To Try Men’s Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom

Audiobook Category: Fiction | Author: Newt Gingrich,William R. Forstchen

To Try Men’s Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom – Audio Book Summary

After two successful series examining the Civil War and World War II, Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen have turned their sharp eye for detail on the Revolutionary War. Their story follows three men with three very different roles to play in history: General George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn, a private in Washington’s army.

The action focuses on one of the most iconic events in American history: Washington crossing the Delaware. Unlike the bold, courageous General in Emanuel Leutze’s painting, Washington is full of doubt on the night of December 25, 1776. After five months of defeat, morale is dangerously low. Each morning muster shows that hundreds have deserted during the night.

While Washington prepares his weary troops for a sneak attack on Trenton, Thomas Paine is in Philadelphia, overseeing the printing of his newest pamphlet, The Crisis.

And Jonathan Van Dorn, the youngest son of a merchant from Trenton, is about to bring the war to his own doorstep. In the heat of battle, Jonathan must decide between staying loyal to the cause and sparing his brother, who has joined up with the British.

Through the thoughts and private fears of these three men, Gingrich and Forstchen illuminate the darkest days of the Revolution, from the retreat through New York to the fall of Fort Lee and the thrilling Battle of Trenton. With detailed research and an incredible depth of military insight, this novel provides a rare and personal perspective on the men who fought for and founded the United States of America.