Book review: “Almost a Miracle” by John Ferling

Published 11:31 pm Thursday, August 21, 2008

Historian John Ferling takes readers on a detailed, sometimes tedious, journey through what he subtitles, “The American Victory in the War of Independence.” While several recent histories have focused on the personalities and politics of the Revolutionary generation, Ferling concentrates on the military battles and maneuvers of the eight-year-long Revolutionary War. Though black-and-white portraits of the generals are published in this volume, some readers may have difficulty keeping Clinton straight from Burgoyne from Schuyler, etc., in this dense and comprehensive text. Simultaneously, Ferling presents a brutally human portrayal of Gen. George Washington. Ferling’s descriptions of Washington’s motives and actions are more revealing than most biographies which center solely on Washington’s life, personality and character. Here, Washington faces doubts as some politicians and generals plot against him; he is at turns venal and courageous; manipulative and forthright; cunning and beleagured. Ferling’s observations of Washington in the field are fascinating. As is this aptly titled book, for the most part. Considering that Washington and the rag-tag American army faced Britain, the world’s leading superpower of the era, it is indeed “Almost a Miracle” that Washington’s war of attrition succeeded.