First Among Men

George Washington and the Myth of American Masculinity

By: Maurizio Valsania

Narrated by: Christopher Douyard

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

George Washington—hero of the French and Indian War, commander in chief of the Continental Army, and first president of the United States—died on December 14, 1799. But what do we really know about Washington as an upper-class man?

Washington is frequently portrayed by his biographers as America at its unflinching best: tall, shrewd, determined, resilient, stalwart, and tremendously effective in action. But this aggressive and muscular version of Washington is largely a creation of the nineteenth century. Eighteenth-century ideals of upper-class masculinity would have preferred a man with refined aesthetic tastes, graceful and elegant movements, and the ability and willingness to clearly articulate his emotions. In First Among Men, Valsania considers Washington's complexity and apparent contradictions in three main areas: his physical life (often bloody, cold, injured, muddy, or otherwise unpleasant), his emotional world (sentimental, loving, and affectionate), and his social persona (carefully constructed and maintained).

Aided by new research, documents, and objects that have only recently come to light, First Among Men tells the fascinating story of a living and breathing person who loved, suffered, moved, gestured, dressed, ate, drank, and had sex in ways that may be surprising to many Americans.

©2022 Maurizio Valsania (P)2022 Tantor

Enjoyable book

The narrator did a great job and the book itself opened up the world of George Washington and who he was without coloring him as a saint or one who never did any wrong. Great book!

Excellent, unique book on George Washington

I purchased this audiobook given it was awarded the George Washington book of the year and promised to study his intricacies and physical details in depth. the study was indeed unique, highly enjoyable, and concise. Highly recommend.