As with elliss other work, its less a traditional biography than a nonlinear character study, using specific events and incidents to probe washingtons personality and character. To this landmark biography of our first president, joseph j. Professor ellis talked about his book his excellency. Then ellis began research for a chapter about washingtons farewell address in founding brothers, his brilliant, pulitzer prizewinning bestseller about americas revolutionary generation. In a historical profession that is scornful of what it calls dead white males, joseph j.
Phillis wheatleys poem to his excellency general washington is as unique as the poet herself. The poem was sent to george washington, the newly appointed commanderinchief of the armies of north america, in october of 1775, well before american independence was declared in 1776. In the preface to this ambitious and largely successful biography of george washington, joseph j. In this followup to his bestselling founding brothers, ellis offers a magisterial account of the life and times of george washington, celebrating the heroic image of the president whom peers like jefferson and madison recognized as their unquestioned superior while acknowledging his alltoohuman qualities. George washington by joseph j ellis online at alibris. Historian joseph ellis talks about his 2004 biography, his excellency. He is perhaps best known for his pulitzer prize winning book founding brothers. This is a great introduction to washington scholarship, and an even better portrait of a complex man. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. This book is an excellent place to start and an easy read. George washington never does chop down a cherry tree only to proclaim to his father he could not tell a lie nor throw a silver dollar across the potomac river. Having lost his father early and having attained only a gradeschool education, washington was pressed into work on virginias western frontier, the far.
So many students today see george washington as a memorial, a monument, a face on a dollar bill, and the man who could not lie. This summary of to his excellency general washington includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. In a historical profession that is scornful of what it. Explaining his greatness is a minor historical industry because, unlike his great contemporaries, george washington rarely explained himself. Ellis has used it with great skill and perception not only to bring us the man, warts and all, but more importantly to reveal his extraordinary insights into the problems confronting the founders that resonate today in the republic they created. Ellis looks at the life of one of americas founding fathers george washington. George washington in his latest book, joseph ellis once again looks back to the american founding for wisdom from jefferson, adams, madison, and washington.
So many students today see george washington as a memorial, a monument, a face. Training his lens on a figure who sometimes seems as remote as his effigy on mount rushmore, ellis assesses george washington as a military and political leader and a. George washington is a 2004 biography of the first president of the. In fact, he was a mortal man serving as an officer and a statesmen, during the creation of an historic new nation unlike any other the. To his excellency general washington summary supersummary.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read his excellency. Even when ellis sums up an important battle in a paragraph, he. Steve inskeep, new book takes fresh look at george washington. George washington in 2004, he had already produced several popular books about early american history. George washington is another solid biography by joseph ellis, arguably the best contemporary historian of americas founding fathers. George washington 9781400040315 by ellis, joseph j. In the extravaganza of mourning that occurred in more than four hundred towns and hamlets throughout the land, he was described as the only indisputable hero of the age, the one and only his excellency. No stranger to scandal himself, ellis founding brothers, 2000, etc. Ellis has crafted a landmark biography that brings to life in all his complexity the most important and perhaps least understood figure in american history, george washington. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. His excellency george washington by ellis, joseph j.
I really enjoyed this book as i have several other pollan books. He was, as his colleague henry lee said upon his death, first in war, first in peace and first in the. His excellency a landmark biography of the most important and perhaps least understood figure in american history that brings our countrys first president to life in all his full complexity. Ellis brings the exacting scholarship, shrewd analysis, and lyric prose that have made him one of the premier historians of the revolutionary era. The author of seven highly acclaimed books, joseph j. His excellency is a full, glorious, and multifaceted portrait of the man behind our countrys genesis, sure to become the authoritative biography of george washington for many decades. His excellency is a more intimate biography of washington than many previously written, focusing as much on the subjects character as on his career. George washington joseph ellis sets out to make george washington, the person we think of as an icon, into a real person. Both physically and politically, washington towered over his peers for reasons this book elucidates. Looking for something more in depth, i am now reading washington, a life by chernow. Joseph j ellis drawing from the newly catalogued washington papers at the university of virginia, the author paints a full portrait of washingtons life and career in the context of eighteenthcentury america. George washington creates a compelling portrait of one of the most idealized heroes of american history, and it does so while remaining readable. Drawing from the newly catalogued washington papers at the university of virginia, the author paints a full portrait of washingtons life and career in the context of eighteenthcentury america, richly detailing his private life and illustrating the ways in which it influenced his public persona.
The character of thomas jefferson, which won the national book award. The conquests and failures in battle and his achievements as president have been brought out in a way no historian has been able to capture previously. Ellis bestselling biography of our first president, published nearly a decade ago. His books have brought his name into one of remembrance as his books have gone on to win the pulitzer prize, national book award, and new york times bestseller. Michael pollan has a way of encouraging us to reclaim our independence and. National bestsellerto this landmark biography of our first president, joseph j. National book award for american sphinx, a biography of thomas jefferson new york times bestseller his excellency. A revisionist life of the founding father, motes and warts and all. The author explained washingtons position on several issues, including expansion and slavery. Drawing from the catalogued washington papers at the university of virginia, joseph ellis follows washington from his military career through his years as president. His excellency the most indepth analysis of george washington. It is also about 12 the lengthj of the chernow book, so start there. This is a more detailed look, but i might not have read it without starting on his excellency, george washington.
Like many of us, historian joseph ellis long considered george washington a distant, almost unapproachable icon, aloof and silent, like the man in the moon. The revolutionary generation, american sphinx, and his excellency. The revolutionary generation and has written about presidents adams and. His excellency george washington is a 2004 biography of george washington written by joseph ellis, a professor of history at mount holyoke college. As commander of the continental army, george washington united the american colonies, defeated the british army, and became the worlds most famous man. Elliss biography details the major chapters of washington s life, including his childhood and marriage, his early military service, his revolutionary war days. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Ellis is a wellknown author and history professor focusing on the revolutionary era. Having written fine accounts of john adams and thomas jefferson, historian joseph ellis turns his attention to washington, and the result is lively and thoughtful, perhaps the best singlevolume work on. Professor joseph ellis talked about his book his excellency.