Kindle Edition Amazon U.S. Historical Fiction Amazon.com BookLocker.com Category:  Historical Fiction Publisher: BookLocker.com, Inc. ISBN-10:  1614344779 Type: Fiction Pages: 413 Copyright: September 15, 2011 ISBN-13: 9781614344773 Price: $8.99 (eBook) English soldiers on April 19, 1775, seek to destroy colonial munitions at Concord, Massachusetts Colony, are challenged by numerous militia companies, and retreat eventually to Boston suffering a humiliating defeat. The novel portrays the experiences of numerous British and American characters that, collectively, mark the beginning of the American Revolution. Standing on Lexington’s town common, humbled by the veneration of hundreds of militiamen, conceding that he had instructed them, encouraged them, in the end incited them, acknowledging that he, with others, had brought them to the river that could now be called revolution, Doctor Joseph Warren gives full credit to whom it is due. They, not he, knowing fully well the danger, had attacked the master. Standing at the river’s edge, they, of their own volition, had crossed over. Joseph Warren is but one of Crossing the River’s many historical figures that bring to life General Thomas Gage’s failed attempt April 19, 1775, to seize and destroy military stores stockpiled at Concord by Massachusetts’s Provincial Congress. Characters of high and ordinary station, choosing to or forced to participate, must confront their worst fears. Revealing the internal conflicts, hubris, stupidity, viciousness, valor, resiliency, and empathy of many of the day’s participants, Crossing the River is both a study of man experiencing intense conflict and the varied outcomes of high-risk decision-taking. The novel’s title is a metaphor for such decision-taking, be it Massachusetts militiamen seeking greater independence from Great Britain, General Gage’s attempted seizure of the provincial arsenal, two junior British officers’ risk-taking to earn quick promotion, an Acton schoolmaster’s compulsion to avenge the death of his dear friend and neighbor, a Lincoln youth’s attempted atonement for cowardice, a Lexington resident’s impulse to assist a redcoat deserter while he tries to resolve his neighbors’ and family’s low regard of him, or a British soldier/spy’s desire to rise above his station.    Excerpt Having dragged his trailing leg awkwardly through his opened bedroom window, Robert Newman lowered himself onto the roof of the abutting shed. For a good twenty seconds he listened. Across and down the roof he then proceeded, slowly -- silently, he prayed -- lest he be heard by the British officers downstairs at their game of whist. He had excused himself from the general company ten minutes earlier, telling his mother that he was tired and wanted to retire. At the edge of the roof, listening, staring, he detected no one in the street. Carefully, soundlessly, he lowered himself, his shoes reaching the top of an upright, empty flour barrel. Crouched atop the barrel, he extended his left leg until the toe of his shoe touched the pavement. Had they heard him? Stiff as a grave marker, he listened. The dark shape of Christ Church dwarfed him. He moved quickly across the street into its shadow. A young man, twenty-three, he was the church sexton. His older brother was the organist. Times were hard; Newman did not like his job; too bad. When Paul Revere had explained to him what he had wanted, Newman had been eager to participate. Afterward, he had reckoned the peril. Hearing footsteps on the cobblestones, he stepped behind the church’s corner. John Pulling emerged from the darkness. “Sssst! Over here!” Newman whispered. Pulling was a church vestryman. Revere had recruited him to be Newman’s lookout. “Not here yet?” Pulling asked. “He didn't say when. Any time, I suspect.” He was right. Soon they heard aggressive footsteps. Paul Revere’s broad figure approached. “Nervous?” Revere asked, joining them at the church’s darkest corner. Newman nodded. “You become accustomed to it.” For perhaps ten seconds Revere gazed at the deserted street. Newman was taken by the silversmith’s air of confidence. “The British soldiers are in the boats,” Revere informed. “Go easy. Take your time. But do your work to its completion. If I’m arrested, our fortune may rest entirely upon what you accomplish.” He patted Newman’s left shoulder. “I must prepare to leave. God be with you.” Newman listened to Revere’s footfalls and then, too soon, but the night sounds. It was too late to renege. “All right,” he said, raising angrily his hands. He pulled out of his side coat pocket a ring of keys. He inserted a long key into the lock of the side entrance door. He turned the key and pushed open the door. Pulling nodded. Newman closed the door, locked it, and in darkness felt his way to a closet. Leaving it, carrying two lanterns, he moved to the stairway that led to the belfry. Past the bell loft he climbed, the eight great bells within somnolent. He reached the highest window. To the north he saw in the moonlight the shoulder of Copp's Hill. Beyond lay the mouth of the Charles River and the glimmering lights of the Somerset, a moving, ethereal flicker. He reached downward, lit the lanterns, and raised them chest high. Somewhere amid the lights of Charlestown, beyond the Somerset, Sons of Liberty were watching. They would now know that Gage’s soldiers were crossing the Back Bay. Having counted to twenty, he set the lanterns down below the window. He extinguished them. Such a short while they had glowed, but Mr. Revere had assured him that patriots of Liberty would be watching. He had not wanted others, especially sailors on the man-of-war, to see them! Other people, however, just might! An officer, taking a brisk walk along Snow Street. Newman imagined others: a soldier at the burying ground engaging a whore, sentries idling at the Charlestown Ferry. How swiftly might the source of that strange illumination be determined? How soon might soldiers be dispatched to investigate? He heard unnatural sounds in the street! Sounds loud enough to startle him. What was Pulling doing? His heart thumped. He waited a full minute. He imagined Pulling arrested, soldiers posted silently outside the main entrance. Impeded by doubt, by anxiety, he tarried. Ashamed of his cowardice, he willed himself down the dark stairway. He returned the lanterns to the closet. Then, to the opposite end of the church he walked, stopping to listen after each step. Eventually, he reached the window farthest from the main entrance. He opened it, not without some noise, listened again to silence, climbed through it, and placed his shoes on firm soil. Five minutes later he was standing on the roof of the shed adjacent to his bedroom window. He eased himself soundlessly over the sill. Leaving his outer garments on the floor, he climbed into his bed. For at least an hour he lay still, his agitated mind imagining frightful consequences. Below, concluding a most delightful evening, the officers jested and guffawed.

Well Written
This is a sweeping, epic historical novel of the time leading up to the first battles in the American Revolutionary War.

The Author obviously put a great deal of effort into researching this period, as is apparent when reading the novel. He writes as if he were writing in 1775, using the language as it was used then, in his dialogues and describing scenes as they would have been described by contemporary writers of this age.

There is a large cast of characters in this novel of both factions, and this allows us to view the complex situation and unfolding events from different perspectives including, on the British side, different class perspectives too. Each character is well rounded, and given a back story which helps the reader to relate to them, and understand their motivation for doing the things they do. However, for some, there may seem to be an overwhelming number of characters, but considering the topic, this could not have been written any other way.

For military battle buffs out there, this has something for them too, as his descriptions of the battles and the military interaction between Officers and Soldiers is first class.

This novel is a must read for all lovers of historical fiction and military fiction, and I am curious to know if the Author will write a follow up to this novel, given the wealth of resources available to him.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/review-crossing-the-river-harold-titus-2/

Humanizing the Revolution
This is a book that enables its readers to hear voices from our distant past. It bears witness to an event of 1775 when the New World colonies were in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. I was truly ready to read it as I recalled a recent Fourth of July viewing of "1776," a musical version of the writing of our Declaration of Independence. Author Harold Titus takes us to Lexington, Massachusetts in April of 1775 when the British army attempted a raid against a colonial arsenal. We witness the action, we hear the voices, we watch the fears not only of men but of mothers and wives. A mother whose seven year old son seeing redcoated soldiers says "I want to be one of them" must tell him: "They bring death!" An old woman called Mother Bathwick is approached by frightened young British soldiers who insist on surrendering to her. Catherine Smith, the wife of a militia captain, with help from her daughters takes a wounded British soldier into her home and nurses him. Titus does a remarkable job of humanizing both colonists and Brits, both men and women. Every death is poignant since even our enemies are human. The voices we hear as we read these 407 pages will stay in our memories.

Good Storytelling!!!
The historical novel Crossing the River tells the story of the ill-fated attempt by the British Army to seize a cache of arms from the rebellious American militia. Thanks to a number of blunders, the British find themselves facing a retreat under fire from the militia. Most of the characters and the entire plot is based on historical facts.

The author, Harold Titus, obviously thoroughly researched this story to present a realistic retelling of events along with a look at the inner feelings of the characters. The writing is well done throughout the book. Perhaps the most astonishing feature of the writing is the dialog, which seemed extremely authentic. This novel is also interesting in that it presents the story both from the British side (why Gen. Gage felt it necessary to attempt this) and from the American side (why a young farm boy would risk his life ). Not only did this provide insights into both sides' actions, the juxtaposition of narratives was fascinating. A nice bibliography of sources is also provided.

My only complaint, and this is because I know little about pre-Revolutionary America, is that I sometimes got lost with all the characters. I would have liked a nice list of who-was-who.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and at some point, I will read more history on the American Revolution and reread this novel.