The Last Founding Father

James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness

By: Harlow Giles Unger

Narrated by: Michael McConnohie

Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

In this lively and compelling biography, Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751 - 1831) went on to become America's first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing America's national and international durability.

Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally America's fifth president.

The country embraced Monroe's dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of Americas first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history.

Like David McCullough's John Adams and Jon Meacham's recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of Monroe is both a solid listen and a stellar scholarship history in the grand tradition.

©2009 Harlow Giles Unger (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] cogent reexamination of a relatively neglected American icon...Unger makes a solid and cohesive argument for Monroe's importance in the early years of the United States....A worthy attempt to rescue Monroe from obscurity for a mainstream audience." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"[A] well-written biography...Unger presents the fifth president as a man of independence and initiative rather than merely a disciple of Jefferson, Madison, and John Quincy Adams...Will appeal to a more popular audience, especially those who enjoy presidential history or studying the Founding Fathers. Historians and history students should read as well." ( Library Journal)

Excellent, but biased

While this book was very well written, informative, and entertaining, it becomes clear within the first few sentences that Unger idolizes Monroe and that the book will continuously praise and deeply discuss all of his positive aspects, while ignoring or brushing off some of his more negative ones. He largely discounts the accomplishments of many of the other founding fathers in an effort to make Monroe stand out as their superior. All that being said, it is still a very good book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Over generous biography of a 2nd rate president

Would you try another book from Harlow Giles Unger and/or Michael McConnohie?

Unger is a good writer but this book is not as good as his biography of John Marshall.
He tries to make Monroe into a greater man then he was. Monroe was a very poor man's Madison, who's hero and mentor was Jefferson.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting was Monroes relationship to Jefferson and Madison.
The least interesting is Monroe the man.

Did Michael McConnohie do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Not really, he is a very ordinary reader who I would not necessarily choose to hear again

Do you think The Last Founding Father needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Not unless Unger takes a more critical view of Monroe and a less antagonistic one to his enemies in the Federalist party

Excellent

Fascinating look at one of the early presidents and his astonishing impact on the development of the United States.

An Excellent Selection

Well written and superbly narrated this book will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates history.
I learned a many facts about Mister Monroe and his family.
Mister Monroe, an amiable man, used his love of family and quest for truth to guide him through out his life and to our highest elected office.

Greatest President Ever!

This book opened my eyes to period of American history not often discussed. This man tripled the size of the US by diplomacy.

highly recommend this title!

wonderfully written and easy to follow along. I also love the narrator, very easy to understand and follow!

Compelling story of an under estimated president

I have read Unger’s biographies of John Quincy Adams, Patrick Henry and George Washington and have enjoyed his writing style.

The author does a good job telling the story of the pre-presidential years in a fast paced informative succinct manner. In the book Unger claims Monroe alone wrote the Monroe Doctrine. Yet in his biography of John Q. Adams he implied John Q. helped Monroe author the document. Unger states that Monroe was not a strategic thinker but he describes him as hard working, observant and popular. Madison had the advantage of being president during the post war economic boom. He was the first president to do away with taxes including property taxes as the government was making a good income from other fee such as tariff fees.

Unger does go into the role and contribution of Monroe’s wife Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, who revealed great courage in obtaining the freedom of Lafayette’s wife Adrienne and her family from prison during the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. James Monroe was the Ambassador to France during the Reign of Terror. Elizabeth Monroe was considered to be an outstanding First Lady even as she struggled with rheumatoid arthritis. I have read bits and pieces of this daring, courage act by Elizabeth Monroe in facing the prison officials holding a peerage family being held for the guillotine and rescuing them. I wish someone would write a book about this feat of Elizabeth Monroe. I think this would make a good doctoral thesis as little has been written about the event.

In 2014 I read two different biographies about James Madison, and they differ a bit from the figure that Unger paints in this book. I noted in the other biographies that Madison bought Monroe’s dishes and furniture to help him feed his family when Monroe fell into financial problems.

The author points out that Monroe was the only early president other than George Washington to be elected to two terms unopposed. Monroe was the only early president other than George Washington to tour the country while he was president. The book was well written, meticulously research and a delight to read. For those who love trivia the book has lots of trivia facts. The book was narrated by Michael McConnohie.

Excellent, Engrossing, Satisfying

The narration was mildly growly and affected at moments, yet I consider his performance one of the best I've heard in an audio book. Excellent. subject of this book was quite an honorable man, and learning how he deported himself was inspiring. Very well-written book.

Lacks Objectivity

Unger seems so taken with Monroe that he is unable to give objective commentary. He seems desperate to put him on equal footing (at least) with Madison and Jefferson. To this end Unger makes the laughable assertion that all of the presidents between Washington and Monroe were merely caretaker presidents. A lot if good information in this book, but given its near worshipful tone, I do not recommend it to anyone unfamiliar with the period.

Slightly biased?

Very good book and excellent presentation of the material, but it came across as if the Monroe was the greatest president ever other than Washington. Other sources put him in the top half, but where this book portrays Madison's administration as a total disaster, and Monroe's as saving the nation from that disaster, other sources I seen show the both ranked fairly equally as effective presidents. Regardless, I enjoyed it and would recommend it.