This was a bit of a grind to get through. The historical content of this work was interesting and well-researched, but I find Ellis's presentation pedantic and at times pretentious. Then again, I think the same thing of Ellis in his speech and lecturing style as well.

Just the same, I continue to read his work because he has a way of narrowing in on well known people or events in history about which I've read before in a new and unexpected way. This particular book brought some particularly interesting new perspectives on the Jefferson-Adams dynamic over time, about the Washington administration (including insights not really articulated in His Excellency: George Washington).

In the end, it was good, and worth reading, but I just don't like the author's style or manner of speech. And the chapter titles drive me nuts.

Physically, the book was okay. It was thin, but the pages had a good texture. The font was somewhat smaller than I prefer, though. It was small enough to be my take-with-me book, which I like, but because of the other mentioned issues with style, it wasn't something that could hold my attention amidst distractions and ended up being the nightstand book. ( )

Humanises some of the Founding Fathers, by giving us a look into their personalities, through a series of vignettes. The story of the Burr-Hamilton duel is drained of suspense, but is well-explained, both in the moment and in context. ( )

This was a very interesting book about seven of the leading figures of the Revolutionary Era (John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.) The book consisted of six chapters, each chapter telling a different Revolutionary tale. As Americans, we have been told a much romanticized version of the American Revolution. Some of our founding fathers have been portrayed as near saints, while others have been marginalized and almost ignored. I believe that in truth the Revolution was much more chaotic and messy than often depicted. Also many of the less well-known founders played much more crucial roles than the romantic version would have us believe. This book does a good job of filling in some of the gaps in our knowledge of the founders and the decisive role that each played at such a consequential time in our nation's history. ( )

Masterfully written. Ellis' tale of the relationships between the founding fathers adds depth to the already documented history of them. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Adams and Jefferson. ( )

Interesting ( )

Ellis brings to light little-known facts about the relationships between Hamilton, Burr, Washington, Adams (John and Abigail), Jefferson, and Madison: their political leadership, blunders, rivalries, and love/hate relationships. Interestingly written stories of how the fate of the republic was determined, political leadership styles, the foreign policy leading to isolationism, the importance of character to greatness, and the silence behind the slavery question in the 18th and 19th centuries. ---CKL

The Dutch translation is not worth reading!

http://leestafel.blogspot.com/2008/09... ( )

history, politics, revolutionary war ( )

I wouldn't trust Jefferson. He paid a muckraker journalist named Calendar to write disparaging (untrue) things about his 'friend' John Adams.

When later confronted about it by Adams, Jefferson did not admit to it (even though there was solid evidence that he was lying)

According to the author, he had convinced himself that he wasn't in league with Calendar.

Calendar was also the person who broke the story that Jefferson slept with one of his slaves...

You reap what you sow! ( )

Ellis has written an entertaining as well as educational book. It takes an unusual form. He takes a verbal snapshot of six moments in time, then filled in the context for that event. That context is necessary... most of us have an insufficient view of the past, thinking we know it better than we do, and looking from our current lens. The most important part of the context we need to understand now is how fragile the US seemed to that first generation. Rightly or wrongly, they saw many issues as having the potential to end the Revolutionary experiment. Ellis calls his chapter on slavery "The Silence". The moment in time was debate in Congress in 1790 over Quaker anti-slave trade petitions. The main upshot was an agreement to not discuss the issue, as it seemed the main issue that would fracture the Republic. And Ellis makes a good case that financially and socially there probably wasn't a workable solution.

Other chapters cover the Hamilton-Burr duel in 1804, Washington's Farewell Address, a dinner with Jefferson, Hamilton, and Madison that helped cement a solution on the federal assumption of state debt and the settlement of the nation's capitol on the Potomac, the 1796 Presidential election, and the tumultuous friendship between Adams and Jefferson.

There are wonderful character studies along the way... Hamilton, Burr, Madison, Washington, and most especially Adams and Jefferson. This is the history I love, the stories of people, as well as forces, and how they interplay.

Wonderful book, highly recommended. ( )

3437. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, by Joseph J. Ellis (read Apr 25, 2001) This won the 2001 Pulitzer for history It is a good book, easy to read, and talks knowledgeably about an interesting time in our history. ( )

The title of this book, Founding Brothers, by Joseph Ellis comes from a letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson: "I look back with rapture to those golden days when Virginia and Massachusetts lived and acted together like a band of brothers." The title is ironic because Ellis' efforts are aimed at de-mythologizing the Founders.

Through a series of vignettes Ellis presents eight towering members of the Revolutionary generations and shows their essential humanity (for better and worse): Abigail and John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington. Each story can stand on its own.

The Duel tells the story of the Alexander Hamilton-Aaron Burr feud that led to the fatal duel. Hamilton literally died and Burr's political fortunes ended. The nation was better off without further influence from Burr.

The Silence relates the final serious attempt of the revolutionary generation to deal with slavery. Benjamin Franklin fought his last battle, a losing effort to abolish slavery. The story illustrates that the founders knew slavery was morally repugnant, but many feared, probably correctly, that the Republic would not survive an attempt to abolish the institution. The majority chose nationhood and slavery was quite literally banished as a topic of debate in the Congress. This story shines an unforgiving light on slave-holders like Jefferson and Washington. Members of their generation like Franklin understood the injustice of slavery. It is not anachronistic to say that as individuals Jefferson and Washington could also have perceived the injustice slavery and 'abolished' slavery on their own lands, but chose not to do so.

Other chapters detail the fascinating relationship between Adams and Jefferson (rekindled late in life by a series of letters between Abigail Adams and Jefferson) and the arrangement among Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison to establish a permanent new capital in exchange for support of Hamilton's financial plans for the country.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in American history. ( )

The book looks at the political climate of the era, as well as many of the key players through specific events that involved the founding fathers. ( )

A great look into the lives of various members of the "Founding Fathers," examining their relationships and their foibles. Ellis presents a refreshing look at their conflicts, challenging the notion of some harmonious vision among that collection of men. It reminds us that they were indeed men, not divinities. ( )

A very readable perspective on the very human men who helped form our nation. I am now a huge Ellis fan. ( )

- Winner of 2001 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award (recognizes books of exceptional merit written on the Revolutionary War era)
- Great analysis on six important events from the revolutionary period
- Washington's precedent setting farewell address was my favorite chapter ( )

From Booklist
An outstanding biographer of Jefferson (American Sphinx, 1997), Ellis takes up new lines in this exploration of the "gestative" 1790s. He tailors six stories about political episodes that highlight a founder's character, convictions, and actions. Ellis' purpose in this storytelling is to underscore how vulnerable to dissolution the founders felt their creation to be, thereby explaining the controversies (such as the compromises with slavery) that to this day excite not just scholarly but general debate about what the Declaration and Constitution achieved. For example, Ben Franklin's last public act, signing a ban-the-slave-trade petition to the First Congress in 1790, provoked a floor argument so fierce about abolition it raised the spectre of disunion; Washington expressed relief with Congress' resolution to do nothing and debate no more about the matter. Ellis recounts equally fluidly and astutely such episodes as Hamilton's death; the bargain that sited the capital on the Potomac; Washington's Farewell Address; and the germination of parties. Palpably steeped in a career's worth of immersion in the early republic, Ellis' essays are angled, fascinating, and perfect for general-interest readers. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. ( )

This incredible book looks at the crucial formative decade of the American republic, the 1790s, through the lens of six specific interactions between seven of America’s great early statesmen. Focusing on George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron Burr, Ellis explores these characters that truly shaped the young nation and via this biographical avenue sparks a debate over the very meaning of the American Revolution itself. I cannot recommend it highly enough; a must read for anyone interested in the United States. ( )

A very interesting book on the interaction of the main characters on the stage after the revolution. ( )

A great book analysing the relationship between our Founding Fathers. An easy read. ( )

Winner of the Pulitzer prize, it took a while for me to get into this book. I found the relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to be very interesting. ( )

The Founding Fathers ( )

Should be called "Politics of the Early Republic." ( )

Good read. Enjoyed the historical accounts of different events that played a role in shaping our country. ( )

Very interesting, readable take on major figures during the Revolutionary War and nation's founding (1776-1812). Emphasizes the interrelationships of Adams, Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson and Washington, the original American "band of brothers". ( )