True Freedom
The novel focuses on the build up towards the American War of Independence when the decision was taken by most colonists to break away from Britain and take control for themselves. This is very much a well-researched and factual novel with real-life characters and events described in as much detail as possible. It seems that actual speeches are put into the mouths of the characters, so in some sense, it could almost be said to be a “faction” rather than fiction book.
With a deeper knowledge of the era, I would have recognised more of the ensemble cast; men such as Samuel Adams, Lord North and Thomas Young all appear and do in the pages of the book presumably what they did and said in real life. It is historically interesting, because the reader can trace the political movement and the reasons that led the colonists to demand freedom, but the lack of any central character to follow and care about sometimes means the narration is not as emotionally involving.
The political corruption, which is one of the subplots of the book, reminds the reader that these issues have always existed in one form or another. Exemption from taxes is offered to ensure support for the Patriots, for example; it could be a scandal headline from today’s newspaper. In politics it seems to be only the names and years that change.
