When Britain Burned the White House: The 1814 Invasion of Washington

Snow, Peter

ISBN 10: 1250048281 / ISBN 13: 9781250048288

Edité par Thomas Dunne Books, 2014

A propos de cet article

The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.

N° de réf. du vendeur BVV.1250048281.G

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: When Britain Burned the White House: The 1814 Invasion of Washington
• Éditeur: Thomas Dunne Books
• Date de parution: 2014
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN à 10 chiffres: 1250048281
• ISBN à 13 chiffres: 9781250048288
• Reliure: Couverture rigide
• État de l'article: good

A propos de ce titre

Synopsis

This stirring military narrative takes readers from the burning of the nation's capital to the anthem-inspiring Battle of Fort McHenry.

In August 1814, the United States army was defeated just outside Washington, D.C., by the world's greatest military power. President James Madison and his wife had just enough time to flee the White House before the British invaders entered. British troops stopped to feast on the meal still sitting on the Madisons' dining-room table before setting the White House on fire. The extent of the destruction was massive; finished in wood rather than marble, everything inside the mansion was combustible. Only the outer stone walls would withstand the fire.

The tide of the War of 1812 would quickly turn, however. Less than a month later, American troops would stand victorious at the Battle of Fort McHenry. Poet Francis Scott Key, struck by the sight of the American flag waving over Fort McHenry, jotted down the beginnings of a poem that would be set to music and become the U.S. national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner."

In his compelling narrative style, Peter Snow recounts the fast-changing fortunes of that summer's extraordinary confrontations. Drawing from a wealth of material, including eyewitness accounts, Snow describes the colorful personalities on both sides of those spectacular events: including the beleaguered President James Madison and First Lady Dolley, American heroes such as Joshua Barney and Sam Smith, and flawed military leaders like Army Chief William Winder and War Secretary John Armstrong. On the British side, Snow re-creates the fiery Admiral George Cockburn, the cautious but immensely popular Major General Robert Ross, and sharp-eyed diarists James Scott and George Gleig.

When Britain Burned the White House highlights this unparalleled moment in British and American history, the courageous, successful defense of Fort McHenry and the American triumph that would follow, and America's and Britain's decision to never again fight each other.

À propos de l'auteur

PETER SNOW is a highly respected journalist, author, and broadcaster. He was ITN's Diplomatic and Defence Correspondent form 1966 to 1979 and presented Newsnight from 1980 to 1997. An indispensable part of election nights, he has also covered military matters on and off the world's battlefields for forty years. Peter is married and has six children.