Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill

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On the morning of June 17, 1775, British troops moved to secure the heights around Boston. Marching up an incline called Breed's Hill, they engaged a battered gathering of farmers and tradesmen who, the night before, had hastily constructed a defensive wall within range of the Royal Navy's artillery. Richard M. Ketchum tells the story of the ensuing fight in his breathtaking Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill.

Ketchum explores what made that bloody, but relatively small, action decisive by probing the deteriorating relationships between New England and Britain during the months before the battle. He forcefully argues that both the British and American commanders were still seeking ways to make peace even as the guns began to fire. After June 17, 1775, the Americans and the British could view each other only as enemies.

The author of two other books on the Revolutionary War (Saratoga and The Winter Soldiers), Ketchum has written an authoritative history of how Americans--especially the rank-and-file soldiers--won their nation through combat. In Decisive Day he argues that the remarkable transformation of American rebels into soldiers was a crucial, if intangible, episode within the battle. Indeed, as those tired and shell-shocked colonials waited on their ramparts for some of the most disciplined fighters in the world, they did not shoot haphazardly, but held their fire until they saw the whites of British eyes. --James Highfill

Book Description

Boston, 1775: A town occupied by General Thomas Gage's redcoats and groaning with Tory refugees from the Massachusetts countryside. Besieged for two months by a rabble in arms, the British decided to break out of town. American spies discovered their plans, and on the night of June 16, 1775, a thousand rebels marched out onto Charlestown peninsula and began digging a redoubt (not on Bunker Hill, which they had been ordered to fortify, but on Breeds Hill, well within cannon shot of the British batteries and ships). At daybreak, HMS Lively began firing. It was the opening round of a battle that saw unbelievable heroism and tragic blunders on both sides (a battle that marked a point of no return for England and her colonies), the beginning of all-out war.

Customer Reviews:

Quality American History.......2007-06-13

This classic of American history was first published in 1962. The fact that it is still being reviewed is a testament to its quality. The scholarship is first rate and the author has a writing style that pulls you into the action.

He goes beyond just talking about the leaders, and dives into the common soldier, the geography, and the weather. By weaving all of these together a complete narrative of the battle is formed.

The events of Bunker Hill contain just enough background info on the War to bring the reader up to speed without dragging the book down. The maps and illustrations are some of the best I have seen about revolutionary war battles. The author has presented many beautiful original survey works drawn by the opposing armies in the months before the battle.

I got the feeling that the author has read so many 18th century works, that his writing style took on the flavor of the day and took a few chapters to get used to. Since the Battle of Bunker Hill was relatively short, the book moves quickly and its short length in no way took away from the quality of the work. I look forward to walking Charlestown, MA with the book and its maps as my guide.

What Really Happened on Bunker Hill.......2007-03-22

Ketchum brings long overdue praise to the American farmers, mechanics, merchants and other everyday citizens who stood to-to-toe with the world's greatest army at Bunker Hill. He delves into the strengths and weaknesses of both the American and British leaders who were insturmental in this first head to head battle of the Revolution. His descriptions are clear and complete making it easy for the mind's eye to percieve what it must have been like for the warriors on both sides. His flair for detail that explains and expounds without overwhelming the reader adds color and excitement to the narrative.

As Ketchum points out in his notes this book is not for scholars, but rather it is a popular piece for those who want to know what really happened on June 17, 1775 on Breed's Hill. But by no means is the book fluff - it contains detail and information that both the casual student and the devotee of the American Revolution will find fascinating.

A Tremendously Good Read by a Skilled Historian!.......2007-02-26

In this tremendously good read, author Richard Ketchum skillfully describes the Battle of Bunker Hill, in detail, from both the American and British perspectives.

Having committed some 2,300 troops to the battle, the British suffered more than a thousand casualties, including many officers, prompting the British commander to comment that another few such victories would destroy King George III's Army in America.

Ketchum's fine writing is accompanied by a series of excellent maps of Boston in 1775 and the troop dispositions of both armies on the day of the battle in June 1775 making the action he describes easy to follow.

I enjoy well written history and I look forward to reading Ketchum's other books on the American Revolutionary War.

a history lovers delight........2007-02-12

mr ketchum writes history that is as enjoyable as any novelists work. great prose and wonderful narrative drive make this a page-turner that should not be missed by anyone who loves history. the battle for bunker hill and the prinicipal participants involved are brought to life vividly before the readers eyes, page after page. a sheer delight to read.

Bunker Hill Reprise.......2007-02-01

Another book on Bunker Hill is hardly needed for the Revolution. Still, Ketchum seems to have done a better job here after his plodding Saratoga debut. At 200+ pages, Ketchum has learned to condense and concentrate his plot more. Saratoga was well over 500 + pages with the crux of the action not starting until page 300! Still, Ketchum rambles along and digresses a few times in this work. What the book lacks is an appendium showing the order of battle for both sides. This was also lacking in Saratoga. Ketchum is clearer with his descriptions of British regimental names and numbers, something that was often sloppy in the last book. Some of the details about topography are slow and unclear. Fortunately there are a few maps and pictures to clarify. This also is an improvement.

Once the action gets going Ketchum can give us a good running narrative. There is little here that is not already known. For the British the battle was to prove the first of many missed opprtunities during the first years of the war. Had Howe listened to Clinton the whole American force could have been bagged on the peninsular where the battle was fought. We see here the beginnings of the Howe - Clinton debates which were to see repeated lost British opportunities. Clinton could have landed behind the Americans with 500 men and sealed the fate of Prescott, Old Putt and the whole lot! That he didn't was the problem that would plaque British strategy throughout the war.

The battle appears as one of extremes. First the British are slaughtered as they try vainly to assault the American position, until on the third try they break in and then the Americans are likelwise slaughtered by British bayonets and muskets. The battle amply demonstrates that if the British had pursued a more realistic strategy the Americans would have been doomed. Prescott, Old Putt and Warren were all ameteurs. They lead from the front, and could not plan anything coherrently. It is unfortunate that Howe allowed himself through hubris to fight the battle on their terms. Put rebel militia behind breatsworks and they will fight hard. Have them out in the open and they will run even harder! Subsequent events in the war would prove this maxim largely correct.

Both sides came away with important lessons from this early battle. Howe would never risk another frontal assault against fortified American lines. This would cost him complete victory a year later at Long Island and elsewhere. The Americans too came to rely too heavily on the militia as the answer to all their problems. Time and time again America militia would run in future battles dooming their side to defeat. Bunker Hill was important because it brought all these issues to the fore for the first time. Ketchum also should learn to write more direct, less digressive history. Both his understanding and ours of the American Revolution will improve as a result.

Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill

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Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill
Richard M. Ketchum
Manufacturer: Doubleday & Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H7TRE6

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Decisive Day - The Battle for Bunker Hill
Richard M. Ketchum
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KUENH6

Decisive Day the Battle for Bunker Hill (Collector's Edition)

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Decisive Day the Battle for Bunker Hill (Collector's Edition)

Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000EINR1W

Product Description

An expanded and fully illustrated edition of The Battle for Bunker Hill

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DECISIVE DAY: THE BATTLE FOR BUNKER HILL: AN EXPANDED AND FULLY ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE BATTLE FOR BUNKER HILL.
Richard M. Ketchum
Manufacturer: Easton Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RRJYNU

Book Description

Was Richard III a victim or villian? This book explores the events surrounding his life to look at the facts behind the folklore. surrounding his life.

Customer Reviews:

One of the first books I'd recommend on the subject.......2002-05-29

If someone wanted to read one book to find out about the Richard III controversy, this is the one that I would recommend, although I think that it is valuable for anyone interested in the topic. In addition to a history of the man and the times, it also brings "richardology" up to date with discussions of romance novels and the Richard III society. If that's not enough, it's gorgeously and generously illustrated.

I have some disagreements with the author, but he is relatively fair-minded and even-handed. Pollard hews to the traditionalist view, i.e. that Richard III was a usurper and murdered his nephews, but unlike so many authors (on either side) he is not consumed with a desperation to prove his case that leads him into nonsensical arguments. He even punctures a few of the sillier traditionalist arguments. He goes into some detail about some of the fine points of the arguments, e.g., the symbolism of the hog, that will be valuable even to people who are already knowledgeable. Pollard also has a dry sense of humor that enlivens the writing.

If the reader wants more, most scholarly biographies of Richard III are traditionalist, i.e., regard him as guilty. The classic Richardian (pro-Richard) biography is Paul Kendall's massive but readable Richard the Third.

Well written and gorgeous to look at.......1999-12-27

Pollard gives an excellent discussion and history of his subject, thorough and clearly written. Much of the material can be found in any book on the subject, but some of it cannot, particularly his discussion of a popular play of the Babes in the Wood and its influence on Shakespeare's version of Richard. Pollard believes Richard murdered his nephews, although he softens it by saying it's OK because everybody did it--well, lots of people anyway. He makes a strong case, perhaps the strongest of anyone who argues that Richard was guilty, but is not biased against Richard. His discussion of the bones found in the the Tower during the reign of Charles II would have been more valuable, however, had Pollard researched forensic pathology even a tiny bit; he reports what this scientist says and what that scientist says, throwing anatomical terms around and then in parenthese saying "whatever that is." (A glance at Gray's Anatomy could have told you, Pollard.) Pollard is simply parroting, with only a hazy idea of what he is saying, which pretty much destroys the worth of any conclusions he draws. But the bones are ultimately not conclusive, even assuming that they are the bones of the Princes, and the rest of the book is of solid worth. Every library should own a copy; individuals may well hesitate at the stiff price, cause by the fact that the book is printed on glossy paper and stuffed with colour pictures. Go for the paperback if you must, but the content makes this book in some form essential for those interested in Richard.

To the Tower Born: A Novel of the Lost Princes

Average customer rating:

More fiction than history
Good twist to the old Tower Tale
Entertaining but flawed
A compelling look into an ages-old mystery
To The Tower Born

To the Tower Born: A Novel of the Lost Princes
Robin Maxwell
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060580518
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

More fiction than history.......2007-01-31

What a waste of my time and money! This is the authosr's second book that I read, and I beleive the last. If you like historical fiction this is not for you. I don't think the characters are well developed, she had a wonderful piece of history to work on and did not do it justice. As someone wrote here before maybe the author was influenced by Hollywood because the explosions and the involvement of women of the time ( especially a princess ) on the "action packed" part is somewhat unbelievable. Sometimes the book made me feel it was written for teens.

Good twist to the old Tower Tale.......2006-09-08

3.5 stars

Ms. Maxwell's take on what happened to the two sons of Edward IV who disappeared from the Tower of London shortly after Richard III "usurped" the crown from the eldest of them adds a clever layer to the two most commonly told versions of this story (that Richard III had them murdered, or that he was innocent & uninvolved and the Duke of Buckingham did it in attempt to gain the crown for himself).

I absolutely love the possibility of Margaret Beaufort's involvement which Maxwell has added in this story. Her ambitiousness, political machniations and involvement in intrigue have been well documented. It's entirely plausable to see her as the pupeteer behind Buckingham... however, other aspects of Maxwell's take on how she and Buckingham may have been involved are completely far-fetched. This story provides a "happy ending" to a tale that simply could not have ended so. In writing it as thus, Maxwell pushes the reader beyond the bounds of believability and left this particular one feeling quite disappointed after reading 7/8 of the story only to find a Hollywood ending complete with explosions.

Maxwell relies on an overly used formula to set the stage for the story. The main character, Nell Caxton, is uncommonly educated for a woman of her time, has maintained a childhood friendship with Princess Elizabeth and thus has access to Royal circles, and yet is so likeable and street smart that she is also friends with every street-dwelling pauper and prostitute in the vacinity of Westminster. Nell's cleverness also opens doors to romance with a man of the court, a position as tutor to the young king-to-be, and an appointment as scribe to Margaret Beaufort. Nell has a surprising amount of unchaperoned time, much of which she manages to spend with her also-strangely-unchaperoned princess friend. As one would expect, the girls even get to sneak around undetected disguised as young men.

Despite the kitsch formula and over-the-top ending, the book is entertaining. The story of Richard of York / Richard III and his ascention to the throne and coinciding disappearance of the Princes in the Tower has intrigued the public for 500+ years. Maxwell has contributed a smart, mostly plausable and formerly unexplored possible answer to the mystery.

Entertaining but flawed.......2006-08-13

This is the first book by this author that I've read. I only chose it because it has to do with Richard III and the Princes in the Tower, a mystery that has always fascinated me.

I'm not going through the storyline here, as numerous reviewers before me have already done so. The main question is, who was responsible for the disappearance of the Princes?

Ms. Maxwell's answer as to the identity of the culprit is clever and credible (psychologically and historically speaking), but the whole rescue-of-the-princes scene is such a stretch it's not believable for one second.

Also, though Ms. Maxwell did read some previous books of the subject, she didn't assimilate them very well and makes several historical mistakes, like the people in the crowd circa 1500 referring to Richard III as a hunchback. If they lived at the time, they should have known he was no such thing, that's only Shakespeare's take on it. Besides, by general accounts, Richard III was loved in his time. He was a good king for the little time he had ruling England.

She also absolves Henry VII from the crime on the grounds that he wasn't in England at the time. She obviously didn't read, or conveniently forgot, Josephine Tey's and others' theories that the Princes were alive and well when Henry Tudor took over the Tower (which was not a prison at the time, but a royal residence) and that he (supposedly) only did away with them after he took the throne. Another theory of course is that they were never murdered at all.

Being a stickler for at least some historical accuracy even in a work of historical fiction, that irked me and detracted from my enjoyment of an otherwise entertaining book. I liked Nell Caxton's romance with Lord Rivers, and the fact (which might be true) that Elizabeth of York was in love with Richard III.

The ending left one hanging, because the two friends, Nell and Bessie, tell the whole "true" story to the future Henry VIII. What good did it do? We all know he didn't lift a single finger to rehabilitate his great-uncle's memory. Actually he finished what his father had started, killing off what was left of the heirs of York. And what became of the Princes after they were rescued is also left to the reader's imagination. It would have been nice if she had hinted at the "pretender and impostor" Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be the younger of the two princes during a rebellion under Henry VII.

All in all, I did enjoy the story but purely as a work of suspense/mystery fiction. As historical fiction, it was sadly disappointing.

A compelling look into an ages-old mystery.......2006-06-06

(This review was first published in The Historical Novels Review, Issue 34, November 2005 - ISSN 1471-7492)
The disappearance and alleged murder of Edward IV's young sons in the Tower has fueled centuries of speculation, both in fiction and nonfiction. Shakespeare was one of the first dramatists to peg the crime on Richard III, in part because the playwright lived under Elizabeth I, a Tudor. The Tudors were invested in having history record Richard III as the perpetrator, seeing as Henry VII had killed Richard in battle, founding the Tudor line. Nevertheless, a staunch cadre of Richard III defenders believes he was not to blame. The princes themselves were never seen again, and on this intriguing, if oft-explored, mystery does Robin Maxwell build her fourth novel, as told through Nell Caxton, daughter of an innovative English printer, and Princess Elizabeth (Bessie) of York, the doomed princes' sister. Maxwell has shown her skill in previous historicals, most notably her masterful The Wild Irish; here, she moves back in time to the tumultuous final days of Edward IV's reign and Richard III's usurpation of his nephew's throne. The history itself offers a compelling story line, with the added dimension of the entrepreneurial Caxton family, and we are quickly swept into the chaotic events leading to the princes' disappearance. Maxwell conjures an intelligent, credible alternative to the Richard III theory, with Nell unraveling the mystery. Nell is an engaging lead, a commoner whose educational skills and familial connections allow her to penetrate the royal circle. The tale is accessible even to English history novices, and Maxwell's scheming Buckingham, icy Elizabeth Woodville, and implacable Margaret Beaufort offer a complex glimpse into the often-lethal struggle for power at court.

To The Tower Born.......2006-03-17

This subject has always attracted controversy as to what really happened to the two princes. It is however expressed in a way which leaves the door still slightly ajar for the readers own assumption. I liked this book very much I liked the authors style of writing and the wonderful way it has been told through the eyes of two very different ladies one a royel born the other a commoner with a lasting bond of firm frienship which endures through many trials and tribulations. A great read and I highly recommend it.

The mystery of Boshingham Castle: A tale concerning the wicked King Richard III and the princes in the Tower

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The mystery of Boshingham Castle: A tale concerning the wicked King Richard III and the princes in the Tower
Edwin Putnam Gleason
Manufacturer: Pageant Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007EWDEK

Richard III and the princes in the tower: [a collection of contemporary documents (Jackdaw)

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Richard III and the princes in the tower: [a collection of contemporary documents (Jackdaw)
John Langdon-Davies
Manufacturer: Grossman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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Book Description

"Jarvis does a real service by introducing a new vision of research into the current debates over the nature and mission of the academy."
--Continuing Higher Education Review

"Jarvis has managed to bridge the worlds of theory and professional practice in a way that will help each better understand the other."
--Jon Wergin, professor of educational studies, School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University

Genuine understanding of any field can only be developed through practice in that field. Peter Jarvis, an internationally known authority in the field of professional adult and continuing education, shows how theories of practice evolve from the practice itself and are unique to each practitioner. Doing professional work gives practitioners many opportunities to question, test, and revise theories taught in graduate programs. Such practice-based research gives rise to personalized theories of practice and also raises new questions for personal exploration.

Using examples and vignettes drawn from professional fields and settings around the world, Jarvis provides valuable insights into the nature of professional practice, the ways professionals learn, and how education for practice can be enhanced at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Jarvis examines why so many practitioners find their professional education inadequate preparation for actual practice, and he calls for a partnership between higher education and the professional workplace that will meet the challenges of the relationship between the two.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Childhood Education, published by Association for Childhood Education International on March 22, 2000. The length of the article is 386 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: THE PRACTITIONER-RESEARCHER: Developing Theory From Practice.
Author: Doreen Arcus
Publication: Childhood Education (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2000
Publisher: Association for Childhood Education International
Volume: 76 Issue: 3 Page: 176

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