In the Founders' Footsteps: Landmarks of the American Revolution

Van Doren narrative in short does a wonderful job of sharing his research on our Founding Fathers legacies supported by his great use of watercolor artistry. Strongly recommend to anyone having American History interest and art appreciation...👍

In this delightful stroll through dozens of Revolutionary War sites, some well-known and some obscure, Van Doren provides a historical experience perfectly balanced with words and imagery for 21st Century readers accustomed to brevity and social media. His evocative paintings and personal musings, blended with historical facts and expert input, capture with a warm personal touch the essence of each site and its place in the American story. This is a book for those who don't have time for massive scholarly treatises but still want to see and learn the big picture and who value an individual touch portrayed with skill, care, and affection for our heritage.

As a history and architecture buff I so much enjoyed Adam Van Doren’s, The House Tells the Story: Homes of the American Presidents that I asked for his, In the Founders’ Footsteps, for my birthday. I was sadly disappointed. The foreword by Nathaniel Philbrick was the high point of the book. It went downhill fast.First of all, the book has glaring inaccuracies. I was very surprised by how many egregious ones there were. I should have kept a list, but here are the obvious ones that I remember: He gets the combatants backwards in the Siege of Boston; he states that Kings Mountain is in NC versus SC; he states that Francis Marion fought in the swamps of SC, GA, and FL (he didn’t); he promotes Colonel Banastre Tarleton to General; he states that the Carolinas were far less developed than the northern colonies, and that they were what amounted to territories. He is clearly unaware that South Carolina was the wealthiest of the 13 colonies due to its rice plantations.Mr. Van Doren also seems to be guessing a lot. In his introduction he states, “In South Carolina, according to some historians, more action took place than anywhere else.” Really? Is he questioning that fact because he was not taught it in school. It is a fact, but he seems to refuse to believe it.I had expected a list of Founding Fathers’ homes and other important locations. Instead, I get a description of a British spy that was hung in New York. The location is now in a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood. The spy wasn’t a Founding Father, nor was the location interesting. The selection of locations near New York seemed to be the primary driver for his choices. He did not seem to choose stories based on importance nor beauty. I have lived in Saratoga Springs and Newport, RI. I have visited many of the revolutionary war battlefields across the country. His journey missed so many opportunities. I have visited many of the remaining houses of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, again a huge missed opportunity. There was very little architectural coverage compared to the previous book. There were better descriptions of his tour guides outfits, his meals, and the score of an Ithaca football game. As for art in this book I got poor reproductions of a map to Quebec, a simple self-sketch of a British spy, and a nondescript Georgia swamp. The art was disappointing.The worst aspect of the book was the continuous insertion of the author’s current political beliefs into almost every story. That included everything from a Black Lives Matter discussion in the introduction, to describing the ugly pollution he sees as he drives his car from NY to PA, discussing the 13th Amendment when touring Independence Hall, and then describing his disgust about AK-47 mass murders when discussing muskets. By the way, there have been no AK-47 mass murders. His political views are pervasive, inaccurate, and disgusting. He is just parroting something that he incorrectly heard.That is the real rub that I have with this book. There is nothing new and insightful. Everything seems to be just a weak parroting of something he may have overheard over lunch. The trips, the art, and the historical descriptions are weak, and uninspiring.I was not raised with the privilege of Mr. Van Doren. I am nearly the same age he is. I treasure and still have every book that I ever owned. This book will have the honor to be the first book that I have thrown in the trash.It is not worth keeping or sharing.

This is a beautiful book. The impressionistic paintings included with each location are lovely and represent each site either directly, or in a scene that occurred there. For me, the beautiful mixture of color and light makes the illustrations more interesting than a photograph.The text is light and anecdotal. Yes, there's serious history here, but the text reads more like something you might expect a tour guide to say rather than a history scholar.My only real criticism is in the choice of the sites themselves. The vast majority are from north of the Mason-Dixon. There are a few in Virginia and South Carolina, but not the extensive treatment proportional to, for example, the Carolinas' contribution to the late War effort. The author is simply most familiar with New Jersey and New York, and says as much. There are some appendixes that include some "honorable mention" sites, a cast of characters, and a basic timeline.The physical book is beautifully bound and constructed. Very high quality.

This book is a few things: illustrated travelogue to revolutionary war sites, review of many of the key people who led the popular and military revolution, and discussion of key revolutionary events before and during the 8 year war. The writing flows well, crossing back and forth from contemporary visits to historical sites to descriptions of the events that took place there. The well-done watercolors provide a sense of place, and another view of the locations and subjects that the author describes. For those of us who last read Revolutionary War history in high school, it makes a good review.Most important, an enjoyable read.

Adam Van Doren describes several places of interest during the American Revolution with wit, directness, and details you won’t find anywhere else. He makes you feel like you are in these places with him and the characters in their homes, forts, and battle grounds. Highly recommend for history enthusiasts and those who want to share an up close encounter with greatness both from the author and those he writes about. Many times you will sit back with information you did not know or expect!

Adam Van Doren's engaging narrative and delightful illustrations compellingly frame pivotal waypoints of the Revolutionary War. His intimate juxtaposition of history with current reflection breathes dimension and newfound understanding of heroes, sites and the sobering challenge of fighting for democracy. An intriguing read, as delicately achieved as watercolor.

Adam Van Doren, painter, professor, and writer, brings great charm to his subject, which, at first, seems to be a few dozen historic Revolutionary War buildings and sites. But it's much more than that. With his amiable manner and elegant prose, Van Doren subtly brings the sites and characters to life, creating a collage of sorts that provides greater understanding of and insight into the founding of this country. This book is a delight!