The World Turned Upside Down

In October 1781, American, French, and British forces converged on a small village named Yorktown a place that the British would try to forget and Americans would forever remember. In his riveting, balanced, and thoroughly researched account of the Revolutionary War's last pivotal conflict, author-historian Tim Grove follows the true stories of American, French, and British players, whose lives intersected at Yorktown.

Through very different viewpoints from General George Washington to the notorious traitor Benedict Arnold, from young French hero Lafayette to British General Lord Cornwallis, and an enslaved man named James who became a spy, The World Turned Upside Down tells the story of bold decisions made by famous military leaders, as well as the everyday courage shown by civilians. For every side involved, the world forever turned upside down at Yorktown.

Profusely illustrated with archival images, broadsides, and letters, the book includes a timeline, endnotes, bibliography and index.

About the Author

Tim Grove is a historian, educator, and author of books for young readers, including Star-Spangled Banner, named a Best Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews and Chicago Public Library, and First Flight Around the World, a YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction finalist.
He holds a graduate degree in history. Grove's career has included positions at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of American History.