The Compleat Victory: The Battle of Saratoga and the American Revolution

The Compleat Victory: A New History of the Battle of Saratoga by Kevin J. Weddle is a comprehensive history of the Battle of Saratoga, which led to the decisive conclusion of the American War of Independence. It explains how British plans were undone by distance, geography, logistics, and an underestimation of American leadership and fighting ability, and how the outcome forced the British to rethink their strategy, inflamed public opinion in England against the war, boosted Patriot morale, and led directly to the Franco-American alliance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Winner of the Gilder Lehrman Military History Prize, Winner of the Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award, Winner of The Society of the Cincinnati Prize, and Winner of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution 2024 NASDR Excellence in American History Book Award, Kevin J. Weddle's "The Compleat Victory" is a captivating exploration of the strategic and fortuitous events that culminated in the decisive Battle of Saratoga. Set against the backdrop of the American War of Independence, the book chronicles the pivotal moments from London to Quebec to Philadelphia to New York, where the fate of the rebellion hung in the balance. In the late summer and fall of 1777, after two years of inconclusive fighting, the British were determined to end the rebellion and devised a war-winning strategy. They sent General John Burgoyne south to rout the Americans and take Albany. However, their plans were thwarted by a combination of factors, including distance, geography, logistics, and an underestimation of American leadership and fighting ability. Taking Ticonderoga had misled Burgoyne and his army into thinking victory was within reach, but the Continental Army and Militia forces, commanded by Major General Horatio Gates and inspired by the heroics of Benedict Arnold, forced Burgoyne to surrender his entire army. The American victory stunned the world and changed the course of the war. "The Compleat Victory" offers the most authoritative history of the Battle of Saratoga to date, providing a vivid and insightful explanation of why events unfolded the way they did. Weddle's engaging writing style and deep knowledge of the period bring the story to life, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the American Revolution.

Weight: 652g
Dimension: 210 x 141 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197695166