Scan barcode
Reviews
The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness by Harlow Giles Unger
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about James Monroe, the 5th President of America, and probably the one Democratic Republican leader/President I actually liked, after I'd read about them (I rather suspect I'd have been a federalist, had I been live at the time).
The book itself isn't half bad. It rattles along at a decent lick, doesn't feel like the writer's asking you to be impressed by the weight of research he'd done, and covers the complete spectrum of Monroe's life pretty well (there wasn't a huge amount going on in the world during his presidency, so there wasn't much to talk about there, which allowed Monroe's pre-presidential life to shine).
So all in all, a decent read, if you want to learn a little about James Monroe.
Having just said it was a decent read, you're probably wondering why I only gave it 3 stars. My grumble is that while the book isn't completely hagiographic (though it's close), Unger clearly prefers Monroe to either Madison and Adams. His description of Madison makes you wonder how he ever got elected (I know he was embarrassed by the War of 1812, but that came after he was elected, twice), and Unger's biography of Adams, makes it's clear he didn't have much time for him as President either.
Personally I think if you're going to read about a President, you should try and read a couple of books about them... and try and assume that the truth lies somewhere in the middle of various author's claims.
To support this thesis, if you look at the rankings of Presidents by historians, Adams, Madison and Monroe score similar marks. If this were the only book you'd read, you might think Monroe was much more highly ranked.
The book itself isn't half bad. It rattles along at a decent lick, doesn't feel like the writer's asking you to be impressed by the weight of research he'd done, and covers the complete spectrum of Monroe's life pretty well (there wasn't a huge amount going on in the world during his presidency, so there wasn't much to talk about there, which allowed Monroe's pre-presidential life to shine).
So all in all, a decent read, if you want to learn a little about James Monroe.
Having just said it was a decent read, you're probably wondering why I only gave it 3 stars. My grumble is that while the book isn't completely hagiographic (though it's close), Unger clearly prefers Monroe to either Madison and Adams. His description of Madison makes you wonder how he ever got elected (I know he was embarrassed by the War of 1812, but that came after he was elected, twice), and Unger's biography of Adams, makes it's clear he didn't have much time for him as President either.
Personally I think if you're going to read about a President, you should try and read a couple of books about them... and try and assume that the truth lies somewhere in the middle of various author's claims.
To support this thesis, if you look at the rankings of Presidents by historians, Adams, Madison and Monroe score similar marks. If this were the only book you'd read, you might think Monroe was much more highly ranked.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
Really, really solid biography. It isn't just a recitation of Monroe's life, rather it looks at the influences on him, his influences and the world within which he lived. The changes in the US between 1770 and 1830 were so astounding that it is hard to grasp that world and how much of an out of place Monroe was by the time he dies.
jenpenbuck's review against another edition
2.0
Lots of hero worship going on in this book, but I delighted in the political drama detailed in the earlier parts of the book. Like a revolutionary Desperate Housewives!
neglet's review against another edition
If I were judging this book just on writing style, I would have rated it more highly. Unfortunately where it succeeds as an engaging read, it fails in providing a broader history. At least the author is upfront about the first flaw, which is glorifying its subject; in the prologue he calls “John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison ... mere caretaker presidents.”
This book really falls down in addressing Monroe’s role with regard to slavery and the displacement of Native Americans. For example, although it spends many paragraphs outlining outlining Monroe’s efforts to build his farm, there’s only one throwaway line about putting his “25 slaves to work,” not even acknowledging his farm was only possible through the use of stolen labor. In biographies I’ve read of other Virginia presidents (Washington, Jefferson, and Madison), all of them explored in much more detail how these founding fathers tried to reconcile (or didn’t) the ideals of the American revolution with the fact that they enslaved people. This has one line on Monroe’s thoughts on the matter.
It’s even worse when it comes to perpetuating the myth of glorious western expansion with no acknowledgment at all on how this was done only through displacement of Native peoples: “the land rush added six states and scores of towns and villages to the Union and produced the largest redistribution of wealth in the annals of man. Never before had a sovereign state transferred ownership of so much land—and so much political power—to so many people not of noble rank.” Yay! Monroe enabled so much opportunity ... just ignore the cost to Native peoples.
So if you want the basics of Madison and his life without being bored, go ahead. But you may want to read some other books about this era in history to get a fuller picture.
This book really falls down in addressing Monroe’s role with regard to slavery and the displacement of Native Americans. For example, although it spends many paragraphs outlining outlining Monroe’s efforts to build his farm, there’s only one throwaway line about putting his “25 slaves to work,” not even acknowledging his farm was only possible through the use of stolen labor. In biographies I’ve read of other Virginia presidents (Washington, Jefferson, and Madison), all of them explored in much more detail how these founding fathers tried to reconcile (or didn’t) the ideals of the American revolution with the fact that they enslaved people. This has one line on Monroe’s thoughts on the matter.
It’s even worse when it comes to perpetuating the myth of glorious western expansion with no acknowledgment at all on how this was done only through displacement of Native peoples: “the land rush added six states and scores of towns and villages to the Union and produced the largest redistribution of wealth in the annals of man. Never before had a sovereign state transferred ownership of so much land—and so much political power—to so many people not of noble rank.” Yay! Monroe enabled so much opportunity ... just ignore the cost to Native peoples.
So if you want the basics of Madison and his life without being bored, go ahead. But you may want to read some other books about this era in history to get a fuller picture.
ecs_etera's review against another edition
2.0
Unger is so far up James Monroe's ass he cannot write in a straight line. This book was rife with factual inaccuracies and liberally sprinkled with "artistic license." Don't read this book, it is the worst kind of trash - the trash masquerading as academic work.
readermeginco's review against another edition
2.0
I am torn between rating this a 1 and a 2. I am a sucker for good American history and reading a well-written biography is my idea of a good time. This book was neither. If this had been written as a contemporary biography of a political candidate, I would have figured that the author was trying to score some sort of ambassadorial posting to an island in paradise. So effusive is Unger's praise of Monroe. From Unger's pen, Monroe emerges as the man who can do NO wrong. His dismissiveness, even out-right dislike of Madison was completely disrespectful (referring to him as inept and as a Lilliputian - I realize he was quite short, but... really?!). In fact, I began hiking my eyebrows as early as the introduction and I really wish I had stopped right then to read more reviews. For now, I plan to never again read anything by Harlow Giles Unger.