The Compleat Victory

The fullest, most accurate, and most readable account of this most decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. -- Gordon Wood, author of Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 and Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson The Battle of Saratoga must be seen in the immediate context of the American Revolution, but Kevin Weddle's book goes far beyond that, showing how it fits within the larger story of the British Empire, and why it was influenced by events that took place from London to Philadelphia to Montreal. Though the breadth of the book's scope is wide, the center of the story remains the bloody combat at Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights, and its beginnings and aftermath. The book that emerges is nearly flawless, beautifully written, learned, and insightful -- in one word, superb. -- Robert Middlekauff, author of The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789 (Oxford History of the United States) Kevin Weddle's account of the Saratoga campaign offers a thoughtful and detailed analysis of the strategy, leadership, and tactics of a turning point in the American Revolution. In addition to telling a fine story, he illuminates the motives, decisions, and actions of the principal characters, including the ambitious and pompous John Burgoyne, the aloof and fatalistic Philip Schuyler, the militarily able and politically devious Horatio Gates, and the brilliant and mercurial Benedict Arnold. -- Craig L. Symonds, author of The Battle of Midway A significant contribution to the military history of the Revolutionary War. --Kirkus A gripping account of a campaign that was crucial in the struggle for American independence. Weddle ably explains both how the Patriots won and how the British lost, teasing out the interactions and offering an explanation at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. -- Jeremy Black, author of Fighting for America: The Struggle for Mastery in North America, 1519-1871 The Compleat Victory promises to become a classic account of Saratoga, which Kevin Weddle describes as not merely a battlefield defeat but 'a strategic, operational, and tactical catastrophe' for the British. With a balanced critique of the leadership on both sides and meticulously researched, this interpretation is of particular interest for being written by a former soldier, who served in two combat deployments, in addition to teaching at West Point and the U.S. Army War College, during which he led staff rides to Saratoga. -- Andrew J. O'Shaughnessy, author of The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire