This beautifully presented and illustrated book brings to life one of the most important and compelling stories in America's history: the struggle for independence and the birth of the Amercian nation. Thomas Fleming's gripping narrative captures the high drama and the unyielding courage and political genius of the men and women who imagined a new set of possibilities for mankind - laying the foundation for the identity and character of the American people in the process. Featured are the personal stories of many of the period's most influential and prominent individuals: the young King George III; a diffident George Washington; the canny 70 year old Benjamin Franklin; and gifted women such as Abigail Adams and Eliza Pickney. This remarkable work that surges with human drama provides a panoramic portrait of the times: daily life in colonial America; the policital machinations of the British Parliament; the relationship between the colonists and the native tribes; the history of the slave trade; and the popular culture of the era.