The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 (Revolution Trilogy, 2) Hardcover – April 29, 2025

This is volume 2 of a planned trilogy. If you haven't done so, read "The British Are Coming" first.This book is not an academic treatise. It is for those who want to get down in the blood and bone and smoke and noise. No one brings warfare to life as vividly as Atkinson. At intervals, raises his head above the fray and gives the big-picture context. So even though the detail is staggering, you are never lost, never bored. The colored plates and the maps are copious and superbly illuminating.This book is also for those who find high drama in the life portraits and thoughts and movements of a couple of hundred of the protagonists. It is for those who have been saturated with myth about the glorious Revolutionary War. That war was, in fact, tragic, grubby, savage, and venal. It was also, often, noble, brave, and illustrious.

Rick Atkinson is perhaps best known for his "Liberation Trilogy", covering the WW2 US Army in the ETO, from North Africa through to the final defeat of Germany in 1945. One of the volumes won him the Pulitzer Prize. His latest endeavor is the "Revolution Trilogy", covering the military history of the American Revolution. The first volume, "The British are Coming" was released some years ago, and it is absolutely stunning. I had no idea of the brutality of the war, and how close the Americans came to losing it. His second volume "The Fate of the Day" was just released, covering the middle years of the War, with both sides going back and forth, and the French coming in. These are big books, impeccably written and deeply researched. "The Fate of the Day" is a worthy successor to the first volume in all respects. Highly recommended.

Not quite finished with it yet, but read enough to know it is right up there with Mr. Atkinson's other works. It is an excellent account of the Mid Revolutionary War in America, the best thing being I have learned quite a bit I did not know about. Why France got involved in the War, as well as Spain, is mostly new to me. I leared more about the people involved, their strengths and weaknesses. The author's prose is great as usual, his descriptions of the cost of war can be very sobering. The 18th century was a rough time. Anyway I highly recommend "The Fate Of the Day', if you haven't read the first installment, "The British are Coming", I would say read that first, even though this one can stand alone. Now we have to wait for Part 3!

A great book, and instructive book, a REQUIRED book. You must buy this series of three if you really wish to have an overall view of the Revolutionary War. Well told, well annotated, and greatly paced, I thought I knew a lot, but this told me different. What was great is this story details the interactions between the actors, much in detail.I have read the biographies of many of the Players already, (Washington, Franklin, et al) but the good thing here is he mentions other players so I can note what other people I can read up on.Love this type of series, (I am now reading Foote's Civil at Series, and have read the books on WWII in Europe and the Pacific series). Highly recommended.

I do have to say very well done. I am a reader of anything dealing with the American Revolution. Specifically the war in the southern colonies. Rick Atkinson has done an outstanding job on this second book. After reading the book I feel Mr. Atkinson is an Anglophile. He very critical of Washington. Yes Washington had trouble dealing with his flakes. But he is the only one that could hold the army together during the war. Mr. Atkinson seems to have a love for General Howe. Other then that it’s a well done book.

It's been 6 years since Volume I of this trilogy was published, and I began to wonder if Volume II was ever coming. It's been worth the wait! I've read a good deal about the American Revolution. I've read his WWII trilogy and Vol 1 of this series, The British Are Coming. All were characterized by Atkinsons meticulous and scholarly attention to detail. I'm just through the Prologue of The Fate of the Day, and I'm enthralled. Atkinson has become a fabulous storyteller in addition to a scholar. I can't put it down.

Confession: I have not finished this book yet. The book only arrived this morning, but I haven't put it down. In my mind, Atkinson provides the perfect balance of scholarly history with a very accessible and readable style. Similarly, he balances history written from the top down ( big picture strategy and perspective) with history from the inside out ( you feel as if you are there among the people experiencing it in real time with the same thoughts and emotions).I've read the Liberation Trilogy several times ( my father was injured during the allied invasion of Sicily and The Day of Battle helped me understand what he must have gone through). I think I am destined to read this trilogy as many times.I just hope that he doesn't make us wait as long for volume three!

I loved all three volumes of the Liberation Trilogy (WW II). Splendid. I did not, though get hooked on V. I of Atkinson's new Colonial war series, and did not complete it. I was immediately grabbed by V. II, though. I suppose you should get both (third not yet available), anyway. As always, order these books as hardback or QPB, as you'll want to flip back and forth for maps, etc. Not a great series for Kindle. Great military historical writing.