The Proud and the Free

A soldier in the American Revolution must struggle for his country’s existence and its most precious ideals—even though it means fighting against his commanding officers

In 1781, Jamie Stuart is a twenty-three-year-old soldier serving amongst Jews, free slaves, Catholics, Native Americans, and others grouped together in a “Foreign Brigade.” They are part of a larger Pennsylvania Line that is forced to fight without pay, re-enlist without end, and survive without basic provisions. Enslaved and abused, Stuart and his friends join the mutiny of the entire Pennsylvania Line against its officers, holding their superiors accountable to the principles promised by their developing nation.

In The Proud and the Free, Fast brilliantly imagines a forgotten moment in American history that marked one of the nation’s earliest struggles for freedom against tyranny.

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Howard Fast including rare photos from the author’s estate.