To Try Men's Souls

August 17, 2009
After hacking their way through the Civil War and WWII, former House Speaker Gingrich and historian Forstchen take on the Revolutionary War with decidedly mixed results. Sharing narration duties are Thomas Paine, George Washington and Jonathan van Dorn, a young private in Washington's army. From Washington's crossing of the Delaware River to a daring night raid on the better-armed Hessians, the authors do a decent job of depicting the dire plight of the Continental Army, though the big chunks of backstory wedged into the narrative add little texture while slowing the pace dramatically. Historical cameos abound, and these, combined with the attention devoted to the gritty details of army life, help to offset Washington's acts of patriotic melodrama in what is surely to become another popular book for Gingrich and Forstchen.

This fictionalized account of the crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War goes way beyond the textbook versions. William Dufris, as the main narrator, traces the journeys of three very different men--George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathon Van Dorn--portraying the distinct manner of each character. Callista Gingrich voices the dialogue of the female characters. Since they are so few, her contributions disrupt the rhythm of the story. Eric Conger is tasked with reading Thomas Paine's "The Crisis," a work that expresses the theme of this novel. In his composed, strong voice, he ties the iconic events of the story back to the immortal words that inspired a fledgling nation. A bonus interview with the authors describes their interest in this time period and gives a hint about their next project. E.N. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Starred review from February 1, 2010
Former Speaker of the House Gingrich and Forstchen follow up their "New York Times" best-selling "Civil War" and "Pacific War" alternate history titles with this new series starter set during the Revolutionary War and told from the fascinating perspectives of George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn, a private in Washington's army. Narrators William Dufris, Callista Gingrich, and Eric Conger are excellent in their conveying of emotion and accents, making us privy to these characters' thoughts and fears, their courage and determination. Highly recommended. [The Thomas Dunne hc also received a starred review, "LJ" 10/1/09.Ed.]Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.

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