Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman's analysis of the American Revolution focuses on the European politics surrounding the war, and the conflicts between the British and Dutch navy. Although the story climaxes with the battle at Yorktown, much of the action takes place in the Caribbean, and Tuchman's narratives of naval warfare are worth the read alone. It's also a fascinating account of the role of St. Eustatius (the "Golden Rock") in the American Revolution.  (USA04, $18.00)