Fire Along the Frontier: Great Battles of the War of 1812 Paperback – August 21, 2012

The War of 1812 is the most overlooked war in US history. It barely is covered in the US history courses in high schools and universities. And when it is covered it is from very peculiar viewpoints. Not so this book! I thought it might have a Canadian slant since the author is Canadian, but he covers both sides with equal attention. This is a book written by a historian that I could barely put down until I finished it. Rare! Most historians write with footnotes interrupting every other sentence, thus breaking concentration. This man knows how to footnote, and to place full quotations of interest in the midst of the related topic. I was able to read this book as if it were a novel, yet check on footnotes with ease at a break in topic. What a rarity! And I learned more in this one book about what led up to the War of 1812, and the men who fought it than I had in all the bits and pieces I had studied over my long years in school. What a delight to learn the details of this mysterious war! Alastair Sweeny deserves an A++ or 100% on this.

A great account of a two hundred year old event. Very detailed and entertaining as well as informative. A fine book written by a former university classmate!