 2022

by Samantha Wilcoxson (Author)
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Women of the American Revolution will explore the trials of war and daily life for women in the United States during the War for Independence. What challenges were caused by the division within communities as some stayed loyal to the king and others became patriots? How much choice did women have as their loyalties were assumed to be that of their husbands or fathers? The lives of women of the American Revolution will be examined through an intimate look at some significant women of the era. Some names will be familiar, such as Martha Washington who travelled to winter camps to care for her husband and rally the troops or Abigail Adams who ran the family's farms and raised children during John's long absences. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton is popular for her role in Hamilton the musical, but did you know she was also an early activist working tirelessly for multiple social causes? Decide for yourself if the espionage of Agent 355 or the ride of Sybil Ludington are history or myth. Not all American women served the side of the revolutionaries. Peggy Shippen gambled on the loyalist side and paid severe consequences. From early historian Mercy Otis Warren to Dolley Madison, who defined what it means to be a US First Lady, women of the American Revolution strived to do more than they had previously thought possible during a time of hardship and civil war.
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  1. Print length
    200 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen & Sword History
  4. Publication date
    16 Sept. 2022
  5. Dimensions
    16.51 x 1.91 x 24.13 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1399001000
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1399001007
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
28 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

11thc girl
5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing and Educational, An Entertaining, Interesting, Great Read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2023
I have read a few of Samantha Wilcoxson's novels before and really enjoyed them, my favourite being 'But One Life' about Nathan Hale whose story also sits in the period centred around the American Revolution. I absolutely adored Nathan, so when I saw that this author had written a non-fiction book about the women of the revolution, I was very keen to read it.
A period totally different from my usual era of interest, I have come recently to be intrigued about this fascinating time in American history. Being a Brit, myself, and somewhat of a rebel, I was eager to learn the stories of the women whose lives became entangled in the revolution in some way.
There are eight women with their own chapters, all but one of whom I knew nothing about. I had recently watched the TV series John Adams, and met Abigail Adams who said the famous line, 'remember the ladies'. She is still one of my favourites, alongside Peggy Arnold, and Eliza Hamilton. But I was totally absorbed by all of these ladies. The extensive research Ms Wilcoxson applies to her narrative is one of absolute dedication. Her writing is infused with the enthusiasm with which she attends to each chapter, never once sidelining the women for the sake of their men.
Deborah Sampson is also one that stands out for me, her life as a soldier in the American army is a fascinating insight into what it was like for the men fighting for their country in such dire circumstances and terrible conditions. Wilcoxson's talent in drawing the reader into the lives and experiences of these women, their trials and tribulations, their endurances and the strength with which most of them prevailed throughout the years of the wars, is second to none. She asks questions, and exhorts the reader to think about how this and that must have felt to these women, whose battle to keep themselves and their children safe and alive was in someways every bit as difficult and dangerous. Starvation, loss, degradation, and terror, are starkly put before us in no uncertain terms. These were not weak and feeble women, and the author makes sure we are clear of it.
The author utilises diaries and letters and other resources to create a clear chronological narrative for each women. It is almost as though she had been there with them, going through their lives at every turn, twist, and moment. I have previously been capitivated by the manner in which she presents people of the past, and she somehow manages to apply her keen sense of duty to the people of the past by writing an acurate portrayal of people's lives in the most unbiased and balanced way.
It is no surprise that I am looking forward to her next book about Alexander Hamilton's son James, and I can honestly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of America, especially through the eyes of their women.
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LynnBryant1803
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable book, highly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2023
Women of the American Revolution is a book it would never have occurred to me to pick up if I'd not heard of it through the Historical Writers Forum on Facebook. The author, Samantha Wilcoxson, mentioned that it had just come out on audiobook.

I like audiobook as it adds to the amount of time I can spend reading for enjoyment. I can listen while out for a walk, driving to the supermarket or doing housework. I'm often prepared to try something different when it's an audiobook and occasionally, as in this case, I discover a real gem.

My lack of knowledge about the American Revolution is nothing short of embarrassing. I could give you a cautious summary of the political situation in England which led to it but the closest I've come to knowing anything more about it when when I read the Outlander series a few years back and I've given up on that now. I can remember watching the Patriot many years ago but I wouldn't expect to get any actual history from that and it wasn't even a good film.

It has frequently occurred to me that I should learn more, especially as I have some ideas about writing the war of 1812 later on and could do with some background. This book felt like a good start. I began listening to it casually while cleaning the bathroom and ended up doing very little else until I got to the end. The house is surprisingly clean and the book was great.

Samantha Wilcoxson has chosen to explore the years of the American Revolution through the eyes of the women involved. Using their letters, diaries and a variety of secondary sources, she devotes each chapter to a different woman and examines the effects of war on their daily lives.

When writing about the women of past eras, the source material is often far less than is available for men. Women were probably given little choice in the side they took as it was assumed they would share their menfolk's loyalties. They experienced hardship and tragedy without being able to control the course of events. They lost husbands and children and other family members. They suffered and grieved.

All these aspects of eighteenth century social history are fully explored in this book, but there is a lot more besides. Samantha Wilcoxson's straightforward writing style makes the book an enjoyable read and the narrator makes a good job of the audiobook. The author is also a popular writer of historical fiction which may explain the excellent pace and narrative style. I loved her genuine warmth for her subjects. The personality of each woman steps out of the pages in all their flawed humanity.

The author also handles the historiography of the period very well. She shows no particular bias for women on either side of the conflict and she is particularly good at weighing up some of the myths of the era, looking at how much is likely to be true and at why and how such stories developed.

I came away from this book with a genuine enthusiasm to learn more about this period and with a desire to read more of Samantha Wilcoxson's books. She is a lovely writer with the ability to make her subjects feel like real people, even within the constraints of a single chapter. I'd like to see what she can do when she has a whole book to play with.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and highly recommended.
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Top reviews from other countries

Stacey Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars Remember The Ladies
Reviewed in the United States on 17 February 2023
Verified Purchase
The Founding Fathers knew full well, but rarely admitted, how much of their success they owed to the women in their lives. Most of them could never have done what they did without them.

As the author asks in her excellent summary, would George Washington have been great without Martha? We can certainly say that John Adams would have failed early on without Abigail.

The women of the founding generation often knew better than the men what the country needed and stepped up to provide it or be an example of it. But their stories have stayed too long in the shadow of the men.

This book unearths the tales of these women—the ones you’ve heard of and some you haven’t. Each story is brilliantly told and well-researched. It is great and necessary history.

Highly recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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Ruth E. Cornelius
4.0 out of 5 stars America
Reviewed in the United States on 20 May 2024
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This is an account of influential women who helped and watched out country become independent from Britain. It tells their background and family lifestyles.
I found this very interesting and informative.
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Michael Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful retelling
Reviewed in the United States on 7 May 2023
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Samantha helps shed light on the roles and influence of Revolutionary War women. These women were not afraid to influence events both directly and indirectly. Well written and researched.
3 people found this helpful
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