The World Turned Upside Down: The Yorktown Victory That Won America's Independence

Review\n"This engaging, well-researched, and at times suspenseful book explains the history of the American Revolution, focusing on the decisive battle at Yorktown, Virginia. . .History enthusiasts and those interested in freedom struggles will enjoy this." ―Booklist\n"The entire work is well written and expertly illustrated with maps, paintings, letters, broadsides, diary entries, and other primary sources." ―School Library Journal\nA dramatic, gripping history of the Siege of Yorktown, the last major battle of the American Revolution, told through vastly different perspectives
In October 1781, American, French, and British forces converged on a small village named Yorktown—a place that the British would try to forget and Americans would forever remember. In his riveting, balanced, and thoroughly researched account of the Revolutionary War’s last pivotal conflict, author–historian Tim Grove follows the true stories of American, French, and British players, whose lives intersected at Yorktown.\nThrough very different viewpoints—from General George Washington to the notorious traitor Benedict Arnold, from young French hero Lafayette to British General Lord Cornwallis, and an enslaved man named James who became a spy, The World Turned Upside Down tells the story of bold decisions made by famous military leaders, as well as the everyday courage shown by civilians. For every side involved, the world forever turned upside down at Yorktown.\nProfusely illustrated with archival images, broadsides, and letters, the book includes a timeline, endnotes, bibliography and index.\nFrom School Library Journal\nGr 5 Up-Grove's history of the final military conflict of the Revolutionary War is told from many viewpoints. Ranging from commanding officers (George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, Charles Cornwallis) to a enslaved-person-turned-spy (James Armistead Lafayette), the voices weave together the war's final battle. The Battle of Yorktown, more appropriately termed the Siege of Yorktown, took place from September 28, 1781 to October 19, 1781. In order to place the titular event in context, Grove delves deeply into the entire Revolutionary War. The 200-plus page lead-up seems like an incredibly long (but necessary) introduction. The entire work is well written and expertly illustrated with maps, paintings, letters, broadsides, diary entries, and other primary sources. The author uses much of this evidence to show how victory was not possible without French military assistance. He also makes particular effort to illustrate the precarious and unjust treatment of Black soldiers and enslaved people. Many enslaved people fled to the British hoping a British victory would mean their freedom; at Yorktown, many Black soldiers were left behind when the British retreated. Ultimately, the British defeat meant those enslaved who had hoped that "all men are created equal" included Black men, women, and children, were returned to slave owners. Black soldiers risked their lives for the cause of freedom that was only enjoyed by their oppressors. The title of the work is drawn from popular (but not universally verifiable) folklore that the British played this namesake song during the surrender. VERDICT Exceptionally well done and very detailed, this might be a better purchase for a school library, unless a public library needs comprehensive Revolutionary War materials.-Lisa Crandallα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.