A good book to read if you are looking for a fictionalized account to help the history come alive, or as a supplement to other historical accounts. There was a good amount of suspense to make it interesting. I thought this was pretty cheesy in a lot of places, and rather repetitive in some of the flashbacks, with just a tiny bit of proselytizing, but overall a good account of Washington's campaigns in NY & NJ in 1776. This historical fiction cover's Washington's campaign against Howe's Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, New Jersey on December 25 and 26, 1776. The sick, freezing and starving American Army's victory over the well fed and well supplied Hessians allowed the American Revolution to survive into 1777. The book is narrated through the eyes of George Washington, Thomas Paine, and a fictional Jersey Militia private named Jonathon Van Dorne. Unlike Gingrich's and Forstchen's earlier novels, this book is not an alternate history; it covers the battle and the events of December 1776 as they occurred. My main criticism of the book is that it would be improved by editing out about 50 pages of narrative covering the retreat from New Jersey before the recrossing of the Delaware.
What do You think about To Try Men's Souls (2009)?
Interesting telling of the history, but if felt a little slow/under-edited to me.
—dimitrios
Great novel about General Washington and his rag tag army crossing the Delaware.
—Rebecca
Entertaining reading - really brought the time period to life.
—popof
Best read of the summer. Outstanding book
—EmmaLou89
