George Washington in the American Revolution, 1775-1783

I think I started reading Flexner's multi-volume biography of Washington shortly after the 2024 election. I could have gone with the more modern (and only one volume, if a long one) Ron Chernow but I had a strange feeling that something a little older, a more "traditional" approach would be what I needed at this weird, upsetting time in American history.

And Flexner does not disappoint. The first volume had some sleepy spots, I thought, though the material on the French and Indian War is pretty exciting. But things really work up to a lather with this volume, which details Washington's years as Commander-in-Chief of the usually-scruffy Continental Army. Hoo boy, is it detailed and exciting ... and true to his word, Flexner does not show more stint on describing Washington's many "warts." I am not well read enough in the period to know how to judge the accuracy of this portrait, but it is certainly a well-rounded one, and it does *not* diminish the stature of the legend, not one little bit (at least, that's what I thought/felt). You come away with a sense of a full human being, incredibly deserving of his exalted reputation but at the same time, engagingly human. Also -- to me a big plus -- he was not at all a bad writer! Writing wasn't his profession, but he was capable of energetic, thoughtful prose (I'd actually like to read more of it).

Washington had really never been much more for me than the face on the $1 bill & the profile on the American quarter dollar. Here, he is.

PS Benedict Arnold was one nasty sumbitch and I'm sorry he was not captured. ;) show less

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