The American Revolution An Intimate History

The American Revolution by Geoffrey C. Ward & Ken Burns

A sweeping, human-centered history of America’s founding struggle, this richly illustrated volume expands on the landmark six-part PBS series premiering in November 2025. Ward and Burns explore the Revolution not only as a fight for independence but also as a civil war and a global conflict—one that reshaped the world and raised enduring questions about freedom, identity, and who is entitled to the promises of a new nation.

Through vivid storytelling, newly commissioned artwork, period prints, letters, pamphlets, and essays by leading historians, the authors illuminate the experiences of Founding Fathers and everyday people alike. Women, African Americans, Native Americans, Loyalists, and common soldiers all take their place in this textured narrative, offering a deeper, more inclusive portrait of the era. Interwoven with the impassioned words of Thomas Paine, this volume reveals a nation forged in struggle and still wrestling with its founding ideals.

Key Features:

• Authors: Geoffrey C. Ward & Ken Burns
• Official companion volume to the six-part PBS series airing November 2025
• A bottom-up, inclusive history featuring diverse voices and lived experiences
• Includes newly commissioned art, maps, and a wide range of period prints and documents
• Guest essays by renowned historians including Vincent Brown, Maya Jasanoff, Jane Kamensky, and Alan Taylor
• Explores the Revolution as a war for independence, a civil war, and a global conflict
• Woven with the writings of Thomas Paine for added historical and thematic depth