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jeremyanderberg's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best starting point for reading about Washington, but it was a nice, easy-reading look at the final tumultuous years of his life. Best for those who want a deeper look at this man's life rather than a breezy introduction.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
3.0
A fairly interesting book about the last years of Washington's life after his presidency. It is only about 3 years.
agruenbaum's review against another edition
3.0
An in-depth review of Washington's brief presidential years. Informative, but nothing terribly interesting.
beejai's review against another edition
3.0
The promotional blurb for this book says, "Popular historian and former White House speechwriter Jonathan Horn tells the astonishing true story of George Washington’s forgotten last years—the personalities, plotting, and private torment that unraveled America’s first post-presidency."
No. Not really.
It is true that most schoolbooks and life overviews seem to jump straight from Washington's farewell address into a eulogy of his life. He did stick around at Mt Vernon for a while. This book pretty much gives us the history of America during the Adams and early Jefferson presidencies from the perspective of Washington's life and correspondences. There is nothing, "astonishing" or "riveting" about it. There was no "unraveling" and Washington certainly didn't "lose his head". Despite the sensational claims of the promotional, nothing within the meat of the book suggests any of this.
I would give this book four stars for providing a unique angle to the familiar story of America's early years. It is a good book of history that was well researched and written. But I'm docking a star for the horrible, shameless bait and switch promotional. If Jonathan Horn wrote it himself, shame. If someone over at the offices of Simon and Schuster did it... they need to be reprimanded if not fired outright.
No. Not really.
It is true that most schoolbooks and life overviews seem to jump straight from Washington's farewell address into a eulogy of his life. He did stick around at Mt Vernon for a while. This book pretty much gives us the history of America during the Adams and early Jefferson presidencies from the perspective of Washington's life and correspondences. There is nothing, "astonishing" or "riveting" about it. There was no "unraveling" and Washington certainly didn't "lose his head". Despite the sensational claims of the promotional, nothing within the meat of the book suggests any of this.
I would give this book four stars for providing a unique angle to the familiar story of America's early years. It is a good book of history that was well researched and written. But I'm docking a star for the horrible, shameless bait and switch promotional. If Jonathan Horn wrote it himself, shame. If someone over at the offices of Simon and Schuster did it... they need to be reprimanded if not fired outright.
bobdudley's review against another edition
3.0
I had high exceptions for this biography and I was really disappointed. Essentially, after leaving the presidency he wanted to disappear from the public eye. He was really a modest individual and one whose schooling ended early. His training was as a surveyor; which he excelled at. He had many ideas about farming, some of which would be considered very modern. He was, in some ways, jealous of Thomas Jefferson's gardens and farms. He had large holdings, more than anyone man could manage and in the end he failed at making money off his farming.
Politics were pretty nasty after he left office and he wanted nothing to do with it. Unfortunately he was pulled into it and did not handle it well. On top of that there were family problems and the deterioration of his health.
While there was a lot of material from this time period to work from there was not in the way of personal letters with his thoughts and we learn why from this biography. The writing on the other hand is not the greatest making it difficult to read. I still think that it is worth the effort.
Politics were pretty nasty after he left office and he wanted nothing to do with it. Unfortunately he was pulled into it and did not handle it well. On top of that there were family problems and the deterioration of his health.
While there was a lot of material from this time period to work from there was not in the way of personal letters with his thoughts and we learn why from this biography. The writing on the other hand is not the greatest making it difficult to read. I still think that it is worth the effort.
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