THE UNITED STATES AT WAR The American Revolution

[Editor's note: The following is a combined review with THE UNITED STATES AT WAR: WWII.] -- Déjà vu strikes every time a Knowledge Products title is re-released under Simon & Schuster's All You Want to Know imprint. But who's complaining? These audio programs, nearly as entertaining as they are informative, are scripted with insightful narrative and laced with excerpts from speeches, letters, and documents performed by a cadre of actors. The late George C. Scott was the perfect choice as narrator of the United States at War series. His tone is strong, clear, and knowledgeable. There are no liner notes or credits acknowledging the other actors, writers, and source materials used in the programs. But the depth of subject is remarkable. More than merely recounting battles and campaigns, the presentation gives a broad picture of the background, cultural and political milieu, and describes the long-term implications of these events. In fact, the script of The American Revolution advances the view that the revolution was more one of ideas than of bloodshed. This is a very satisfying excursion into some of the events that shape our world. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 01]