The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon - Hardcover

Ferling, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1596914653 ISBN 13: 9781596914650

Publisher: Bloomsbury Press, 2009

Synopsis

Perhaps the most revered American of all, George Washington has long been considered a stoic leader who held himself above the fray of political infighting. What has gone unnoticed about the much-researched life of Washington is that he was in fact a consummate politician, as historian John Ferling shows in this revealing and provocative new book. As leader of the Continental Army, Washington's keen political savvy enabled him not only to outwit superior British forces, but--even more challenging--to manage the fractious and intrusive Continental Congress. Despite dire setbacks early in the war, Washington deftly outmaneuvered rival generals and defused dissent from officers below him, ending the war with the status of a national icon. His carefully burnished reputation allowed Washington, as president, to lead the country under the guise of non-partisanship for almost all of his eight years in office. Washington, Ferling argues, was not only one of America's most adroit politicians, he was easily the most successful of all time--so successful, in fact, that he is no longer thought of as having been political.

About this title

About the Author

John Ferling is Professor Emeritus of History at the State University of West Georgia. A leading authority on American Revolutionary history, he has appeared in many documentaries and has written numerous books, including Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War for Independence, Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, The First of Men: A Life of George Washington, Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, and Jefferson in the American Revolution, and the award-winning A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic.

From AudioFile

The author claims not to have written a biography of the first U.S. president, but rather an examination of his politics. Much of the book's language comes from letters, speeches, and newspapers of the eighteenth century, making the vocabulary and style seem stilted and foreign. One can, however, still learn a great deal about Washington's military mind, his demeanor, and how his contemporaries viewed him. Norman Dietz narrates as many nonfiction lovers prefer: no frills or embellishments, just words off the page. His pace never varies from medium-slow, allowing listeners to hear and understand every word. As some audio readers also prefer, his plain-vanilla narration gradually moves to the background, allowing the focus to stay on the vast amount of historical information. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1596914653
• ISBN 13: 9781596914650
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 464