John Rhodehamel George Washington

Annotation

Discover the man behind the myth: ';The only Washington biography you needCrisply written, admirably concise, and never superficial.'TheWall Street Journal 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 and first president. In this book, Rhodehamel examines George Washington as a public figure, arguing that the manwho first achieved fame in his early twentiesis inextricably bound to his mythic status. Solidly grounded in Washington's papers and exemplary in its brevity, this approachable biography is a superb introduction to the leader whose name has become synonymous with America. ';A highly entertaining bookThe powdered wig, the silly pants, the poker face staring out from crumpled dollar bills: All serve to separate us from our founding father. Rhodehamel's urgency of prose restores the connection. He also showcases his experience as the former archivist of Mount Vernon by bringing manuscript sources directly to the reader.'TheNew York Times Book Review