| George Washington: The Forge of Experience 1732 - 1775 - Volume I
(1965)
|
| Front Cover |
Book Details |
|
| Genre |
Non-Fiction; Biography |
| Subject |
Generals - United States - Biography; Presidents - United States - Biography; United States - History - Colonial Period, Ca. 1600-1775; Washington, George, 1732-1799 |
| Publication Date |
1/30/1965 |
| Format |
Hardcover (9.5
x
6.5
mm)
|
| Publisher |
Little, Brown and Company |
| Language |
English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
|
| Personal Details |
| Store |
American Political Biography Press |
| Purchase Price |
$10.00 |
| Acquire Date |
10/8/2019 |
| Condition |
Very Good/Very Good |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
Goodreads
|
|
| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
E312.2 .F6 |
| Dewey |
973.20924 |
| ISBN |
9780316285971 |
| Series |
His George Washington |
| Volume |
1 |
| Cover Price |
$40.00 |
| No. of Pages |
390 |
| First Edition |
No |
| Rare |
No |
|
| Notes/Review |
This first volume (of four) on Washington's life covers events up to mid-1775 or so. If this were a television show or movie, I'm guessing people would call it a cliff-hanger as it ends with Washington's appointment as commander in chief of the non-existent Continental Army not long after hostilities got underway in Boston.
I found this a very clear and readable book. When reading biographies, I'm often concerned that the author becomes such a fan of his subject that he is reluctant to fully explore less favorable parts of the story. I'm not a big fan of hagiographies, and, of all the US presidents, Washington might be the one most susceptible to that treatment. I don't sense that here: Flexner seems to be even-handed, not casting GW always in a favorable light.
The main topics here are his youth, his service in the French and Indian Wars, and the early development of his Mount Vernon plantation. I think, if you ask most Americans about GW, you'll get answers like "wooden teeth", he couldn't tell a lie, and something about a cherry tree. So far, we haven't learned anything about GW's dental problems, we find he could tell lies (and would probably recommend telling "little white lies"), and that the cherry tree incident was pure fiction.
Most interesting, to me, was his military history. Or, to be more correct, his very limited military experience. Those days (and for some time after), militias were raised by the wealthy landowners in the area. And they made themselves the officers. In GW's case, he began as a Major and made Colonel after a short while. One problem he faced, though, was that a colonial Major was lower in rank than a British Captain, and he felt this was unfair. He was outspoken on logistics and tactics and was often wrong. Looking at his service in the French & Indian Wars, one is certainly justified in wondering if he had what it took to be successful as commander in chief of the Continental Army. I look forward to reading about the growth of his military aptitude in the next volume.
When reading whole-life biographies, I am often less than satisfied with the mix between the subject as a historical figure and his personal and family life. Sometimes authors say almost nothing of the person while others go into far too much trivial detail. My other common complaint is that authors often don't give the reader the proper amount of historical context: what was going on in the world that made our subject's decisions good or bad? I think Flexner does a very good job in both areas.
Includes an index, a number of pictures, a map on the inside covers, and endnotes, but lacks a bibliography. |
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