George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father

George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father

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  • Create Date：2021-02-12 04:19:10
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：David O. Stewart
  • ISBN：9780451488985
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Editor Reviews

12/14/2020

Historian and mystery writer Stewart （Madison’s Gift） delivers an insightful take on George Washington’s evolution as a politician。 Painstaking accounts of episodes from Washington’s life before the American Revolution illustrate the flaws he struggled to overcome: “a meager education， a temper that terrified those who saw him lose it， a cockiness that could make him reckless， and a deep financial insecurity that could lead him close to greed。” Stewart delves into Washington’s mixed record as a military commander during the French and Indian War; his “shrewd calculation” in deciding to first run for the Virginia House of Burgesses in Frederick County， where he had deep connections to the region’s largest landowner; and his public presentation of the Fairfax Resolves， which pledged to resist the Coercive Acts by all means necessary and helped make Washington a celebrated figure at the First Continental Congress in 1774。 Stewart’s balanced portrait of Washington also includes uncomfortable details about his treatment of his slaves， whom he verbally abused and actively prevented from filing legal claims that might have led to their emancipation。 Even readers well-versed in Washington’s life will learn something new from this meticulous look at how he became the “paramount political figure” of his era。 （Feb。）

Publishers Weekly

Reviews

nfam ，

We think of Washington as a severe figure with white hair at the height of his powers， but he didn’t start that way。 He was an often rash young man with a fiery temper。 These traits almost brought his military career to an end before it began。 Indeed， the book opens with an ill and dispirited Washington leaving his forces during the Indian fighting on Virginia’s Western frontier without the permission of his commander。 From this low point Washington rose through positions in the Virginia House of Burgesses， and as a justice of the Fairfax County Court。 Here he learned to control his temper， act as a calming influence， build bridges， and become a significant leader。 The remainder of the book details Washington’s rise to become the most beloved leader in colonial America。 If you enjoy history， particularly American history， this is a wonderful book。 I have read a number of excellent biographies of Washington， but this one adds an additional dimension with it’s focus on Washington becoming both a great military as well as an outstanding political leader。 The book is easy to read， almost like a novel， but filled with facts and acute observations about Washington and his time。 I particularly enjoyed the way the author made colonial America come to life。 I highly recommend this book。 In this troubling time， it’s one of the best choices this year。 I received this book from Dutton for this review。

Nancy ，

George Washington: Becoming a LeaderWe think of Washington as a severe figure with white hair at the height of his powers， but he didn’t start that way。 He was an often rash young man with a fiery temper。 These traits almost brought his military career to an end before it began。 Indeed， the book opens with an ill and dispirited Washington leaving his forces during the Indian fighting on Virginia’s Western frontier without the permission of his commander。 From this low point Washington rose throu George Washington: Becoming a LeaderWe think of Washington as a severe figure with white hair at the height of his powers， but he didn’t start that way。 He was an often rash young man with a fiery temper。 These traits almost brought his military career to an end before it began。 Indeed， the book opens with an ill and dispirited Washington leaving his forces during the Indian fighting on Virginia’s Western frontier without the permission of his commander。 From this low point Washington rose through positions in the Virginia House of Burgesses， and as a justice of the Fairfax County Court。 Here he learned to control his temper， act as a calming influence， build bridges， and become a significant leader。 The remainder of the book details Washington’s rise to become the most beloved leader in colonial America。If you enjoy history， particularly American history， this is a wonderful book。 I have read a number of excellent biographies of Washington， but this one adds an additional dimension with it’s focus on Washington becoming both a great military as well as an outstanding political leader。 The book is easy to read， almost like a novel， but filled with facts and acute observations about Washington and his time。 I particularly enjoyed the way the author made colonial America come to life。 I highly recommend this book。 In this troubling time， it’s one of the best choices this year。 I received this book from Dutton for this review。 。。。more

S。 Smith ，

Historian and novelist Stewart has crafted a readable one-volume biography of the first president of the United States， with an emphasis on Washington's development as a master of politics。 From his beginnings as a fiery， even intemperate， young military officer to his acclaim as the most trusted among the nation's founders， the story of George Washington unfolds in thoroughly documented， clearly written prose as accessible to general readers as to specialists in the period。 Thanks to the publis Historian and novelist Stewart has crafted a readable one-volume biography of the first president of the United States， with an emphasis on Washington's development as a master of politics。 From his beginnings as a fiery， even intemperate， young military officer to his acclaim as the most trusted among the nation's founders， the story of George Washington unfolds in thoroughly documented， clearly written prose as accessible to general readers as to specialists in the period。 Thanks to the publisher for supplying an advance reading copy via NetGalley。 。。。more

Raymond ，

David Stewart's biography of George Washington tells the story of a man who was an enigma to me。 This is the first full length biography that I read of Washington and I enjoyed learning more about him as a person。 Washington was a reader and a gambler， he was very organized， and had a bad temper （which is a trait I did not associate with him）。 The thesis of this book is that Washington was more of an ambitious political animal than we are generally led to believe。 During the French and Indian Wa David Stewart's biography of George Washington tells the story of a man who was an enigma to me。 This is the first full length biography that I read of Washington and I enjoyed learning more about him as a person。 Washington was a reader and a gambler， he was very organized， and had a bad temper （which is a trait I did not associate with him）。 The thesis of this book is that Washington was more of an ambitious political animal than we are generally led to believe。 During the French and Indian War he pushed to be a Lieutenant Colonel even when he was not qualified for the role。 He had a larger role in shaping how the U。S。 Constitution was drafted， especially the office of the Presidency， so much so that some called it George Washington's Constitution。 He was also a dealmaker which is shown most notably in the Assumption/Capitol location debate。 The book closes with his death and how he handles his slaves in his will。 Overall， the book is well written and researched。 Thanks to NetGalley， Dutton， and David Stewart for a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review。 This book will be released on February 9， 2021。 。。。more

Regina Mastrogiacomo ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I knew he fought for the United States and he never wanted to be a king， but there was a lot I didn't know about him until I read this book。 I learned he had a lot of siblings （Did you know that）， I learn he was always looking to better himself and I also learned he loved his wife and took care of her children from her first marriage。 I also learned that he was influential on how our government was going to be organized and also where Washington D。C。 was going to be。 Just Wow。 There is so much m I knew he fought for the United States and he never wanted to be a king， but there was a lot I didn't know about him until I read this book。 I learned he had a lot of siblings （Did you know that）， I learn he was always looking to better himself and I also learned he loved his wife and took care of her children from her first marriage。 I also learned that he was influential on how our government was going to be organized and also where Washington D。C。 was going to be。 Just Wow。 There is so much more that was very informational and entertaining in this book that anyone who wants to learn where the United States started from should read it。 This biography is one of the best I have ever read and it's not stiff like an encyclopedia but flows like a novel， so its very easy to read。 I want to thank PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book。 I learned so much about a person that did so much for this country。 。。。more

Richard Propes ，

Award-winning historian David O。 Stewart's "George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father" is an illuminating and insightful masterwork， a compelling portrayal of the man regarded as America's founding father and a precise testimony as to the journey that got him to such a place。 With books like "Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson" and "The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution，" Stewart has long held a reputation as a writer who digs deeper and Award-winning historian David O。 Stewart's "George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father" is an illuminating and insightful masterwork， a compelling portrayal of the man regarded as America's founding father and a precise testimony as to the journey that got him to such a place。 With books like "Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson" and "The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution，" Stewart has long held a reputation as a writer who digs deeper and searches for the truths amidst the historical myths and long-held beliefs that have often defined our perceptions of history。 The same is very much true with his latest book "George Washington，" scheduled for release in February 2021 from Penguin Group Dutton。 If you believe yourself to know George Washington， it's highly unlikely that you know the George Washington revealed by Stewart。 "George Washington" is such a comprehensive book that it demanded my full and focused attention。 While I often finish books in 2-3 days， "George Washington" became a book that I absorbed in bits and pieces as I allowed Stewart's stories and insights and findings to slosh around my brain and settle within。 Stewart has an extraordinary gift for making history engaging， writing his words with great detail yet with a rhythm that feels natural and an occasional very light humor that makes you smile as you read his stories and accounts of Washington's life。 "George Washington" unveils the political education， and at times failings， that allowed Washington to become a master politician and a trusted figure in America's early days when nearly a single wrong move could have led to collapse for a fledgling nation struggling to find its voice， its place in the world， and its ability to survive in a harrowing financial climate。 While "George Washington" brings forth insights into Washington's earliest years from childhood through his young adult years and into his marriage and family life with Martha， the book becomes particularly riveting as Washington begins his journey into military leadership and discovering his place within community leadership。 He largely learned the craft of politicking as a member of Virginia's House of Burgesses， while daily management skills were given birth when he served as a justice of the Fairfax County Court。 We are， perhaps， most familiar with Washington as a leader in the Second Continental Congress and， of course， for his military leadership role in the American Revolution。 Yet， Stewart reveals all of this with far greater insight than many of us， myself included， have likely experienced in our high school U。S。 History classes or in textbooks that really only begin to skim the surface of Washington's life and experiences。 Stewart paints not just a precise portrait of Washington， but also a precise portrait of the culture in which Washington survived and thrived。 By the end of "George Washington，" I had to humble myself and realize how much I did not know about America's founding father。 I felt like I understood him more substantially as a human being， as a political leader， and for his role within founding a nation and steering its political values。 It's interesting， of course， to read "George Washington" at a time of great challenge in America， a health pandemic and civil unrest revealing a quaking of sorts in the institutional foundations both revealing weaknesses within our structure and providing opportunities for becoming an even greater nation for all Americans。 Stewart masterfully writes about Washington's own challenges amidst bridge-building and regional interests。 He reveals what had to be the earliest gestures of human rights， stories unfamiliar to me yet stories that captivate and intrigue and reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of America even in our earliest days and with our earliest politicians including Washington himself。 "George Washington" is not a glorification of our founding father。 Instead， it's a rather remarkable effort to provide positive illumination of the truth of Washington。 It would be easy to say "humanizing，" but that's not really it。 Washington does， indeed， become more accessible via Stewart's words but it's more about creating for us Washington's world and the Washington who lived in that world。 Stewart， a lawyer by background， writes in such a way that it occasionally feels like extraordinary， well researched testimony。 He doesn't just assert truths， but he defends them exactly yet in a way that engages and， much like Washington himself， builds bridges。 If you had told me early in 2020 that a biography/memoir of George Washington would end up being one of my favorite books of the year， I'd have likely laughed。 Yet， here we are。 I was engaged and captivated from beginning to end。 I learned immensely and gained understanding into the beginning years of America and the politicians and figures who played key roles in those years。 I gained new knowledge and insights into Washington himself， long a myth more than a man and now someone both human and extraordinary whose life journey is one to learn from as he learned how to become the man who would become known as America's founding father。 。。。more