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)

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!

Monroe - The last founding father

A timely reminder of a great, self made patriot and world stateman. It brings into focus the courage of a young nation to defend the cause of the freedom of nations and individuals.

Bold to a fault

According to Unger, Monroe almost single handily saved America during the War of 1812 and ushered in a post-partisan era of good-feelings. Unger describes pre-cotton slavery as a 'paternalistic' institution (with no hint of sarcasm) and provides an extremely lopsided account of US, native American wars - describing the atrocities that Native Americans committed but not those of the US.

Yet despite Unger's (very) skewed narrative, I found the book fun to listen to. He makes early America come to life in a way that more reflective biographies often fail to.

Measured and Balanced Report and Story

Free of the eccentricities of Jefferson and the glaring partisanship of his other presidential predecessors, the honest and plain man who gave himself to his country only can be suffered the criticism of his modest pride and being denied like a little brother certain opportunities until his day had finally arrived. True, and reported here, his glorious precession was impart due to "lucky" circumstances of the end of the 1812 war. His capitalizing of said circumstances created a precedent for all who would hold a similar public office in the future, indeed unlike his predecessors. Most fascinatingly, he created a phenomenon of a temporary party-less U.S. that evolved into a political atmosphere of persons in place of party. A part of history obscured by a lack of crisis, we should be wary of repeating it in the current great polarization of the international western community. This book is responsible for bringing us this wisdom. Adams-philes may be blind for all it has to offer however. Though of the reported positioning of Federalists as stark antagonists in this story, I saw none of it. Far from hero worship, the grandest and most colorful claims were always measured by documentation. What was reported rather was the early U.S.'s love for their elected official and his desire to give himself to the public. Monroe, is the quintessential vessel for this example considering how plain he was. But the people wept and glorified him for his office alone and his worthiness of it but not him. Those who fail to understand this have become numb of the beauty of democratic republics and how they alone brought modernity into existence and how they alone can pave the way to the stars.

weirdly defensive biography...

Unger seems to have some agenda, which colors this biography. Monroe is presented as a nearly flawless individual, while other historic figures are denigrated at his expense. At times, the author's attacks on other historians is jarring and makes one wonder what the arguement is about. Both slavery and genocide are dealt with as natural and essentially deserved by their victims. I wish I had chosen to listen to a more insightful biography of Monroe.

An incredible man

So much rich history I presume I slept through in school. What an amazing impact he had on our country. Thank you President Monroe.

Really Good Book...

but, like the other reviews say, it is on the hero-worshipy side. Still, a good addition to a tour of the founding fathers and the beginnings of America.

Very Interesting Person - Not Great Writing

I was super excited to learn a bit more about James Monroe but found myself constantly distracted by the writing. (The author's go-to phrase is "all-but" i.e. he was all-but family, he was all but bankrupt, etc) It was hard to enjoy. That being said, a lot of useful information. Unger clearly has a passion for Monroe that borders on obsession, but I found the reading worthwhile and pleasant regardless.

Concise. Dramatic. Good enough!

Doesn't match a McCullough or Chernow biography in quality or depth, but I'm OK with that. A little dramatic at times but again, no major complaints. The author's intent is to shine some light on a man who deserves a little more recognition in posterity, and to that effect it is as an informative and entertaining story as one can ask for.

The views expressed often border on humorous, with the story drifting into contemporary biases and rhetoric in its portrayal of characters and events. But then again, that sort of context contributes to the general schtick that the author seems to be after So again, fair game.