Washington A Life by Ron Chernow
Introduction
Washington A Life by Ron Chernow is a one book biography of the first President of the United States from cradle to grave. History has portrayed Washington as a dull, taciturn man of granite self-control, so the author wanted to dig deeper into Washington’s correspondence to present the side of Washington that was vivid and dramatic. How did a British colonial aristocrat become the leader of the American Revolution?
Summary
The author divides Washington’s life into six parts. Frontiersman, part one, explains the history of the short-lived males of the Washington line. George Washington learned to become a surveyor and took part in the French and Indian War. Planter, part two, covers when he has taken control of the Mount Vernon plantation because of untimely deaths in his family and his marriage to the widow Martha Custis. General, part three, shows when he became the military leader of the American Revolution. He faces eight years of battle but only wishes to return to Mount Vernon. Statesman, part four, covers when the states are governed by the ineffectual Articles of Confederation. He serves as the president of the Continental Congress leading to the drafting of the Constitution. President, part five, is about his eight years in office. It details the battles in his cabinet between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Legend part six covers the years after Washington’s retirement to Mount Vernon with Martha. Second President John Adams named him a Lieutenant General for the last 17 months of his life but did not take a field command. He lived out his last days and passed into legend.
Recommendation
Washington A Life by Ron Chernow delivers on its premise to show how Washington was a vivid and dramatic person. He was a person of his times but tried to create a party-less government. Washington led by quiet example and held his fragile new country together. He was the only person who could have accomplished his great feats.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Washington A Life by Ron Chernow.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8255917-washington
Another book by Ron Chernow is Alexander Hamilton. I read the Washington biography because I liked how he wrote Alexander Hamilton. This is the link to my review of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.