The Drillmaster of Valley Forge
The Baron De Steuben and the Making of the American Army
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Narrated by:
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Norman Dietz
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By:
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Paul Lockhart
About this listen
In the first book on Steuben since 1937, Paul Lockhart, an expert on European military history, finally explains the significance of Steuben's military experience in Europe. Steeped in the traditions of the Prussian army of Frederick the Great---the most ruthlessly effective in Europe---he taught the soldiers of the Continental Army how to fight like Europeans. His guiding hand shaped the army that triumphed over the British at Monmouth, Stony Point, and Yorktown. And his influence did not end with the Revolution. Steuben was instrumental in creating West Point and in writing the "Blue Book"---the first official regulations of the American army. His principles have guided the American armed forces to this day.
Steuben's life is also a classic immigrant story. A failure in midlife, he uprooted himself from his native Europe to seek one last chance at glory and fame in the New World. In America he managed to reinvent himself---making his background quite a bit more glamorous than it really was---but redeeming himself by his exceptional service and becoming, in a sense, the man he claimed to be.
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In the late 1770s, his promising military career aborted, Baron de Steuben uprooted himself from his native Prussia and landed in America, where he schooled its troops to fight in the European manner, thereby influencing the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Norman Dietz's smooth, clear delivery make this biography easy to follow, and his energy never flags. He gives a straight narration, rather than adopting different voices or accents, which suits a text that is long on description and short on dialogue or quotations. This is a fine introduction to a significant player in Revolutionary War history, and Dietz makes it a listening experience even nonmilitary buffs may enjoy.
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In Clouds of Glory: The Life and Legend of Robert E. Lee, Michael Korda, the New York Times best-selling biographer of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ulysses S. Grant, and T. E. Lawrence, has written the first major biography of Lee in nearly 20 years, bringing to life America's greatest and most iconic hero. Korda paints a vivid and admiring portrait of Lee as a general and a devoted family man
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Good But Not Great
- By David Wardell on 05-12-15
By: Michael Korda
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1777
- The Year of the Hangman
- By: John S. Pancake
- Narrated by: Robert Thaler
- Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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A revisionist view of the Revolution's most crucial year...it explodes many of the myths surrounding Burgoyne's Canadian expedition and Howe's Pennsylvania campaign. There is a wealth of fascinating detail in this book, including information on arms and supplies, rations for women camp followers, and even the numbers of carts (30-odd) carrying Burgoyne's luggage.
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Very Good
- By William on 08-22-16
By: John S. Pancake
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William Tecumseh Sherman
- In the Service of My Country: A Life
- By: James Lee McDonough
- Narrated by: David Drummond
- Length: 28 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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General Sherman's 1864 burning of Atlanta solidified his legacy as a ruthless leader. Yet Sherman proved far more complex than his legendary military tactics reveal. James Lee McDonough offers fresh insight into a man tormented by the fear that history would pass him by, who was plagued by personal debts, and who lived much of his life separated from his family.
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Very Fair and Balanced View of Sherman
- By Nostromo on 12-02-16
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Bunker Hill
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- By: Nathaniel Philbrick
- Narrated by: Chris Sorensen
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In the opening volume of his acclaimed American Revolution series, Nathaniel Philbrick turns his keen eye to pre-Revolutionary Boston and the spark that ignited the American Revolution. In the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party and the violence at Lexington and Concord, the conflict escalated and skirmishes gave way to outright war in the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was the bloodiest conflict of the revolutionary war, and the point of no return for the rebellious colonists.
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Another Fantastic Story by Philbrick
- By Rick on 09-30-13
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Turncoat
- Benedict Arnold and the Crisis of American Liberty
- By: Stephen Brumwell
- Narrated by: Andrew Sellon
- Length: 17 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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General Benedict Arnold's failed attempt to betray the fortress of West Point to the British in 1780 stands as one of the most infamous episodes in American history. In the light of a shining record of bravery and unquestioned commitment to the Revolution, Arnold's defection came as an appalling shock. Contemporaries believed he had been corrupted by greed; historians have theorized that he had come to resent the lack of recognition for his merits and sacrifices. In this provocative book, Stephen Brumwell challenges such interpretations and draws on unexplored archives to reveal other crucial factors that illuminate Arnold's abandonment of the revolutionary cause he once championed.
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Uniquely Informative
- By Brenda McAteer on 07-31-18
By: Stephen Brumwell
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1776
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: David McCullough
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence, when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.
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Front Seat on History
- By Mark on 10-22-05
By: David McCullough
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Almost a Miracle
- The American Victory in the War of Independence
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: David Baker
- Length: 26 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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In this gripping chronicle of America's struggle for independence, award-winning historian John Ferling transports listeners to the grim realities of that war, capturing an eight-year conflict filled with heroism, suffering, cowardice, betrayal, and fierce dedication. As Ferling demonstrates, it was a war that America came much closer to losing than is now usually remembered. General George Washington put it best when he said that the American victory was "little short of a standing miracle."
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Dramatic Backstory of The War for Independence
- By Amazon Customer on 11-22-15
By: John Ferling
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Robert E. Lee
- By: Emory M. Thomas
- Narrated by: Richard Davidson
- Length: 22 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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With absorbing power, Emory M. Thomas tells the story of one of the most revered figures in American history. A story of triumph and tragedy, this stunning biography provides a fascinating glimpse at the man behind the Civil War legend. Revealing the "whole" Lee in this enthralling, detailed saga, Thomas portrays him as a man driven by the paradoxes in his own personality. Here is the Lee who is both a legend and a man. Heroic and larger than life in battle; insecure and unfulfilled in private life.
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Must Read
- By Tamra Sanchez on 08-19-20
By: Emory M. Thomas
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Patton
- By: Alan Axelrod
- Narrated by: Brian Emerson
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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George S. Patton was a general who achieved greatness in his field by contradicting his own nature. A cavalryman steeped in romantic military tradition, he nevertheless pulled a reluctant American military into the most advanced realms of highly mobile armored warfare. An autocratic snob, Patton created unparalleled rapport and loyalty with the lowliest private in his command.
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Odd Reading, Great Book
- By Chris Reich on 01-23-09
By: Alan Axelrod
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What listeners say about The Drillmaster of Valley Forge
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Adam H
- 07-12-23
Interesting side story to US History
A friend of mine recommended this book after I told him that I enjoyed Team of Rivals and a book on Ulysses Grant, but was looking for something easier to bite off. I think the 13 or 14 hours of narration are just right to get a clear picture of Steuben's long journey into and through the Revolutionary War. The author seems to strike a fair and accurate balance on what Steuben's strengths and failings were. There is very little on Steuben's sexuality and rumored partying (so FYI if that's what you're looking for; I would be curious to know of the veracity of sources for some other more sensationalized recountings I've seen online). The book sticks almost entirely to his deeds and personality, save a paragraph or two on the circumstances of why he was kicked out of the Prussian army.
Narrator's voice I find is very relaxing but also keeps me engaged to material that can be dry at times.
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- Evan
- 12-22-19
Evan's Review
If you want to learn more about the men of the America Revolution this is a good book that looks at the baron. Probably under rated by his commands around him because he was a Prussian and because of his ego but I high recommend the book.
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- Lynn T.
- 02-05-21
von/de; who cares
The service the Baron rendered the United States is immeasurable. This book reveals much about the upbringing that formed the man, commander, leader. The info is concise, but not overwhelming. “Easy listening”.
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- Carroll
- 06-29-15
A thoughtful study of Da' Baron
As a revolutionary war re-enactor I studied the topic of "the drill" in detail. My recreated unit was one of those retrained at Valley Forge by the Baron's efforts, so we had many other references to rely on. This book is the best popular history of the man & his impact on our Revolution. Well written/spoken.
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- Peter
- 01-24-23
Good book, odd in places though
It's a good book about the military and political aspects of his life. However, it comes down very hard against the gay thing. Which is in contrary to just about every other thing I've ever read about him. it's hard to know if the author is simply correct, or if they have a bias. Reading between the lines, the random strange things that happen do seem to make much more sense if it was about a man and his partners/ex's than a bunch of guys looking after their odd old general.
It is a bit of a rush through the second half of the war, but that's probably more a side effect of his role in it. The effect on Valley forge though is front and centre. including the idea "if any random from Europe could have taught this stuff. why wasn't it already done."
The politics and his issues with Jefferson and Laffiette were things I wasn't aware of and was good to hear. including how everyone so overly romanticised militia at the time. It does tend Into hero worship of Washington, but it's hard to find books that don't.
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- Chris Perkins
- 07-22-19
Forgotten Hero
Interesting insight into a key figure of American history. His sexual past completely glossed over and could have added another layer of complexity to the man.
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- WCB
- 06-04-24
Solid and worthwhile for the history buff, and a story with numerous surprises!
Though it was not a nail-biter or page-turner this book was full of surprises for me, revealing many things that I thought I knew about the Revolutionary War were not quite true. These kept me going through tedious parts of the story, which I listened to at 1.4 speed.
The narration handled the many foreign names of participants very well. The delivery was smooth, and even, without a great deal of voice inflection—-but enjoyable nonetheless.
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- Wayne
- 02-17-11
Buy the book
Great work. The book is fast-paced and well done. You understand 18th century life and culture. He helps make sense of why things were done a certain way-- for example why soldiers stood in long lines and blazed away at one another. Get the book, you will not be disappointed.
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4 people found this helpful
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- NK
- 03-05-12
The Drillmaster of Valley Forge
Well done. I learned a great deal about someone I knew and heard nothing about. It's a shame schools don't teach the stories of history rather than the dates of history as it is much more interesting.
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- Curt
- 02-14-18
Excellent narration, very informative
Leaned so many things in this book, very interesting. The narration was excellent as well, would highly recommend.
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