Just received this from PBS
Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution
Lucy Worsley re-investigates some of the most dramatic chapters in British history. She uncovers forgotten witnesses, re-examines old evidence and follows new clues.
Premieres Tuesday, April 7 at 9/8c.
that is tonight. I trust it will be excellent and informative.
I got this notification too. Looking forward!
Thank you for the alert.
I wonder who she will dress up as; Washington, Betsy Ross, Benedict Arnold. George III.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Thanks for the heads up, I love Lucy Worsley!
jaimeelsabio
I also wondered and would you believe that she did not dress up as anyone but herself. She wore no costumes.
I think that I was a little bit disappointed.
It is a series and there will be another episode next week.
Just watched it. As usual, I enjoy her shows. Right before it began my wife and I both wondered how she'd dress. Maybe she will in part 2 next week. It's a 2-part series.
Maybe she can get a cameo by King George 3 from Hamilton "You'll be back, just you wait..."
Like her series too, hopefully this one will be soon available here in my country or Belgium.
I thought she was dressed down a bit ....
maybe a more interesting outfit is coming.
Wil
Hope you can get to see it one day.
I know the feeling of not being able to get European programs in the United States,
I thought she was dressed down a bit ....
I thought she must be "packing light"!
Is the Benjamin Franklin home in London open to the public?
Looking forward to seeing this.
I am wondering if Lucy Worsely's point may be that the whole thing -- the American revolution that is-- was just a big misunderstanding and that the US really ought to join back up with the UK. And if so, I'm wondering if that means I won't have to pay the 10 pounds for Electronic Travel Authorisation?
Happy travels.
the American revolution that is-- was just a big misunderstanding and
that the US really ought to join back up with the UK
There was a spoof of Queen Elizabeth offering to take us back several years ago.
khansen, yes the house is open to the public;
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/
The program is now available on Youtube.
bostonphil7 / joe32F - The above Youtube link doesn’t work here. However sooner or later I will see it for sure, till then I have to be patient.
What interests me is that the USA became, as everybody knows, a nation ruled by citizen instead of monarchs, having a profound impact on world history. In short the American Revolution is a very important period. I am interested in history anyway, so looking forward to learn more. Lucy Worsley will certainly come with some interesting facts.
I am interested in history anyway, so looking forward to learn more.
Lucy Worsley will certainly come with some interesting facts.
With respect to the OP, if you are interested in history there is a much more thorough series on this topic from documentarian Ken Burns. It might be too serious for some and it is long, but I recommend it. Not sure if it is viewable overseas, but here's the link to the public television page: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolution
Hi CL
I am a big fan of Ken Burns and have seen some of his American Revolution but need to go back and see it again, more thoroughly.
Highly recommended
Hi Wil
CL added a link to Ken Burns' American Revolution. I do not know that you will be able to view it but I would highly recommend it.
Sometimes uncomfortable to watch.
History is not always as we would wish it to be.
Hi CL and bostonphil7 – Thanks for the link, however I can only watch the 10 minute introduction video. Nevertheless it’s good that historians try to get a well balanced idea about the past. Mean that you learn about the downside of the story too.
More specific the American Revolution has some similarities with Dutch history. Like our struggle for independence from Spanish imperial rule during the turn of 16th and the 17th century. With the Dutch Republic as a result, the first republic in modern history. Not a democracy as the USA, but there was a balance between nobility and the middle class. So with much more room for civil rights, compared to other nations and regions at the time. So many could chase their dream, resulting in an unprecedented economic and cultural boom.
So what happened here in my home country happened in a comparable way later at the other side of the Atlasnctic Ocean, at an ofcourse much larger scale and the USA becoming the first democracy it had a way more impact on world history.
Not everyone was lucky in the dutch Republic, many sufferd. We were very much involved in the slave trade, so you have to be aware of this too if you want a well balanced idea about the past. .
Thanks again for the link.
Wil
I do not even know all that I should know about the United States, my own country..
When I travel, I try to learn what I can about the country that I am going to visit. it is always interesting but also there is always so much to learn .... too much. I get lost in the trying....
All peoples, countries, groups, etc, have their flaws. All have wronged others .... but then there has been all the good that has come from every country, group, peoples, civilizations.
And here we are ...
I think that Lucy tries to lighten up information while Ken is more serious about the facts.
bostonphil7 – I can’t agree more, it’s impossible to know everything. Wouldn’t be boring if you have nothing to learn anymore? Isn’t it the fun to discover step by step, often very little ones for yourself how the world is “put together”? And know there is much more….
Most of the time we grow up with a “collective memory” emphasizing the positive things of ones country and other things overlooked or just swept under the carpet. What I like about Lucy Worsley is that she debunks all those “facts” we first have taken for granted.
One day I wil see this serie and wil certainly stimulate me to learn more about American history. Have to say, knowing myself this wil be step by (little) step. Then having a closer look what Ken has to tell.
Thanks for this post.
CL – Thanks again for the link. I have had more time too watch the introduction video as well as the PBS NewsHour video Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein talk about the serie. The way, the style they see and practice history is exactly the way I like. So for me it’s certainly not too serious, in fact this is what we need.
My impresion is, as far as the introduction video tells me, that the documentary is made very solid and informative. So I will certainly watch it anyway as soon as it become viewable here “overseas”. Better that it will be broadcasted by one of the national channels to reach a wider audience. So getting a better understanding for many what was and is going on at both sides of the pond. And that is what we need nowadays......
My patience has payed off, watched yesterday the second and last part of The American Revolution on BBC2. Lucy Worsley didn’t disappoint (as usual), it was fun and informative to see. However a few words about the Dutch involvement would have made it more interesting to my opinion. Amsterdam was the bank of Europe at the time and financed partly the revolution. The British were not amused and started the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, resulting in significant territorial losses for the Dutch Republic and so marked it's decline as an empire.
With changing British history and hugely influencing the French Revolution too, the American Revolution had a direct and lasting impact here in Europe.
Bostonphil7: Thanks again for this thread.
and thank you for participating
I find it amazing how we are all connected. I am talking about the world but I guess it could also apply to this forum
Hi Wil,
If you eventually have the opportunity to watch the full Ken Burns' documentary, I think it does a decent job of speaking to the global considerations and impacts. In addition, one of the historians interviewed, Iris de Rode, is Dutch. I enjoyed hearing her insights on France's role.
Just fantastic historians who are experts in specific aspects of a larger event.
bostonphil, I have made it my business this year to soak up the Revolutionary War history in Charleston this year. There's so much here-and in the rest of SC-because there were more battles here than in any other state, plus the first American victory was Sullivan's Island in June 1776.
The program is on PBS right now. It is part of the fundraising.
Cala. I have heard that that part of the country is very beautiful as well.
Hi Rachel,
I hope to see Ken Burns’ documentary soon, but frankly speaking afraid it will unfortunastly not be broadcasted here in the Netherlands. There is some attention to the Declaration of Independance and with this the American Revolution, but for most it still remains a bit under the radar to my feeling. To a certain degree understandable, nevertheless it really is too bad. But maybe I’m wrong.
It would be a good idea that every nation involved at the time or having somehow that idea, show a documentary or a program with their own story, point of view about the American Revolution. Hopefully not being too much limited by their own national frame, you can put the puzzle together and get (as good as it gets) an impression about what happened during this important period in history. So somehow bringing all these stories together, making it to my opinion more interesting. And so realizing what it means for everybody and how we are connected.
And thanks for telling us about Iris de Rode.
I have now watched her lecture she gave two years back in Yorktown on youtube. It’s really amazing that her interest for the French involvement started with a tree in the garden of her parents holiday home in Burgundy, France. Leading to the tree of Château de Chastellux and further to that intruiging archive of De Chastellux family. And so got access to all those interesting correspondences with famous characters in history, bringing it alive. Thinking what do they have more in store there. It’s an amazing story in itself.
