The relationship between Britain and America is still a complex one. Is it defined by the American Revolution or by the years of settlement, trade and facing common enemies? Black (history, University of Exeter) looks at the tangled history of Britain and its colony from the perspective of events in the rest of Europe particularly France. He also punctures the American belief that the only rationale for the revolution, or "civil war" was the desire for universal liberty. The fate of Native and African Americans, as was debated at the time, does not support this. However, the main thrust of the book is that the reasons for the break with England were not the ones of the rallying cries, but more subtle and, sometimes, less honorable. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)