A review by kellyldriver
His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
2.0
This most recent Presidential Election really got me excited about politics and our electoral system here in the United States.
After Barack Obama won the Presidency in November I was so excited and eager to learn more about this country’s past Presidents. I thought I would begin with the very first one, the father of our country, George Washington.
I did a search for the best Presidential biographies and I was given an extensive list. I went to the library to get my Washington biography and found that it was only about 100 pages. I thought that there was no way I would be able to learn about him in only 100 pages so I grabbed the book next to it, His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis.
Andy Boynton of Amazon.com said, “As commander of the Continental army, George Washington united the American colonies, defeated the British army, and became the world's most famous man. But how much do Americans really know about their first president? Today, as Pulitzer Prize-winner Joseph J. Ellis says in this crackling biography, Americans see their first president on dollar bills, quarters, and Mount Rushmore, but only as "an icon--distant, cold, intimidating." In truth, Washington was a deeply emotional man, but one who prized and practiced self-control (an attribute reinforced during his years on the battlefield).
Washington first gained recognition as a 21-year-old emissary for the governor of Virginia, braving savage conditions to confront encroaching French forces. As the de facto leader of the American Revolution, he not only won the country's independence, but helped shape its political personality and "topple the monarchical and aristocratic dynasties of the Old World." When the Congress unanimously elected him president, Washington accepted reluctantly, driven by his belief that the union's very viability depended on a powerful central government. In fact, keeping the country together in the face of regional allegiances and the rise of political parties may be his greatest presidential achievement.”
Since the book was based on Washington's personal letters and papers, His Excellency, to me, was like reading a somewhat entertaining textbook. There wasn’t much insight into the personal side of the man since most of his personal correspondence was destroyed by his wife, Martha, after his death.
If you are interested in learning more about the facts of Washington’s life and a very brief explanation of how this country’s government was set up this would be a good book to read.
After Barack Obama won the Presidency in November I was so excited and eager to learn more about this country’s past Presidents. I thought I would begin with the very first one, the father of our country, George Washington.
I did a search for the best Presidential biographies and I was given an extensive list. I went to the library to get my Washington biography and found that it was only about 100 pages. I thought that there was no way I would be able to learn about him in only 100 pages so I grabbed the book next to it, His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis.
Andy Boynton of Amazon.com said, “As commander of the Continental army, George Washington united the American colonies, defeated the British army, and became the world's most famous man. But how much do Americans really know about their first president? Today, as Pulitzer Prize-winner Joseph J. Ellis says in this crackling biography, Americans see their first president on dollar bills, quarters, and Mount Rushmore, but only as "an icon--distant, cold, intimidating." In truth, Washington was a deeply emotional man, but one who prized and practiced self-control (an attribute reinforced during his years on the battlefield).
Washington first gained recognition as a 21-year-old emissary for the governor of Virginia, braving savage conditions to confront encroaching French forces. As the de facto leader of the American Revolution, he not only won the country's independence, but helped shape its political personality and "topple the monarchical and aristocratic dynasties of the Old World." When the Congress unanimously elected him president, Washington accepted reluctantly, driven by his belief that the union's very viability depended on a powerful central government. In fact, keeping the country together in the face of regional allegiances and the rise of political parties may be his greatest presidential achievement.”
Since the book was based on Washington's personal letters and papers, His Excellency, to me, was like reading a somewhat entertaining textbook. There wasn’t much insight into the personal side of the man since most of his personal correspondence was destroyed by his wife, Martha, after his death.
If you are interested in learning more about the facts of Washington’s life and a very brief explanation of how this country’s government was set up this would be a good book to read.