The Disaffected

Aaron Sullivan is a historian and writer living in Philadelphia. He teaches history at Rider University.

"The Disaffected is a compelling narrative of a critical, often-overlooked moment in American history. This book complicates the telling of America's quest for independence, offering a social and economic history of a people confronting a war they did not instigate or want." - William and Mary Quarterly "The Disaffected is an important contribution to scholarship on the American Revolution. In clear, and evocative prose, Sullivan offers a nuanced analysis that refocuses the war on the experiences of those who wanted nothing to do with the conflict. He is a gifted writer, and his ability to tackle complicated historiographical questions in a relatable manner makes this book accessible to undergraduates and the general public . . . In the fraught political atmosphere of revolutionary America, the disaffected were an enigma; they fit uneasily in both their historical moment and national histories of the war. Bringing revolutionary Philadelphia to life, The Disaffected remedies this conundrum and convincingly restores the disaffected to their place in revolutionary politics." - Journal of British Studies "The Disaffected offers an intimate view of the American Revolution, as lived by the civilians in and around Philadelphia while they contended with the parties battling for control of the revolutionary capital." - Journal of American History "Sullivan's eloquently written work convincingly argues that we must consider these disaffected individuals to understand not only the complex period of British occupation in Philadelphia but also the political landscape that developed in the aftermath and endured throughout the remainder of the American Revolution." - Journal of the Early Republic "The Disaffected is an important book. It is carefully researched, thoughtfully argued, and beautifully written. It contributes significantly to the historiography of the American Revolution, expanding our understanding of how political allegiances functioned and shifted during and after the rupture with Britain and the creation of an independent nation. Sullivan's examination of the occupation of Philadelphia and the large group of people who tried to remain disengaged from the violent politics unfolding around them casts new light on the Revolution, providing us with a window into a complex historical moment." - Early American Literature "[A] fascinating look at the plight of a group of Philadelphia civilians known as the 'Disaffected' as they experienced the early days of the Revolution and the British take-over of their city." - Journal of the American Revolution "Beautifully written, The Disaffected uncovers a forgotten but important piece of the American Revolution. Aaron Sullivan is a natural storyteller whose deeply-researched book will change the way we think about Philadelphia's revolutionary history. A must read for scholars and the historically-interested alike." - Patrick Spero, American Philosophical Society