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The Last Founding Father
- James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness
- Narrated by: Michael McConnohie
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
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Publisher's summary
In this lively and compelling biography, Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751 - 1831) went on to become America's first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing America's national and international durability.
Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally America's fifth president.
The country embraced Monroe's dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of Americas first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history.
Like David McCullough's John Adams and Jon Meacham's recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of Monroe is both a solid listen and a stellar scholarship history in the grand tradition.
Critic reviews
"[A] well-written biography...Unger presents the fifth president as a man of independence and initiative rather than merely a disciple of Jefferson, Madison, and John Quincy Adams...Will appeal to a more popular audience, especially those who enjoy presidential history or studying the Founding Fathers. Historians and history students should read as well." ( Library Journal)
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- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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A Wicked War presents the definitive history of the 1846 war between the United States and Mexico - a conflict that turned America into a continental power. Amy Greenberg describes the battles between American and Mexican armies, but also delineates the political battles between Democrats and Whigs - the former led by the ruthless Polk, the latter by the charismatic Henry Clay and a young representative from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln. Greenberg brilliantly recounts this key chapter in the creation of the United States authority and narrative flair.
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Rubbish Historical Work, Lots of Fake Stuff
- By Jose on 04-28-17
By: Amy S. Greenberg
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John Quincy Adams
- Militant Spirit
- By: James Traub
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 25 hrs and 44 mins
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John Quincy Adams was the last of his kind - a Puritan from the age of the Founders who despised party and compromise yet dedicated himself to politics and government. The son of John Adams, he was a brilliant ambassador and secretary of state, a frustrated president at a historic turning point in American politics, and a dedicated congressman who literally died in office - at the age of 80, in the House of Representatives, in the midst of an impassioned political debate.
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Best narrator of all the audio books I've listened
- By grimm79 on 12-12-17
By: James Traub
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Washington and Hamilton
- The Alliance That Forged America
- By: Stephen F. Knott, Tony Williams
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
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In the wake of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers faced a daunting task: overcome their competing visions to build a new nation, the likes of which the world had never seen. Washington and Hamilton chronicles the unlikely collaboration between two conflicting characters working together to protect their hard-won freedoms. Yet while Washington and Hamilton's different personalities often led to fruitful collaboration, their conflicting ideals also tested the boundaries of their relationship - and threatened the future of the new republic.
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Biography
- By Emily on 06-14-18
By: Stephen F. Knott, and others
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For Liberty and Glory
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- By: James R. Gaines
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
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- Unabridged
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On April 18, 1775, a riot over the price of flour broke out in the French city of Dijon. That night, across the Atlantic, Paul Revere mounted the fastest horse he could find and kicked it into a gallop. So began what have been called the "sister revolutions" of France and America. In a single, thrilling narrative, this audiobook tells the story of those revolutions and shows just how deeply intertwined they actually were.
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Excellent presentation
- By Hal on 08-20-12
By: James R. Gaines
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George Washington
- The Wonder of the Age
- By: John Rhodehamel
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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As editor of the award-winning Library of America collection of George Washington's writings and a curator of the great man's original papers, John Rhodehamel has established himself as an authority of our nation's preeminent founding father. Rhodehamel examines George Washington as a public figure, arguing that the man - who first achieved fame in his early twenties - is inextricably bound to his mythic status.
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Not what I expected for an unabridged book
- By David Osborne Jr. on 04-13-17
By: John Rhodehamel
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Alexander Hamilton
- By: Ron Chernow
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
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- Unabridged
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Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power.
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An Outstanding & Riveting Book!
- By Kevin on 03-04-05
By: Ron Chernow
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George Washington: The Founding Father (Eminent Lives)
- By: Paul Johnson
- Narrated by: David Drummond
- Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins
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By far the most important figure in the history of the United States, George Washington liberated the 13 colonies from the superior forces of the British Empire against all military odds, and presided over the production and ratification of a constitution that (suitably amended) has lasted for more than 200 years. Yet today, Washington remains a distant figure to many Americans, a failing that acclaimed author Paul Johnson sets out to rectify with this brilliantly vivid, sharply etched portrait.
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Ideology interferes with story line
- By Miranda on 05-01-15
By: Paul Johnson
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Revolution Song
- A Story of American Freedom
- By: Russell Shorto
- Narrated by: Russell Shorto
- Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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From the author of the acclaimed history The Island at the Center of the World, an intimate new epic of the American Revolution that reinforces its meaning for today. With America's founding principles being debated today as never before, Russell Shorto looks back to the era in which those principles were forged. Drawing on new sources, he weaves the lives of six people into a seamless narrative that casts fresh light on the range of experience in colonial America on the cusp of revolution.
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An inspiring book
- By Frank on 08-27-18
By: Russell Shorto
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What listeners say about The Last Founding Father
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jean
- 02-07-15
Compelling story of an under estimated president
I have read Unger’s biographies of John Quincy Adams, Patrick Henry and George Washington and have enjoyed his writing style.
The author does a good job telling the story of the pre-presidential years in a fast paced informative succinct manner. In the book Unger claims Monroe alone wrote the Monroe Doctrine. Yet in his biography of John Q. Adams he implied John Q. helped Monroe author the document. Unger states that Monroe was not a strategic thinker but he describes him as hard working, observant and popular. Madison had the advantage of being president during the post war economic boom. He was the first president to do away with taxes including property taxes as the government was making a good income from other fee such as tariff fees.
Unger does go into the role and contribution of Monroe’s wife Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, who revealed great courage in obtaining the freedom of Lafayette’s wife Adrienne and her family from prison during the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. James Monroe was the Ambassador to France during the Reign of Terror. Elizabeth Monroe was considered to be an outstanding First Lady even as she struggled with rheumatoid arthritis. I have read bits and pieces of this daring, courage act by Elizabeth Monroe in facing the prison officials holding a peerage family being held for the guillotine and rescuing them. I wish someone would write a book about this feat of Elizabeth Monroe. I think this would make a good doctoral thesis as little has been written about the event.
In 2014 I read two different biographies about James Madison, and they differ a bit from the figure that Unger paints in this book. I noted in the other biographies that Madison bought Monroe’s dishes and furniture to help him feed his family when Monroe fell into financial problems.
The author points out that Monroe was the only early president other than George Washington to be elected to two terms unopposed. Monroe was the only early president other than George Washington to tour the country while he was president. The book was well written, meticulously research and a delight to read. For those who love trivia the book has lots of trivia facts. The book was narrated by Michael McConnohie.
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4 people found this helpful
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- grimm79
- 11-22-17
Excellent, Engrossing, Satisfying
The narration was mildly growly and affected at moments, yet I consider his performance one of the best I've heard in an audio book. Excellent. subject of this book was quite an honorable man, and learning how he deported himself was inspiring. Very well-written book.
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- Mike Dies
- 01-17-19
Lacks Objectivity
Unger seems so taken with Monroe that he is unable to give objective commentary. He seems desperate to put him on equal footing (at least) with Madison and Jefferson. To this end Unger makes the laughable assertion that all of the presidents between Washington and Monroe were merely caretaker presidents. A lot if good information in this book, but given its near worshipful tone, I do not recommend it to anyone unfamiliar with the period.
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- Dave Heywood
- 01-29-19
Slightly biased?
Very good book and excellent presentation of the material, but it came across as if the Monroe was the greatest president ever other than Washington. Other sources put him in the top half, but where this book portrays Madison's administration as a total disaster, and Monroe's as saving the nation from that disaster, other sources I seen show the both ranked fairly equally as effective presidents. Regardless, I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
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- William Jenks
- 03-10-19
Feels like a hagiography more than biography
I am far from a historian, but I’ve read/listened to a fair amount from this general time period. None of the other biographies I’ve read make their guy out to be a demigod. There are statements in the beginning/intro that remind me of the most obnoxious spin of today. More measured praise would make the text more believable. I don’t regret having listened, but it makes me wish there were another good Monroe biography to listen and compare.
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- dr errico
- 12-19-21
somewhat good
somewhat good I listen to most of the founding fathers now and although Monroe had a very prolific life the way the story was written it seemed to jump around an awful lot nothing wrong with that just not as smooth as others I've listened to still a good reading
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- David I. Williams
- 04-23-13
Good introduction, Worth Listening To.
In this biography Harlow Giles Unger brings us a portrait of a man who few know much about today. Born in colonial Virginia Monroe was orphaned at a young age. He took on the responsibility of raising his younger siblings. When the American Revolution broke out Monroe joined up. He became an officer, was wounded at the Battle of Trenton, was decorated by Washington. He served as a Congressman, a Senator, as Governor of Virginia, and as Ambassador to the French Republic. Later he would serve as Secretary of State and Secretary of War under James Madison. He would then succeed Madison as President.
This book has its good and bad points. It is well written and should be easy for the general reader. It is quite informative and gives a good portrait of Monroe. On the downside the author tries a little to hard to build up Monroe by pulling down others around him. Monroe was a firm supporter of the French Revolution and, like Jefferson and Madison, cheered on the slaughter of the former ruling class. This is played down considerably in this book. The author also finds it necessary to try and pull down the character of both John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams. Since the younger Adams was the Secretary of State during Monroe's presidency much credit is given to him for the success of the United States in that era. Unger tries to argue that Monroe was the better diplomat. The only reason that he gives is that Monroe was ambassador to France and Adams was not. He ignores the fact that Adams had been involved in Foreign service for most of his life, including a stint as the secretary and interpreter to the first US ambassador to Russia when he was a young teenager. Adams had served as Ambassador to Prussia and Russia. He had helped to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent. To dismiss his many accomplishments with a single backhanded comment was quite uncalled for.
It is a good book and is well worth reading.
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- Doug
- 10-08-11
Wonderful!
Excellent telling of Monroe's story! The author offers great background material. The book is well read.
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4 people found this helpful
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- David E Tripp
- 03-02-17
Great Read
If you could sum up The Last Founding Father in three words, what would they be?
very well presented
Who was your favorite character and why?
James Monroe
Which scene was your favorite?
Andrew Jackson at the John Quincy Adams inauguration ball.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
A true patriot.
Any additional comments?
such a good story
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- nordicjack
- 10-21-19
Integrity Matters
I learn something immediately about James Monroe on the first few pages of this biography. I am a better student of history having read Unger's brilliant research and presentation. I have a deep respect for this last founding father of the greatest nation ever founded. James Monroe is so essential for America's success in his early years through his last. Men of outstanding character and integrity are true role models worthy of emulation. James is honored throughout the world as such a man. I am not surprised to learn what a devout man of God he is but one who did not use his Christianity as a political tool to lazily rationale his actions. Here is a man who has a tall stature, like George Washington, who commands a room full of dignitaries because of his intelligence, insight, courage, convictions, and behavior. Unger does not only focus on James but on his immediate family, relatives, and broad range of friends. Much of the American heritage I read attributes the men who came before Monroe for many of the accomplishments that James plays an integral part in either forming or finalizing. He helps usher in a time of burgeoning prosperity that strengthens the young United States of America but always with difficulty and hardship. He endures for duty's sake being his best for God, family, and country. He is truly an American hero deserving of the title, "Great."
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