The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814

Pitch, a former journalist and the author of numerous books, uses letters, diaries, journals, and newspapers from both sides of the Atlantic to describe this key episode of American history. He also tells how Francis Scott Key was inspired to write an epic poem which became our National Anthem. The tale is expanded to cover not only events surrounding the burning of Washington but also a campaign that evolved into the bombardment of Fort McHenry and the final clash at New Orleans. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.