The Fate of the DayThe Fate of the Day
What it's about
By the winter of 1777, the Continental Army had barely escaped destruction by the most powerful military in the world. The second volume of Rick Atkinson's Revolution Trilogy covers the war's next years, from the battles of 1777 to the alliance with France and the war's spread, as George Washington's army fights on the edge of defeat.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Atkinson, a Pulitzer winner, tells history with the vividness of a novel.
You'll love it if you liked
An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943
1776
John AdamsGood to know
It's the second of three volumes; start with The British Are Coming. It's very long and richly detailed.
By the numbers
- Readers100 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #101 of the 198 history books we rank
- #114 of the 481 new books we rank
- #620 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Rick Atkinson
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Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Native Nations: A Millennium in North America
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Quick answers
Is The Fate of the Day worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #620 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Fate of the Day about?
By the winter of 1777, the Continental Army had barely escaped destruction by the most powerful military in the world. The second volume of Rick Atkinson's Revolution Trilogy covers the war's next years, from the battles of 1777 to the alliance with France and the war's spread, as George Washington's army fights on the edge of defeat.
How long does it take to read The Fate of the Day?
About 22 hours (880 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Fate of the Day?
If you liked it, try An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943 by Rick Atkinson, 1776 by David McCullough or John Adams by David McCullough.