The Great Divide

The Conflict Between Washington and Jefferson That Defined a Nation

By: Thomas Fleming

Narrated by: David Rapkin

Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

History tends to cast the early years of America in a glow of camaraderie when there were, in fact ,many conflicts between the Founding Fathers - none more important than the one between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Their disagreement centered on the highest, most original public office created by the Constitutional Convention: the presidency. It also involved the nation's foreign policy, the role of merchants and farmers in a republic, and the durability of the union. At its root were two sharply different visions of the nation's future.

Acclaimed historian Thomas Fleming examines how the differing characters and leadership styles of Washington and Jefferson shaped two opposing views of the presidency - and the nation. This clash profoundly influenced the next two centuries of America's history and persists in the present day.

©2015 Thomas Fleming (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Great Complement...

to John Ferling's Jefferson And Hamilton and Charles Slack's Liberty's First Crisis. These three books, read one after the other, provide a wonderful view of the very real struggles of personality and policy that faced the all too human founding fathers. A very interesting and intriguing read.

Riveting

If you're looking for a philosophical discussion on the differences of these men, you might be pleasantly disappointed. The story is engaging, the narrarator superb, and it isn't until the end that you see the thread that has brought it all together. For some, that may be frustrating, but I found it highly informative and entertaining. One issue is that this author is NOT kind to Jefferson and it might be helpful to have a biography on him handy just to be more balanced. Even still, it's a very engaging narrative and I'd highly recommend it.

never too old to learn

I enjoyed the book and learned a lot about many charactors, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, that shaped our country. alot of the content was not taught in history classes

Good story, well researched. Great narration.

Story is well - researched. I've read many of the other authors quoted in this work, but he does a very good job of the timing and juxtaposition between Washington, and Jefferson.
Furthermore, this is yet another work that further ensconces my feeling and opinions of some of the key players.
Excellent narration. I'm very happy with Rapkin's job narrating. After listening to several books narrated by Scott Brick, I thought I'd never find any other narrator that didn't annoy me. I'd become spoiled with excellent narration!
Rapkin does fantastic however. In fact well enough I'll seek out books he's narrated.

Overall, we'll done.

Interesting and informative

I learned many interesting facts about our country. Gives me more hope for the future.

Very Readable

Thomas Fleming is an author I have not read in the past five plus years. In the past I have read a number of his books both non-fiction and fiction. I have even had correspondence with him regarding one of his books in the past. I have always enjoyed Fleming’s passion for history.

The basic debate between Washington and Jefferson is still an ongoing debate today on the role of government. Fleming states Washington beliefs came out of the problems he had as head of the Army, the problems of funding the Army and the country at the time. Therefore he preferred a strong federal government that could provide a strong military defense for the country and a strong financial foundation for the country. On the other hand, Jefferson preferred a confederation of states instead of a national government.

Fleming paints Washington as the practical farmer and dynamic leader and Jefferson as the dreaming idealist who failed to lead and left the country at the end of his tenure as president, in debt, without income, without an army, and on the verge of war with Britain over a trade embargo.

The book is well written, lightly documented but with the clean, snappy prose that Fleming is noted for. I enjoyed reading the book and dissecting Fleming’s views but I wonder if Jefferson was quite as scatter-brained as Fleming paints him. David Rapkin narrated the book.

The author is a Jefferson hater.

Jefferson wasn't the most upstanding person in the world, but this author makes him out to be pretty bad.

Good but biased history

The contrasting tales of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson is thought provoking. But the narrative is so tilted in favor of Washington that it deviates from history into polemic. I'm firmly in the Washington camp, but the author goes too far. He extrapolates from Washington's superior leadership to an argument for vast presidential power. While this book is a worthwhile read, you should read Drift by Rachel Maddow as a counterbalance. Or just take a look at who is holding the office of the president right now. Limits on presidential power are a necessity.

Very interesting

Highly recommended listening. The reader is excellent.

The author is quite harsh on Thomas Jefferson -- often with cause but sometimes without providing source information, just inserting his opinion.

Excellant book!

For anyone interested in early American history, this book is a must. It is an interesting journey through the beginnings of partisan politics in USA. This is one of my favorite books.