The first of men : a life of George Washington

Written by John Ferling, one of America's leading historians of the Revolutionary era, The First of Men offers an illuminating portrait of George Washington's life, with emphasis on his military and political career. Here is a riveting account that captures Washington in all his complexity, recounting not only Washington's familiar sterling qualities—courage, industry, ability to make difficult decisions, ceaseless striving for self-improvement, love of his family and loyalty to friends—but also his less well known character flaws. Indeed, as Ferling shows, Washington had to overcome many negative traits as he matured into a leader. The young Washington was accused of ingratitude and certain of his letters from this period read as if they were written by a pompous martinet and a whining, petulant brat. As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, he lost his temper more than once and indulged flatterers. Aaron Burr found him a boring, colorless person. As president, he often believed the worst about individual officials. Ferling concludes that Washington's personality and temperament were those of a self-centered and self-absorbed man, one who since youth had exhibited a fragile self-esteem. And yet he managed to realize virtually every grand design he ever conceived. Ferling's Washington is driven, fired by ambition, envy, and dreams of fame and fortune. Yet his leadership and character galvanized the American Revolution—probably no one else could have kept the war going until the master stroke at Yorktown—and helped the fledgling nation take, and survive, its first unsteady steps. This superb paperback makes available once again an unflinchingly honest and compelling biography of the father of our country. Publishers Weekly In addition to reviewing the first president's familiar sterling attributes, Ferling, a historian at West Georgia College, focuses on his character flaws, although here there isn't a great deal of material to work with. The young Washington was accused of ingratitude, and certain of his letters from this period read as if they were written by ``a pompous martinet and a whining, petulant brat.'' As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, he lost his temper more than once and may have indulged a flatterer or two on his staff. Aaron Burr found him ``a boring, colorless person.'' As president, he was ready to believe the worst about individual officials, before all the evidence was in. Ferling concludes that Washington's personality and temperament were those of ``a self-centered and self-absorbed man, one who since youth had exhibited a fragile self-esteem.'' He nevertheless managed to realize virtually every grand design he ever conceived, as the biographer fully demonstrates. (July) Frontmatter (page N/A) Preface (page xi) One (page 1) 1 Young George Washington (page 1) 2 The Frontier Warrior (page 31) 3 The Acquisitive Planter (page 61) 4 Patrician Revolutionary (page 86) Two (page 111) 5 Commander of America's Army (page 111) 6 At the Brink (page 142) 7 Washington's War Begins (page 162) 8 The Campaign of 1777 (page 194) 9 The New Continental Army (page 221) 10 The Character of General Washington (page 249) 11 The Forgotten Years: 1778-1780 (page 266) 12 Victory and Retirement (page 289) Three (page 323) 13 A Brief Retirement (page 323) 14 An End to Retirement (page 347) Four (page 373) 15 The Early Presidency (page 373) 16 The End of the First Term (page 393) 17 The Second Term Begins (page 425) 18 Last Years In Office (page 453) Five (page 485) 19 The Last Years (page 485) Afterword (page 509) Notes (page 515) Select Bibliography (page 579) Index (page 585) Preface -- Part One. Young George Washington -- The Frontier Warrior -- The Acquisitive Planter -- Patrician Revolutionary -- Part Two. Commander Of America's Army -- At The Brink -- Washington's War Begins -- The Campaign Of 1777 -- The New Continental Army -- The Character Of General Washington -- The Forgotten Years: 1778-1780 -- Victory And Retirement -- Part Three. A Brief Retirement -- An End To Retirement -- Part Four. The Early Presidency -- The End Of The First Term -- The Second Term Begins -- Last Years In Office -- Part Five. The Last Years -- Afterword -- Notes -- Select Bibliography -- Index. John E. Ferling. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. [579]-584. More than any other man, George Washington captured the popular imagination of late-eighteenth-century America. While most historians have cast him as a towering symbol of the great Republican Revolution, virtuous and courageous, some contemporaries perceived a dark side to his character, viewing him as a hard, cold, cunning, and ruthless leader who wished to be surrounded only by sycophants Ferling, John E., First Of A Life Of George Washington, The