Washington

A Life

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 41 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Biography/Autobiography, 2011

From National Book Award winner Ron Chernow, a landmark biography of George Washington.

In Washington: A Life celebrated biographer Ron Chernow provides a richly nuanced portrait of the father of our nation. With a breadth and depth matched by no other one-volume life of Washington, this crisply paced narrative carries the listener through his troubled boyhood, his precocious feats in the French and Indian War, his creation of Mount Vernon, his heroic exploits with the Continental Army, his presiding over the Constitutional Convention, and his magnificent performance as America's first president.

Despite the reverence his name inspires, Washington remains a lifeless waxwork for many Americans, worthy but dull. A laconic man of granite self-control, he often arouses more respect than affection. In this groundbreaking work, based on massive research, Chernow dashes forever the stereotype of a stolid, unemotional man.

A strapping six feet, Washington was a celebrated horseman, elegant dancer, and tireless hunter, with a fiercely guarded emotional life. Chernow brings to vivid life a dashing, passionate man of fiery opinions and many moods. Probing his private life, he explores his fraught relationship with his crusty mother, his youthful infatuation with the married Sally Fairfax, and his often conflicted feelings toward his adopted children and grandchildren. He also provides a lavishly detailed portrait of his marriage to Martha and his complex behavior as a slave master.

At the same time, Washington is an astute and surprising portrait of a canny political genius who knew how to inspire people. Not only did Washington gather around himself the foremost figures of the age, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but he also brilliantly orchestrated their actions to shape the new federal government, define the separation of powers, and establish the office of the presidency.

©2010 Ron Chernow (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Tenaciously researched...This new portrait offers a fresh sense of what a groundbreaking role Washington played, not only in physically embodying his new nation's leadership but also in interpreting how its newly articulated constitutional principles would be applied...deeply rewarding.” ( New York Times)

"Just as he resuscitated Alexander Hamilton in a heralded 2004 biography, Ron Chernow now resurrects Washington...[A] remarkable book." ( Entertainment Weekly)

"Whether he's debunking the legend of Washington's wooden teeth (ivory that cracked and discolored over time) or the purely fictional tale of the cherry tree, the massive yet briskly paced Washington: A Life is a rollicking read, sure to redefine perceptions and correct assumptions." ( Kirkus Reviews)

A must read!

Another masterful biography by Ron Chernow! Excepting the first president’s struggles with slavery, it paints a masterful portrait of one of the greatest, most public service oriented Americans to ever live.

Excellency

Of the president, the writer and the reader. Wonderful insight into the times of his life.

objective and fascinating

An incredibly detailed, fascinating, objective history of a great man and crucial time in American history. Everyone should read this! I highly recommend it!

Is he as good as I was taught ?

Pretty bad assed guy. Had a lot of luck, but did some good things with it.

George Washington in detail.

This book has helped me to understand & appreciate George Washington. This was beautiful.

Great stuff!

Talk about timing! Finished book on Washington's Birthday! Inspiring! I highly recommend for history buffs.

An incredible history lesson

What an incredible presentation by Chernow, and simply put, one of the best books I’ve ever read. Amazing detail and a true page-turner if there ever was one.

Scott Brick’s narration was superb in every way - and the emotion in his voice was powerful.

Highly recommend!

Washington was amazing!

While Washington had his flaws, what he did is nothing short of miraculous. Everyone should learn about his life and work that made the United States possible. The colonies should never had won the war and even more so, should never have succeeded as a country. Washington had a huge influence in making both possible.

Fair, Historical Portrayal

This gave a balanced, accurate portrayal of Washington. It humanized him and illustrated his greatness simultaneously, and it brought in proper commentary from other American luminaries.

Ron Chernow and Scott Brick are a perfect match

Chernow's thorough research and brilliant writing paint a brilliant picture of Washington, providing far deeper insight into the man than our history books and classes present. Far from the stiff regal character he is thought of as today, Chernow presents Washington in all his victories and accomplishments, failings and follies, insecurities and emotions, without tarnishing his well deserved place and reputation. Truly the Father of our Country.

Brick does an equally brilliant job. His presentation is a perfect match for the text. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Chernow's book on Hamilton - also read by Brick - is equally excellent..