There was no surprise ending, but there were a number of unexpected twists in McCullough’s non-fiction account of the American Revolution. I have a decent grasp of US history, but McCullough went into far more detail than I’d previously been aware of.
The book relied heavily on characterizations of historical figures, sometimes truly humanizing them (as in the case of British General Howe), and sometimes giving a glimpse of how national mythology is born (as with Washington). Perhaps because it was the abridged edition, there was a sense at times of ricocheting between character sketches and battle scenes.
It’s eminently listenable, even for those less inclined toward history. McCullough’s narration sounds like a favorite university professor–confidant and convinced of the importance of his subject. In fact, I his performance so soothing that I had to stop listening in the car.