Washington

A Life

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

Wonderful

This was a wonderful story and I enjoyed the production very much! Well worth the time.

Amazing wish I had purchased the unabridged

Amazing wish I had purchased the unabridged




I need fifth to words to post words

THE BIO WASHINGTON DESERVES!

I have listened to another bio on Washington but it did not do the justice that this one does! Ron Chernow is another level of great biographers that I now know and trust to be a great one!

ABSORBING HISTORY

There are two heroes of this production Washington himself, and the narrator, Edward Herrmann.
.

so interesting to know what Washington was like

Great story and narrator.
Good to know what our founding fathers envisioned and that they tried very hard to keep all the states together.

Washington was a baller.

This was easily my favorite biography I’ve listened to since I’ve started listening to audio books.

To be fair, Washington is such an interesting person that the story tells itself, but it’s still not easy to make a biography this interesting.

I’ll say this, usually I listen to audiobooks to pass the time while driving. This is one of the very few books that made its way from the car to my earbuds when I got home.

If you want or even if you’re forced to buy only one book on Washington, make this your book.

Enjoy.

Best of GW biographies!

Highly recommend. GW is fully rounded out showing his so human qualities in context. Narrator, Edward Herrmann is excellent.

Awesome Dude

George is the greatest American!
This book provides a great view of the man.

I was humbled by his courage.

Get the unabridged version!

What did you love best about Washington: A Life?

Chernow does a great job of telling Washington's story in a way that reads like a novel, instead of a biography. This account does a good job of detailing parts of Washington's life outside of the Revolutionary War, including his home life, details about his presidency, his treatment and feelings towards slaves, etc.

Any additional comments?

If you're thinking about purchasing the abridged version, I would recommend getting the unabridged version instead. The shortened version skimps on many important moments of Washington's early life, his time as Commander in Chief, and life post-Presidency. If you are looking for a broad sweep of Washington as a whole, the shortened version may be for you. But if you are looking at a more in-depth account of Washington's life, you'll get much more from the unabridged version.

a great read for all Americans

I only wish that I had gotten the unabridged edition. I really love this book.