A primer on the Fourth of July

I spent a good deal of the time on a vacation last week reading "1776," by David McCullough. It's a gem, and I'm glad I read it just as we approach July 4.

McCullough makes much use of journals, diaries and correspondence in his books. That serves to make the people he writes about seem very vivid and real. In "1776," those people range from George Washington to teen-age foot soldiers in the Continental Army, as well as British officers, solders and politicians, and civilians on both sides of the rebellion that began in that seminal year.

I have thoroughly enjoyed other books by McCullough, principally "John Adams" and "Truman," but this one's the best. I encourage everyone to buy or borrow a copy and read it soon. It will make this year's Independence Day celebration all the more meaningful for me.