Add BookmarkFounding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award—winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals–Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison–confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.
The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brother... (show more)
In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award—winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals–Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison–confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.
The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brothers–combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes–Hamilton and Burr’s deadly duel, Washington’s precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams’ administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin’s attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison’s attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams’ famous correspondence–Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation’s history.
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First off I really love Ellis, he has tremendous talent when it comes to bringing the past to life in his books.
I absolutely loved that he began the story of the revolutionary generation, with "The Duel". The very mention of which reminds me of the Aaron Burr, got milk commercial, if you love history you know what commercial I'm talking about! Besides the point, starting here although, chronologically illogical, really made this a fun and fast paced read.
It's ... (show more)
READ IT!
First off I really love Ellis, he has tremendous talent when it comes to bringing the past to life in his books.
I absolutely loved that he began the story of the revolutionary generation, with "The Duel". The very mention of which reminds me of the Aaron Burr, got milk commercial, if you love history you know what commercial I'm talking about! Besides the point, starting here although, chronologically illogical, really made this a fun and fast paced read.
It's been nearly a year since I read the book so its a little hazy. Still I remember really enjoying the chapter in which Jefferson craftily worked out some deadlocked issues supposedly over a hush-hush hardly documented dinner.
One such huge issue being, who would foot the bill for the new nations debt. The lingering debt debate between states and federal government being was worked out with a compromise on the location of the capitol. Jefferson's finagling to negotiate this so slyly was a story in itself on Jefferson's personality. (show less)
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I was assigned to read this along with several other books for a class on the American Revolution. Since I had little if any knowledge on the subject, I was going in fairly blind. Three of the books (Founding Brothers, His Excellency and American Sphinx) were an entertaining read as well as informative. Ellis’ goal with Founding Brothers is to take a closer look at certain significant events in the American Revolutionary period which are more noteworthy than others. The Hamilton-Burr Due... (show more)
I was assigned to read this along with several other books for a class on the American Revolution. Since I had little if any knowledge on the subject, I was going in fairly blind. Three of the books (Founding Brothers, His Excellency and American Sphinx) were an entertaining read as well as informative. Ellis’ goal with Founding Brothers is to take a closer look at certain significant events in the American Revolutionary period which are more noteworthy than others. The Hamilton-Burr Duel, The Dinner at Jefferson’s house, Washington’s farewell, The slavery issue and the tension filled relationship between Jefferson and Adams both during their time in office and after political life. Many questions have been raised concerning the Duel, the Dinner and the silence over the slavery issue and Ellis concentrates on the myths and truths of each situation. Due to lack of written record, some if not much on these subjects have been lost relegating historical theories to just that, a theory.
Washington’s farewell was incomplete, but a single volume would be needed to due this event justice. Ellis’ intention was to show Washington as an example of what our most powerful elected official should be, i.e. Cincinatus who serves his country then relinquishes his authority to return to his previous life as a citizen. More of our elected officials, not just the President, would benefit immensely from this example instead of ceasing power and never letting it go.
As for the two chapters concerning John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, some critics have properly described this section as too long and to an extent boring. While the falling away and reunion are significant, a single chapter would have sufficed.
One last comment I wish to make about previous critics regarding the language Ellis uses. I am a Graduate student working towards a M.A. in history. Throughout my college career I have be assigned numerous books which are written for the scholarly elite, of which I am not one. Many of these books contain ‘$50’ words where simple words would work, but Ellis is not in this category. I was able to read each of his books with little or no assistance from a dictionary, somewhat uncommon for me. As for Ellis’ perjury about Vietnam, I would be concerned when reading his books but since all books I read coincided with these, I conclude that Ellis is a talented writer despite a lack of personal self-esteem in his personal life. (show less)
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