A well-researched biography of the original American hero. This book was particularly enlightening in three areas: (1) Washington's views on slavery, (2) his rejection of kingship (which Ellis convincingly argues was his to seize), and (3) a comparison between GW's tactics and that of Fabius Maximus, which I thought was inspired. 4 stars, recommended.

His Excellency: George Washington published in 2004 is a solid single volume account of our nation’s first president. Checking in at a mere 320 pages, you are not going to walk away knowing everything you should, but it would serve as a solid introduction. Joseph Ellis manages to cram a great deal into such a short book, including some very insightful observations on Washington’s character. Being relatively new, this book acknowledges modern criticisms (i.e. his status as a southern slaveholder) and explores these facets of his life with a great deal of honesty, but without jumping on the cynical cancel-culture bandwagon that is so prevalent in modern America. Solid 3 stars.

What follows are some notes on the book:

[Note: My notes here are relatively sparse, at some point I plan to re-read Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow, which I consider to be THE definitive single volume biography of Washington, at which point I will make more comprehensive notes].

The book is broken down into several major sections, covering his military service as a young man in our nation’s interior. His central role in the outbreak of the French and Indian War. His status as a colonial officer and the grievances this produced when the British regulars treated him as a second class citizen.

His flirtation with Sally Fairfax and eventual marriage to the widow Martha Custis (and the fortuitous financial benefits that came with this marriage). His long service in the Revolutionary War (including many failures and brilliant breakthroughs (Trenton, Yorktown).

He discusses how Washington, who lagged behind many of his contemporaries in some key areas, became THE indispensable man (“Benjamin Franklin was wiser; Alexander Hamilton was more brilliant; John Adams was better read; James Madison more politically astute, yet each and all of these prominent figures acknowledged that Washington was their unquestioned superior.” pg xiv). Ever since his arrival at the first Continental Congress, he towered over his peers and was the unquestioned leader of the Revolutionary movement.

He explores Washington’s peculiar personality quirks, and how his tenacity and demands that others fulfill their obligation meant he was one of the few Virginia planters who did not die in crippling debt.

Washington’s treatment of his slaves (he treated them well and strove to keep families together, but as in all his business dealings he was harsh if he felt he was being cheated (i.e. he paid ransoms to capture runaways)). Ellis explores Washington’s efforts to free his slaves and the legal complications inherent in doing so (many of the slaves belonged to his wife’s estate and he had no legal basis on which to manumit them).

The book addresses Washington’s time as president and his efforts to keep the Federalist and Republican factions (led by Hamilton and Jefferson respectively) from tearing the new government apart. While Washington’s stature was such that he was rarely attacked directly (though he was accused of being deceived by Hamilton) he was so indispensable that even Jefferson and the Republicans pleaded that he not step down after a single term. Furthermore, the author covers Washington’s efforts to keep the peace with his proclamation of neutrality at a time when Revolutionary France was wreaking havoc both in Europe and in American politics.

In his dealings with Native Americans, Washington strove to honor treaties and absorb the Indians into anglo-American culture (an outlook that would prove disturbingly naïve in hindsight).

The book briefly mentions his participation in Free Masonry and spends more time discussing his role in the Society of the Cincinnati (a hereditary fraternity of Revolutionary War Officers that proved unpopular because of its un-Republican structure).

The author covers his Farewell Address at length (and Hamilton’s contribution as editor).

Interesting history of George Washington

For some time now I've wanted to find some book that helped with separating the fact from the fancy regarding the life and works of George Washington. This was a good choice I believe.
I was able to see the very human side of Washington and his very mortal mistakes. He was not a womanizer as has been rumored, though he did seem to have some feelings in his younger days for another mans wife, but nothing intimate.
Washington stated again and again that the hand of providence had spared him (particularly during the French Indian War) to take part in the formation of a new country. He knew he had been graced by the hand of providence to fill his roll as commander of the Continental Army and a few years later as the first President of the United States.
It was very interesting to learn that Washington was at conflict with himself about the slavery issue. In his final will he freed the slaves that were 'his'. He didn't free them earlier because his wife Martha didn't have the same feelings about freeing slaves and at least half of the slaves were Martha's. His slaves and hers were intermarried and Washington never considered breaking up slave families.

This was a great biography. I always enjoy Professor Ellis' writing. His author's voice is down to earth, relevant to today and quick with an ironic or humorous quip. This was a study with analysis of what made "His Excellency" "tick". As a great study of the players and issues of that time, Ellis kept my interest as he insightfully revealed George Washington and his interactions with the others. Each history book elucidates the others and while most "facts" are not new, the perspective and background the author uses is always a fun part of reading history. Professor Ellis is highly skilled at pointing out the perspectives, background facts and tying it all together in an enjoyable and educational story.

Washington is so unique when it comes to revolutionary leaders. He was a man driven not by any concrete ideology but in his personal business experience. He was capable of such things as rejecting beginning a monarchy based on him, but also would capture escaped slaves and force them to return to their owner.

One major critique I have with this book is the authors attempt at justification of Washington’s treatment of slaves and Native Americans.

“Several biographers have looked upon this extended episode of land acquisitions as an unseemly and perhaps uncharacteristic display of personal avarice, mostly because they are judging Washington against his later and legendary reputation for self-denial, or against some modern, guilt-driven standard for treatment of Native Ameri-cans. In fact, Washington's avid pursuit of acreage, like his attitude toward slavery, was rather typical of Virginia's planter class. He was simply more diligent in his quest than most. And his resolutely realistic assessment of the Indians' eventual fate was part and parcel of his instinctive aversion to sentimentalism and all moralistic brands of idealism, an instinct that deservedly won plaudits in later contexts, as disappointing as it was in this one.”

The author often feeds into the narrative that of course Washington’s economic interests were balancing to the lives of others. Washington could have freed his slaves, he didn’t. Washington could have fought harder for peace with Native Americans. He didn’t. That is forever part of his legacy

His Excellency: George Washington is another solid biography by Joseph Ellis, arguably the best contemporary historian of America's Founding Fathers. As with Ellis's other work, it's less a traditional biography than a non-linear character study, using specific events and incidents to probe Washington's personality and character. Ellis views Washington as torn between his high-born, princely arrogance and a sense of modest propriety that prevented him from becoming a mere dictator; he argues that this contradiction, while often maddening to Washington himself, enabled him to become the iconic American and help keep the Republic together in its fragile early days. Whether one comes away from Ellis's book with enhanced respect for Washington, or frustration at his foibles, is up to the reader, but it's a commendable job at humanizing a figure who's still treated with godly deference today.

Biography of the year for me. Ellis has produced a historical, thoughful, indepth, and yet readable story of one of the truly great men we have been given. While not an American, I am still allowed to have a respectful interest in some of the founders of your state. Washington, Adams, and Jefferson make a powerful triumvirate. These 300 odd pages about Washington left me wanting a little bit more depth about his early years, but that is my sole complaint about the book.

This is a suggested read for anyone interested in the tale of a man who strove to live up to his principles.

DNF at twenty some percent through due to the author's personal narrative on George Washington and not just keeping to the historical facts. Really disappointed that I couldn't take it anymore, but so it goes in the reading life sometimes.

"...his trademark decision to surrender power as commander in chief and then president, was not...a sign that he had conquered his ambitions, but rather that he fully realized that all ambitions were inherently insatiable and unconquerable. He knew himself well enough to resist the illusion that he transcended human nature. Unlike Julius Caesar and Oliver Cromwell before him, and Napoleon, Lenin, and Mao after him, he understood that the greater glory resided in posterity's judgment. If you aspire to live forever in the memory of future generations, you must demonstrate the ultimate self-confidence to leave the final judgment to them. And he did.”
― Joseph J. Ellis, His Excellency: George Washington



A good Ellis. Probably 3.5 stars. Like with American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson Ellis knows his subject has been written about before and probably better. He isn't looking to redo or modernize the biography of George Washington. He only wants to do a couple things. He wants to narrowly explore the character of George Washington AND write a slick and easily digestible biography that will sell well. I know this sounds a bit harsh, but Ellis, while an academic historian, aims both bigger and smaller. He wants to be read. He wants to be bought. So, his biographies and histories tend to be smaller, easier to digest, and built to be sold on the Costco book tables. That isn't a bad thing.

Joseph Ellis is in the same shelf as that popular pantheon of Founding biographers: Walter Isaacson, Jon Meacham, David McCullough, Edmund Morris, Ron Chernow and Doris Kearns Goodwin. He seems to be center mass of this group. Not as solid as Chernow or Morris, not as slick as Meacham or Isaacson.

Anyway, my only real complaint about this biography is stylistic. I hated, HATED, his periodic asides (he called them Sittings). I almost dropped a star just because of those. Ugh. It reminded me of the trend with weeklies or newspapers of blocking a quote from the text (callouts?). But this was worse. It was done like a third person observation of George Washington. They were uneven and just kinda stupid and weak. They weren't necessary, were distracting, and diminished the text.

I kept telling myself that I should read more by this author. Reading this proved that I was right.

An unromantic biography of Washington, with emphasis on the later years. Politically correct, cautious not to praise him enough to offend the current academic sensibilities.