Washington: A Life

This is a great read, very absorbing and getting the right balance between historical detail and character description. I realised that I didn't really know anything about Washington the man and I wasn't inspired by those doughy-faced portraits of him. Ron Chernow has changed that, bringing Washington's unique character alive and the originality of his personality. Enormous personal decency, modest reticence and ego, highly disciplined, almost fatalistically brave, largely self-taught and self-motivated, excellent judge of character, aware of the moral dilemmas of issues such as slavery and while acknowledging his economic dependance on slavery,predicting that if the issue was not resolved over time it would threaten the Union. Did not regard himself as an intellectual, and patronised by his fellow Founding Fathers who never doubted their own genius, but he constantly exercised wisdom that was all the more powerful because it was not egotistical in any way. This meant he was trusted through the worst travails of the revolution and the explosive potential of the constitution-building. He was the essence of authority, with a sense of duty that compelled him to tasks that he did not relish but took no glory from. And in retirement he endured constant visitors to Mount Vernon and felt obliged to feed and water them all at some expense as long as they didn't expect him to engage in small talk (or any talk).Thanks to Ron Chernow's brilliantly written book, superbly edited to maintain a coherent narrative of personal detail and historical sweep, Washington of the doughy face has become my favourite and most original character from history. Americans are right to revere him, I have finally understood.

For a figure as ubiquitous and recognizable as George Washington, one may not initially feel the sufficient curiosity to read a 900 page biography of the Father of the Nation, however, such indifference would cause one to miss out on a truly scholarly treat. At 900 pages, Chernow stays on message and sticks to the point pretty much throughout, giving a complete portrait of the first President. All of Washington's life is covered, including family members, which reveals the crucial detail that Washington men had traditionally short life expectancy, his service in the French-Indian War, his early political career in the Virginia House of Burgesses, his leadership of the Continental Army, his seemingly reluctant Presidency, and finally, his long awaited but comparatively brief retirement. What the reader is gifted with is not just an incredibly detailed and well researched study of Washington, but also a first rate account of the American Revolution. Having read other books on this subject, most of which were by Joseph J Ellis, it can certainly be said that this is additionally an informative study of the American Revolution. Chernow provides a wholey objective and de-mythologized study of Washington, however, he does answer key questions as to why Washington attained such an apotheosis in both life and death, he led a ragtag, unprofessional army to a seemingly impossible victory against the greatest power of the day, he resigned his commission and threw away any pretensions of power returning to public service only through popular demand, and he exercised the office of the Presidency in a noble, non-partisan manner, which shaped the Presidency into the office that it is today. Washington was often called the American Cincinattus, and this biography clearly shows why, as Washington is frequently portrayed as a reluctant participant in the public square, reluctantly presiding over the Constitutional Convention and serving two terms as President. The main glitch on Washington's record, slavery, is shown largely in unfavorable light, presenting Washington as a half-hearted, would be abolitionist, full of empty rhetoric. Even toward the end of his life, he remained vigilant against escaped slaves, however, he did free his slaves in his will, something no other slave holding Founding Father did. A frequently recurring detail is Washington's teeth (or lack of) and his makeshift supply of dentures (no they were not wooden, as popular mythology would have us believe) and how his public speaking, often breathy and rather quiet, was not quite as heroic and imposing as the popular imagination would have us believe. Within this volume, Chernow goes against the somewhat fashionable intellectual tradition of portraying Washington as a Deist. Washington clearly comes across as a sincere and practicing Christian, although not as evangelical as some would like to believe. His invocation of the almighty is frequently tinged with hints of his Masonic background, speaking of the Great Architect or the author of all, however, there is little within this study that could reasonably put him in the Deist camp. Overall, this book is strongly recommended to enthusiasts of American History, or anyone wishing a better understanding of the founding period, or a better understanding of Washington himself. A scholarly, readable, and highly informative book.

This biography is written for Americans. It is written for those who know the hero but want know more of the man. Chernow does not seek to challenge, so much as to reassure his readers that Washington was truly someone of whom the nation can feel proud. He succeeds but at the cost of some historical appreciation. It is as detailed as a single readable volume allows. The material is presented chronologically, arranged as stages in Washington’s career. It has at times the feel of “destiny”. Great reliance is placed on Washington’s own words, the views of others quoted often, though with a prejudice in favour of his admirers. His family life gets attention: his poor relations with his mother, his strong if childless marriage, his care for relatives and friends. Hints are made of possible affairs and his gallantry/womanizing, without painting too doubtful a picture. Respect is shown to his innovations in agriculture which did little to alleviate his constant financial problems. He needed America to succeed to restore credit and trust in land and money. His long career depended on a vitality unusual for the time, but Chernow frequently alludes to ill-health especially as he succumbed to old age. His attempt to unpick his subject’s psychology is intriguing: a combination of insecurity and vanity, self-belief and determination. There are problems here. His role in the revolutionary war is portrayed almost as biblical, but his battles were few and his victories fewer. It is difficult to disagree that his real achievement was keeping the Continental Army together and forging in the process a nation. Chernow presents him as more important after 1783, indispensable and seen as such by his contemporaries – which may amount to the same thing. He played a central part in keeping the ship afloat in stormy waters, external storms and internal currents and in moulding the system of American government “enjoyed” today. This part of the biography I found more interesting as it colours so much of what is happening now. The judgement of history throws a long shadow. Chernow tries hard to excuse or diminish Washington’s ownership of slaves. He was a very prominent member of the plantation class and as keen to retain his property in humankind as any of them. Chernow would wish to separate this from the great cause, regrettable but understandable. You simply cannot do that. Nor can one dismiss Washington’s war against Indian tribes and his greed for land. His desire to serve all Americans – not black Americans of course nor the country’s original inhabitants – and avoid civil war merely postponed the storm. Less blood might have been shed eventually had Washington been a more visionary leader. For all that it is a readable and very human story. The reader is often beguiled into suspending criticism. The later chapters resonate in the current crisis of the United States – for really how else can it be described?. The book’s greatest achievement was to make me think – what would Washington have done?

Well written and an absorbing story

I've just finished "Washington, a life". Ron Chernow presents a vivid image of the former commander in chief/President. Washington, much like the Great Abraham Lincoln, was a man who could adapt and evolve into something better and different. For instance, even abusive to a certain extend towards his slaves, he did questionned his views and method; see, analyse, understand and finally act upon his reflexions in his will about the cruelty of the institution of slavery, freeing all his personal slaves. However,one of the most interesting aspect of this tremendous work is the relation between Federalist and Republicans, and most especially the ideologic duel between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. That angle alone is worth you time and reading. I've read books about John Adams and Washington, and let me tell you that Thomas Jefferson doesn't look to good... In conclusion, "Washington; a life: is about one the finest biography that you can lay your eyes upon, and I could not recommend it enough.

El autor recolecta distintas fuentes y las consolida en una muy bien buena biografía. Cubre todos los aspectos de la vida de Washington.

Washington suele ser tratado casi como un semi-dios que apareció de la nada, luchó 8 años, presidió el país otros 8 y murió. Nada más lejos de la realidad. En este libro se habla de su juventod y su familia y como todo ello derivó luego en su (escondida) ambición. Todo fundamentado con centenares de cartas y referencias pero no por ello menos ameno de leer. Echo en falta referencias más detalladas a otras personas (por ejemplo: se habla de Jefferson y su inutilidad con las milicias de Virginia y cuando quieres darte cuenta está en Francia).

Ottima biografia che finalmente non teme di narrare anche le ombre di un uomo si grande ma anche decisamente imperfetto. Ron Chernow come sempre ha uno stile narrativo molto fluido che lo fa sembrare un romanzo e non una noiosa biografia storica.

I ordered the hardcover when it was a good price. I don't usually leave reviews especially for books (are we reviewing the content or the condition of the book?) But the quality of this book was so exquisite I felt I should share. The paper feels very high quality and the book is put together well. Of The hundreds of books I own this is surely top 5 for quality. I recommend the hardcover.