Battle for Manhattan

First published in 1956, this book by ex-WWII lieutenant Bruce Bliven, Jr. tells the story of the three-day battle of Manhattan, New York in September 1776, which saw George Washington preserving his army during a long retreat from the British troops.

At the time of its first release, the book drew praise for using present-day names for locations to put historic events in perspective, a technique the author referred to as “terrain appreciation,” rounding out the book with authenticated descriptions of New York in 1776 that will leave the reader captivated.

“Bliven’s book—a virtually perfect example of the military monograph—consistently reminds readers that these are not distant and alien battlefields he’s talking about; indeed, this is ground thousands of New Yorkers now commute across without a second thought…”—Steve Donoghue, Stevereads