The long fuse

by Don Cook

"We lost the American colonies because we lacked the statesmanship to know the time and the manner of yielding what it is impossible to keep," declared Queen Elizabeth II at the American Independence Bicentennial in Philadelphia on July 6, 1976. In The Long Fuse, Don Cook investigates the American Revolution from the British side, throwing new light on this colorful age and its players. He draws from a multitude of primary sources, including personal correspondence and political memoranda, to show how Britain, at the height of her power but suffering from internal political strife, made one mistake after another, culminating in the loss of her prized colonies. In opposition to King George's American policies were such towering figures as William Pitt, Edmund Burke, and Charles James Fox; their speeches in the House of Commons are some of the best oratory in the English language. But despite their eloquence and forcefulness, they did not have the votes to prevail. In the end, the Americ