“His Excellency: George Washington” Review
George Washington, for a multitude of reasons, has always been a favorite of mine. My grandparents had recommended this one to me, because they know how much of a history buff I am, and this was definitely a favorite of mine.
Joseph Ellis told the story of George Washington as a whole, as he came into different roles at different stages of his life. More than that, it was very, very readable. Unfortunately, with a lot of history books, the true purpose of the book is lost within a mire of historical facts and figures, dates and numbers. Ellis took good care in not overloading the book with too many extraneous facts and detail and stays true to the story at hand, which would be George Washington’s life.
What I really liked about this was the fact that Ellis did not particularly focus on one point in his life. From what I’ve read about Washington, a great deal of authors tend to focus on the Revolution and the parts he played during the war, or his presidency. I haven’t seen much about his role in the French and Indian War and what he did after he left office. Without making the book ridiculously long, Ellis managed to capture the image of a young George Washington and how he evolved over the years depending on the crisis at hand. And it truly was an evolution story. The George Washington that fought in the French and Indian War was not the same George Washington that commanded a rabble of rebels int he Revolutionary War. It was interesting to see the transition between the two and how one affected the other.
Another interesting thing about this book was how Washington was characterized. For the most part, the man was a mess of contradictions but he had certainly qualities that made him the perfect man to lead the fledging country in one of its darkest hours. He was not the smartest man, nor was he the greatest military strategist, but he was balanced, had an eye for talent, and knew how to play the political game while having a complete disdain for the game. But, and perhaps more importantly, Washington was a good man, able to resist the lure of power. He had the chance to keep the power he had been given but ultimately gave it up for a quiet retirement at his beloved Mount Vernon.
If anyone is interested in the story of our first president, this is the book for you. It’s a very readable book, with a comprehensive look at the successes and failures of the man and how he came to be the man who had sown his way into the very fabric of American history. Perfect for the history nerd!
