re: Summer reading
Hmmmm.... Maybe it was you who recommended Reynolds' series, phil. Sorry if I screwed that up.
Like I said, I'm gonna stick with the series in hope he improved in the writing of it.
I ought to put myself on the list for 1776, since I've become as big a fan of the time period (and the authors who write about it) as you have. Have you read Ellis' Washington book yet?