A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic

Ferling provides an incredibly detailed study of events that led up to the American Revolution and the struggle afterwards to organize our nation. I learned a lot from this book that I did not know, especially about some of the important characters who played important roles in events before the Revolution. His depiction of the personality and mind of James Madison was also rich and insightful. One warning, though: He comes across at times as an admirer and apologist for Thomas Jefferson, who in my view often acted duplicitously.

A Fast Paced Overview

In "A Leap In The Dark", John Ferling turns out a well paced overview of the personalities and political philosophies of the Founding Fathers and their contemporaries.

I was happy to see him start with George Washington and Ben Franklin's younger life, previous to the Revolutionary era. All too often, this formative period is ignored or imagined as unconnected with the beginning days of our Republic.

Only one thing about this book annoyed me, however. Ferling's constant denigration of James Madison revealed his obvious lack of respect for that indispensable Founder. Madison was an incredible man who outlived all the other Founders and was totally integral to every era of our early Republic. From shepherding the birth show more of the Constitution to becoming an early creator of our two party system, Madison was everywhere. He was even there to disavow what became the Confederate ideas of secession during the 1830s Nullification crisis.

But, Ferling treats Madison like a bumbling idiot. Of course, he is parroting much of the writing of other historians who shares his opinion and since it seems that this entire book is based on secondary research (other scholar's works) and not his own primary research, I guess his dislike of Madison might be expected. After all, Madison had gone through a phase of being unduly discounted by many current historians.

Still, this is a good overview book and should be read by anyone who might be a bit less informed about our Founding era. It most surely will spark interest in further reading. show less

Good history. Put it off because of not great title, but quick capsule versions of esp. XYZ affair, Hamilton, Jefferson - Adams issue, Jefferson-Burr issue. Even.

- Winner of 2004 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award (recognizes books of exceptional merit written on the Revolutionary War era)
- Book #2 by John Ferling I have read and he is my favorite
- Book provides solid revolutionary history that will provide essential stories and figures in America's founding
- Title of this book was taken from a line in a Pennsylvania newspaper essay written in 1776 opposed to American independence. To separate from the mother country, he cautioned, was to make “a leap in the dark”
- This book is about politics, not the war. Book does an excellent job of analyzing the political beliefs of the many founders of our country, providing context in support of significant events that would occur

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