The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814 (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Md - 1-800-233-8764 or www.nip.org). Paperback, 304 pages. $17.95 (30% off through Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com). ISBN 1-55750-425-3.

A vivid account of the most dramatic series of events in American history, including the flight of President Madison, the capture and torching of the White House and the Capitol, the epic defense of Fort McHenry, the birth of the national anthem, and the stunning American victory at New Orleans.

Selection of the History Book Club. Movie rights optioned by National Geographic. Recipient of the Maryland Historical Society's annual Book Prize and honored by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference with the Arline Custer Memorial Award for best book of the year.

"Since he's been in the White House President Clinton has always been intrigued by the burning. That's why he got hold of this book"
        Associated Press quoting a White House spokesman

"Truly masterful. As good as historical recreation gets!"
       Gilbert Grosvenor, chairman, National Geographic Society

"Vivid and exciting. Must reading"
       Austin Kiplinger, chairman, Kiplinger Washington Editors

"Spirited, informative. A lucid popular history"
       Washington Post

"Like the epic Gone With the Wind, ... no less dramatic, and equally significant"
       Maryland Historical Magazine

"As readable as a novel. An exciting story well told"
        History Book Club

"Impressive narrative......well told"
        Amazon.com

"Fills a conspicuous void and does it surpassingly well"
        American History

"Masterful. It reminded me of a Masterpiece Theatre series"
        Dr. Donald Ritchie, Senate Historical Office

"An archivally-based, definitive account"
        Publishers Weekly

"Exhaustively researched and of substantial literary merit"
        Choice - Current Reviews for Academic Libraries

"Difficult to put down"
        Rex Scouten, former Curator, The White House

"Colorful, well-researched....an exciting ride"
        Journal of the War of 1812

"Outstanding research and writing"
        Prince George's County Historical Society, Md.

"Extraordinary"
         Scott Sheads, author/historian, Fort McHenry

"Recommended for public and academic libraries"
          Library Journal