“Private Yankee Doodle” – A Review

While studying the American Revolution, a friend suggested that I read “Private Yankee Doodle” by Joseph Plumb Martin. It sounded interesting and it was cheap so I decided to buy it. The day it arrived I read a page or two but it failed to really capture my attention. A few weeks later, I decided to really try to read it – and I was pleasantly surprised! The book was interesting and captivating. I finished the book some time ago now, but I am just getting around to writing the review …

“Private Yankee Doodle was first published in the year 1830 by Hallowell, Main under the very long title: “A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier, Interspersed with Anecdotes of Incidents That Occurred Within His Own Observation”. When it was republished in 1962 George Sheere renamed it “Private Yankee Doodle” a name much shorter and easier to remember. The book has nine chapters and 294 pages

“Private Yankee Doodle” is the autobiographical account of a private in the colonial army during the American Revolution. Joseph Martin was fifteen years old when he enlisted for a single campaign. When he was sixteen he enlisted again and remained in the army until the end of the war in 1783. As an old man, Mr. Martin related his sufferings and adventures for the young people in his neighborhood by publishing them in this book.

I am not sure that I had a favorite part of “Private Yankee Doodle”  – I enjoyed the entire book very much and I would highly recommend it.

To the KING be all the glory!