Under Alien Skies

“Under Alien Skies is an effective and efficient look at both the role that the natural world played in the American Revolution and the psychological state of British and German soldiers who fought in the war. . . . Scrib[n]er’s book makes a vital contribution to our understanding of the war that created the United States.”—Journal of the American Revolution

“Under Alien Skies expands the map and chronology of the American War for Independence in meaningful ways. . . . Scribner’s valuable work ensures the environmental history of the American Revolution will continue to grow.”—Journal of Military History

“A transatlantic history of emotions. . . . Scribner’s delicate handling marks Under Alien Skies’ most innovative contribution to Revolutionary scholarship.”—Orange Blossom Ordinary

“Despite nearly 250 years of historical study of the American War of Independence, scholars continue to find new lines of inquiry into the conflict. Vaughn Scribner’s Under Alien Skies. . . provides an example of how historians can examine a seemingly well-worn topic and offer fresh insights with new methodologies.”—American Historical Review

“Scribner weaves together different issues with clarity and style, and the book is a pleasure to read.”—Reviews in American History

“Scribner lets the soldiers speak for themselves. . . Under Alien Skies offers a new and important view of the American War for Independence which incorporates both an environmental and European perspective.”—On Point

“Scribner’s work adds to our understanding of the hardships experienced by both sides and reminds us to consider the implications of the enemy, weather, and terrain.”—Army History

“Scribner’s ability to reach back into the source material and identify post-traumatic stress from 250 years ago is a tremendous mark to the combatants, regardless of the uniform they wore. . . . [Scribner] humanizes soldiers and generates empathy for their experiences in ways that very few books have ever done.”—Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

“Scribner does a masterly job interweaving excerpts from letters, diaries, and memoirs of British and Hessian soldiers with his own knowledgeable observations about eighteenth-century environmental conditions.”—Journal of American History

“Scribner’s focus is novel: the American War for Independence needs environmental histories. This book is a pleasure to read, the scholarship is excellent, and it makes an important contribution to the historiography of the American War for Independence.”—Ricardo A. Herrera, author of Feeding Washington’s Army: Surviving the Valley Forge Winter of 1778