The Whiskey Rebels
by: David Liss

Published: 2008

# of pages: 519


I started out loving this book, and I did enjoy it more than most the whole way through, but the last half of the book didn't grab my attention the same way as the first half did. I was thinking this would go on my favorite book list, but it didn't quite make it after all. It's a historical fiction (a genre I always enjoy) and I liked the two main characters, Captain Saunders and Joan, a lot. I ended up a little lost in some parts. I mainly understood what was going on, but sometimes I was confused as to how the characters jumped from one conclusion to another. I'm typically not easily confused while reading, so I don't particularly think it was me, but maybe I'm just out of practice reading intricate novels. ;-)

The story takes place in Philadelphia and New York City about a decade after the end of the Revolutionary War. There's two points of view, that of Captain Saunders, a spy for the patriots in the war who was accused of being a traitor and therefore ruined, and Joan, an ambitious woman who plans to write the first great American novel. Circumstances occur in their lives that lead them both to the same place at the same time. They are both true patriots who love America and want to see it blossom after the sacrifices they've both made. However, they have different ideas on the good of the nation.

I loved both characters. Captain Saunders is a Captain Jack Sparrow type character. A "scoundrel," but a lovable scoundrel. He's full of witty quips and comments, even in the midst of danger. Joan is outgoing and sharp, she's not afraid to take chances and experience new things, often in the name of gaining knowledge for her novel. She endures the worst things in the world, but comes out strong.

It was hard for me to have an opinion on who I thought was right and wrong in the book. I could see both points of view, but I couldn't say who I was rooting for. I also found this novel very interesting because it made me see that even after the Revolutionary War, things weren't perfect in America. There were still threats to true freedom and there were still patriots who weren't treated right and who felt like they fought for nothing, just like in every war since then. I guess I never thought about the fact that just because America won independence, didn't mean everything fell into place. People were just as unhappy with the government in the late 1700s as they are now. I suppose that's just the way of things, but I guess I have this textbook image in my mind of George Washington and the patriots making everything perfect after the war. Any problems with the government must have sprung up at a later time.

Liss based the story off of true historic events, but made his own twist with the main characters and the exact conspiracy that they are caught up in. But the national financial problems and whiskey rebellions really did happen. Also, many of the characters in the book were also real. So anyway, it's very fascinating for lovers of history and historical fiction. I recommend this to all adults who enjoy this genre!

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