Two new books map the American Revolution for the 250th anniversary

Two new books from Globe Pequot and Simon & Schuster trace the American Revolution through historic sites in the North and South, arriving in June 2026 ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The pair is designed for travelers and history readers, with state-by-state chapters, chronology, photos and site guides.

Why it matters: - The two-volume set turns the American Revolution into a site-based guide tied to the 250th anniversary celebration year. - The books aim to connect major battles and political turning points with the places where they happened, which could broaden their appeal beyond traditional history readers. - The titles are positioned for both armchair readers and travelers looking for a practical way to visit Revolutionary War landmarks.

What happened: - Globe Pequot released two books in June 2026: A Nation's Birth for the North and A Nation's Heritage for the South. - Simon & Schuster is distributing both books. - Author Max Victor Alper, a former New York University faculty member and administrator, wrote the volumes. - A Nation's Birth covers Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. - A Nation's Heritage covers South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

The details: - Each book is organized by state and city. - Each chapter pairs local Revolutionary-era history with descriptions of Colonial and Revolutionary War sites. - An extensive chronology is included to help readers follow the period. - Dozens of photographs and illustrations support the narrative. - The books also include selected non-Revolutionary sites to widen the historical scope. - The site list runs from North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Fort Ticonderoga in Ticonderoga, New York, to Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Mount Vernon Mansion in Mount Vernon, Virginia. - The books cover major cities including Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Charleston, Wilmington and Richmond. - The books also spotlight smaller towns and battlefields across the North and South. - Key episodes include the Continental Army's secret crossing of the East River, Benedict Arnold's raid on Richmond as a British general, the Battle of Saratoga and the French entry into the war, Trenton, Kings Mountain, the Women's Tea Party of Edenton, Yorktown and the work of the Continental Congress. - Alper highlights leaders including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, Henry Clinton, Banastre Tarleton and Charles Cornwallis.

Between the lines: - The books frame the Revolution as both a military contest and a human story shaped by local loyalties, occupation, maneuvering and everyday consequences. - The dual North-South split suggests an effort to show the war as a national story with regional differences, not just a sequence of famous Eastern battles. - Alper's background in photography and public humanities work fits a format that mixes scholarship with visual travel-guide appeal.

What's next: - The books are available in paperback and e-book formats. - A Nation's Birth is listed at 479 pages and $29.95. - A Nation's Heritage is listed at 294 pages and $24.96. - Amazon links are available for A Nation's Birth and A Nation's Heritage. - Bookstores can order through purchaseorders@simonandschuster.com. - Gift shops can order through wholesale@globepequot.com. - Visuals and review copies are available through publicity contact Joseph Gill.