Washington

A Life

De: Ron Chernow

Narrado por: Scott Brick

Duración: 41 h y 54 m

Resumen del Editor

Pulitzer Prize, Biography/Autobiography, 2011

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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)

indispensible

This book brought the man and his times to life. It's better than any biography of George in its honesty and completeness.

Washington brought to life

Any additional comments?

Ron Chernow presents a rich and fascinating portrait of a man who guided his nation through its most fragile period. This book helped me understand Washington as a human being, and in so doing gave me a much greater respect and appreciation for his accomplishments. Scott Brick does a solid job narrating, staying in the background and letting the story tell itself.

Absolutely Remarkable

Excellent book, excellent narration. Chernow provides a great balance of the somewhat trivial with all the good meaty stuff. Every time I start thinking he is getting just a little too detailed, he wraps it up and moves on. This book, and the Hamilton book, demonstrate just how fantastic a biographer Ron Chernow is.

A Balanced View Of the Personality of Washington

If you could sum up Washington: A Life in three words, what would they be?

Extraordinary, courageous and lucky.

What did you like best about this story?

For me, it was a nice followup to David McCullough's "1776". The character description balanced the heroic figure with his flaws and vulnerability under pressure.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Kept my attention with his clear, well modulated narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No-but it made me even more respectful of the great man that George Washington was

Any additional comments?

This is a great read for anyone who enjoys biographies of great historical figures.

Very Informative

After reading this book I feel far more informed about the reasons why our country was founded, who was most instrumental in accomplishing that feat, and what challenges they faced.

Long but well done

This account of GW delivers what it says it will, a whole picture of the whole man. It doesn’t avoid his faults but manages to show his extraordinary character and resolve to fight for the creation of the United States of America. There would never be this country if not for George Washington- no doubt about it. Truly a remarkable man & selfless warrior - who comes along every 2-5 hundred years. We are beyond fortunate to be living in the USA. No other country exists like us.

Strong preformance

While at times feeling like a hagiography it does a great job of providing a source based biography of Washington.

In a word...WOW!

Quite possibly the finest book I have ever read. The story, the narration, the clarity are all superb. I did not want it to end. For the times we are now in, this book should be a required read in civility. After reading this book, to doubt the providential nature of George Washington's life in American history would be folly. To the author: this country owes you a debt of gratitude for the extraordinary work that undoubtedly went into this magnificent book. My prayer is that someone such as Mark Burnett sees the value of creating a television series based on this extraordinary man we know as the Father of our country.

Early American Life

A great account of the complexities of early America and its politics. The myths about Washington are dispelled and a heroric figure, with human flaws, emerges. Long but worth the time.

Most interesting and revealing...

While a rather long and tedious work, this book reveals the man George Washington to be more and less than legend has presented him. Chernow has studied hard to present a most interesting narrative of just who the father of this country was. Credit is due to Scott Brick for his excellent narration—straight forward and comfortable. Much of the work that unfolds has the nature of a novel. After the experience of Washington: A Life, I have a clearer and more appreciative concept of the American Revolution and the formation of the American experiment in democracy. If one has the perseverance to stay with it, this book is well worth the effort. As a lover of history, I found this book easy to love.