George Washington's Great Gamble: And the Sea Battle That Won the American Revolution Hardcover – May 10, 2010

I have to admit, I'm more of a fan of great writing than American history, which is what makes Nelson's book(s) so special. For the serious historian or just someone who just loves great books, George Washington's Great Gamble is a must read. Beginning and ending with the siege of Yorktown, Nelson takes the reader through the final decisive land and sea battles of the American Revolution with a meticulously researched book that indeed, reads like a great yarn. Interestingly, while the book revolves around Washington, it's the supporting characters who are the stars. From Clinton to Cornwallis, from De Grasse to Lafayette, all come to life as their decisions and actions decide the fate of the country. There is an old adage that in war, the winner writes the history books, but drawing from sources on both sides of the Atlantic, Nelson has given perspective and clarity to a moment in American history that is no doubt, one of the most accurate retellings of these crucial moments in American history. I can't recommend this book highly enough-- and I can't wait for more from this author.

After reading Nelson's incredible book "With Fire and Sword," which I highly recommend to anyone interested in American history at all, I was greatly looking forward to this book. I knew next to nothing about the siege of Yorktown, so I was counting on learning a lot from here. And I was not disappointed. This book gave great information about Yorktown, but also gave so much more. This book spoke of the entire Southern strategy by the British, gave valuable insights in General Greene that I have never had before, and even spent an incredible amount of time discussing what Benedict Arnold does after defecting to the British army! I got way more than I bargained for, and loved it. I thought I was just going to learn about the very last battle of the Revolution. Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the details of the last year-and-a-half of Revolutionary fighting. What a treat!So, why do I only give four stars and not five? By necessity, a large portion of this book is devoted to naval matters, for the siege of Yorktown was largely a naval operation. I like boats, but I am not a sailor. The author is, and I think that he assumes that his audience knows more about naval matters than they actually might. He does explain some naval matters (for example, he takes to time to make sure that his audience understands what makes ships sail faster or slower than other ships). But for a non-sailor like myself there is still a lot of naval matters he does not explain which I did not understand.That aside, though, this book is still worth the read. I definitely enjoyed it and look forward to exploring history with this author again.

Like all of his other works, James L. Nelson paints his thoughts and expressions into written works of art. The images he creates are vivid and full of color and depth. His knowledge of the subject matter is extremely deep, and his style of verse is compelling, entertaining and enjoyable. You always want more of his books to read. With this latest book, I have now read all of his fine books. But I do want more. Keeping writing Mr. Nelson!

This is a work that explores the evolution of George Washington's military thinking as the French entered the Revolutionary War. Talking about his "Great Gamble," I think, rather overstates things. A key point of this book is how Washington began to appreciate the potential value of naval superiority. After the French entered the War, he had hoped for some collaborative successes between the French navy and the American-French infantry. It did not happen.The book also notes Washington's fixation on New York as the proper focus of his military strategy. British General Clinton was hunkered down in New York City and its environs--making it difficult for Washington to "get at him."The book also considers Lord Cornwallis' retreat from the Carolinas to Virginia. Poor strategic thinking by the British left Cornwallis and his forces tied to the coast, to allow for the British fleet to communicate with him. However, a large French fleet set out from the Caribbean. Cicrumstances conspired to lead Washington and the French General, Rochambeau, to target Cornwallis rather than Clinton. The march of these two forces south and the confluence with the French navy threatened Cornwallis' position.Then the story of the naval battle and the French victory and the doom of Cornwallis' forces. The book concludes that Washington's evolution in thinking about the importance of control over the waters was a key part of the signal victory at Yorktown. Well done. . . .

Having read Nelson's previous book, George Washington's Secret Navy, with fascination, I was especially looking forward to his book on the end game of the Revolutionary War. I was not disappointed. Every school kid has heard about Lafayette (I even went to an elementary school named for the French hero), but hardly anyone knows what exactly he did. Moreover, that a key victory by the French Navy over an English fleet set the stage for Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown was an obscure fact shared only among expert scholars. Until know. Nelson's book, suspenseful even though we know the conclusion, relates all the confusion of war, the clashing egos and the ineptitude at crucial moments of key British officers, the indecisions and meanderings of all forces due to long-delayed communications, and the undue caution and delays by state politicians in assisting military operations. This is a grand tale, almost Shakespearean. My only minor complaint is Nelson's repetition, particularly the advantage of copper-bottom ships. Otherwise, the political and military strategy and battlefield tactics are well presented. The book was a joy to read and I learned much. All the events of the founding of our nation, and each addition to the story, as Nelson's latest opus, continues to amaze.