The Last Founding Father - James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness
(2009)
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Front Cover |
Book Details |
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Genre |
Biography; Non-Fiction |
Subject |
Presidents - United States - Biography |
Publication Date |
9/29/2009 |
Format |
Hardcover (9.1
x
6.1
mm)
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Publisher |
Da Capo Press |
Language |
English |
Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
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Description |
In this lively and compelling biography Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751–1831) went on to become America’s first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing America’s national and international durability. Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally America’s fifth president. The country embraced Monroe’s dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of America’s first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history. Like David McCullough’s John Adams and Jon Meacham’s recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of Monroe is both a solid read and stellar scholarship—history in the grand tradition. |
Personal Details |
Store |
amazon.com |
Purchase Price |
$17.16 |
Acquire Date |
9/22/2009 |
Condition |
As New |
Rating |
0 |
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Product Details |
LoC Classification |
E372.U54 2009 |
Dewey |
973.5/4092 |
ISBN |
9780306818080 |
Edition |
1st Da Capo Press ed. |
Cover Price |
$26.00 |
No. of Pages |
400 |
First Edition |
No |
Rare |
No |
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Notes/Review |
Well told but "fluffy". This is a personal history rather than a telling of history. Only two pages on the Monroe Doctrine but page after page describing the state dinners, the furniture, what Elizabeth and Eliza wore. Monroe lived a fascinating life and Unger tells the tale well. But not as good a history book as McCullough's Adams book.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and want to say good things about it. But at the same time I am disappointed that it told me so little about Monroe's policies. It does a nice job of telling the story of his life, his actions, his family. I learned a lot about the social life in Washington City. I learned how close a relationship he had with Marshall. But the Monroe Doctrine was explained in two pages, half of which was a rebuttal against the position that John Quincy Adams was the brains behind it. |
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