On the slopes of Breed's Hill, across the harbor from the seaport town of Boston, a decisive engagement in the War of Independence was fought on June 17, 1775. Patriots who had labored throughout the night, entrenched in a rude, hastily-constructed fort, clashed with a highly-trained army of British regulars. This moment in time, the culmination of the failure of negotiations between England and America, was the beginning of the end for British rule in the American colonies. Now We Are Enemies remains the quintessential narrative of this encounter, which we now call the Battle of Bunker Hill. First published in 1960, it brought instant acclaim and recognition to its author.

Its unique style, use of original documentation and quotations, and fairness of tone made it a milestone in the historical non-fiction genre. It was the first book of its kind, a vividly readable and factual history told with compassion and balance as it related the particulars of a history-transforming conflict. Like a sleuth behind the scenes, Thomas Fleming describes the political intrigues that swayed the colonial leaders on both sides as they attempted to maintain peace. We gain a solid grasp of the historical background that influenced the relationships between the British and Americans. We feel the pain of Royal Governor Thomas Gage while he contemplates his next move.

We share the enthusiasm of the American farmers and mechanics as they begin building their fort. Above all we identify with the book's tragic hero, handsome charismatic 34-year-old Dr. Joseph Warren, the president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, as he struggles to sort out agonizing alternatives. Is a negotiated peace possible? Governor Gage says it is. But American spies in Boston report the British are planning an all out assault on the American army on June 18.