The Struggle for North America, 1754-1758: Britannias Tarnished Laurels

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BEST FIRST BOOK CATEGORY OF THE TEMPLER MEDAL 2016 At the end of 1758, Britons could proudly boast of the numerous victories which had been achieved against the forces of King Louis XV. Although the Seven Years War, or French and Indian War, was far from over, 1758 marked a significant turning point. Uniquely, this book provides an insight into the initial stages of the Seven Years War, and explains why Britain failed, despite the many advantages which it enjoyed. George Yagi employs an immense amount of varied primary material in order to provide the most thorough analysis yet of British failure during the early stages of the Seven Years' War. In doing so, it aims to dispel commonly held misconceptions and prove that the reasons for failure are much more complicated than has been assumed.

Reviews

The American aspect of the Seven Years War is hardly an untold story. But George Yagi succeeds in bringing to this new study a fresh perspective. Rather than focus on the victorious culmination of the struggle, with the capture of Quebec in 1759 and then Montreal in 1760, he looks in detail at the first phase of the war a period marked by British defeat and setback. Written with great clarity, and based on deep and wide research, Yagis account paints a compelling picture of the problems the British faced between 1754 and 1758 the year when the tide turned and eventual triumph began to seem almost inevitable. * Stephen Conway, University College London, UK *
[An] eminently readable, wide-ranging rehabilitation of Britain's first three commanders in chief in North America The Struggle for North America is a fine, succinct work of military history, well organized and indexed, cleanly printed, replete with apt references, useful endnotes, and a full bibliography For its wide purview, extensive documentation, and meticulous attention to detail, George Yagi's lively new survey should become standard reading on its subject. * Michigan War Studies Review *
Yagis research and analysis substantiate and verify what many modern scholars have said about British deficiencies at the onset of the Seven Years War in America, but his periodization accentuates how such weaknesses may have been subordinated in studies that prioritize eventual success. His work therefore demonstrates the continuing value of considering historical episodes and events from different angles or alternative time frames. -- Holly A. Mayer * Journal of Military History *
For readers interested in a concise explanation of why the British war effort in North America failed prior to 1758, Yagis book fills the bill quite well. -- Paul Kopperman * Journal of Military History *
Yagis work also reflects more current scholarship, which has incorporated the experiences of Native Americans and common soldiers ... The result is a book that updates and expands on some well-worn truths. -- Timothy J. Shannon * Journal of British Studies *

Author Bio

George Yagi Jr. is Adjunct Professor of History at the University of the Pacific, USA.