“Washington: A Life” is a grand review the life of George Washington. The common knowledge of Washington is generously sprinkled in to ground us and provide context. Fortunately, Chernow spares us from the romanticized history that we all grew up with. He also illustrates numerous difficulties in his professional pursuits such as the inability to obtain a commission in the army of the British “regulars” that presumably has an influence on his ideals of citizenry and equality.Īll of the usual fanfare, regarding the man after which States, cities and monuments are named is present.

His volatile temper, youthful exuberance and virtually inexhaustible ambition all virtues, at times were greater liabilities than assets to a younger Washington that we rarely read in our history books.Ĭhernow continues by demonstrating Washington’s ability to side step personal obstacles including his inability to receive a formal education in England after the premature passing of his father. Chernow does a fantastic job of piecing together historic events from letters, journals and newspaper articles of the day to demonstrate the hardships endured by Washington along the way. This deference to circumstances should not be mistaken as blind worship of Washington or of providing another layer of grandeur to the lore of the first President. From the early expiration of a beloved, older half-brother to the passing of Daniel Custis, the wealthy first husband of the future First Lady, he paints a portrait of an almost predestined journey to the role of iconic, founding father so associated with the birth of a nation. Chernow recounts again and again, the misfortunes with health of family, loved ones and contemporaries and pointedly displays how Washington directly and the United States of America indirectly benefitted from those events. The chronicle begins with a brief review of Washington’s lineage and the familial tendency to expire at an early age. With great detail, Chernow presents the experiences of Washington and how they lead him on a seemingly providential path from a Frontiersman all the way to the Legend so many Americans revere today. In “Washington: A Life”, Ron Chernow illustrates the “Father” of our country with a complexity, beyond the venerated figure presented to most of us during our history classes of adolescence. Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The 1St Edition edition (October 5, 2010).

Taking a little break from Fright Fest, I’m particularly excited to welcome a special guest reviewer to my blog today: my husband, John! John has reviewed here before and although it’s been a while, it’s been worth the wait! So please welcome John! OctoJenn Historical Non-Fiction, Review 9 Guest Review: Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

Washington a life book review