Washington: A Life
Penguin Press
10/5/2010
Audiobook
904
Despite the reverence his name inspires Washington remains a waxwork to many readers, worthy but dull, a laconic man of remarkable self-control. But in this groundbreaking work Chernow revises forever the uninspiring stereotype. He portrays Washington as a strapping, celebrated horseman, elegant dancer and tireless hunter, who guarded his emotional life with intriguing ferocity. Not only did Washington gather around himself the foremost figures of the age, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, he orchestrated their actions to help realise his vision for the new federal government, define the separation of powers, and establish the office of the presidency.
This book covered much of the same ground as earlier Washington biographies have done, but I feel like it dove deeper into the inner thoughts of Washington, as much as they can be known. If one thing can be said about Washington, it’s that he was well aware of the place he would hold in history and was obsessive about cultivating the right appearance for posterity. The picture of Washington portrayed here is not all positive. There is much vanity and pettiness in his writings, but if any of us were as scrutinized as Washington, I’m sure the same could be said of all of us at times.
I really enjoyed this book, even when I had to return it before I’d finished and then resume reading it several months later!