My second Joseph Ellis, I’ve come to enjoy his ‘to the point’, ‘no frills’ style of writing. Though McCullough’s “John Adams”, which is cited by Ellis, provides a more in depth and detailed version of much of the same material, Ellis tells it in fewer words, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
The name George Washington is so deeply ingrained into American culture, that it would be easy to dismiss reading his biography as old hat and blase. Sometimes, however, it is good to go ahead and dive into a biography like that anyway – perhaps there is new insight to be gained into an old, familiar character.
“Give me liberty or give me death!” When the name Patrick Henry is mentioned, practically anyone will think of the prolific quote that is so deeply identified with the spirit of the American Revolution, however, after reading this work by… Continue Reading →
In my continuing study of American history, David C. Whitney’s 1969 edition of “The American Presidents” brought all the previously read biographies of our Presidents together.
My research on the origination of our country continues with Jon Meacham’s highly rated Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, published last year (2012).
After indulging in several non-fictions of the founding years of our nation, John Adams was, for me, the glue that pulled them all together into a coherent understanding of the way it all went down.
My study of the beginning of the United States of America continues with this text by the author Joseph J. Ellis, who is well known and respected as an historian specializing in American history.
Since grade school lessons about the birth of The United States and our founding fathers, the character of Ben Franklin has seemed like folklore, beyond human. Walter Isaacson applies personal and human elements to the man and relates Franklin’s traits, admirable and shameful alike.
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