Ellis brings the exacting scholarship, shrewd analysis, and lyric prose that have made him one of the premier historians of the revolutionary era. For me, this book really shed some light on why he was such a pivotal leader in american history. A revisionist life of the founding father, motes and warts and all. Elliss book, his excellency george washington, ellis tells about washingtons life. George washington, pulitzer prizewinning historian joseph j. To this landmark biography of our first president, joseph j. Drawing from the catalogued washington papers at the university of virginia, joseph ellis follows washington from his military career through his years as president. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read his excellency. His excellency is a full, glorious, and multifaceted portrait of the man behind our countrys genesis, sure to become the authoritative biography of george.
An excellent and unabridged narration of his biographical account of a well known founding father. George washington is a 2004 biography of the first president of the. As commander of the continental army, george washington united the american colonies, defeated the british army, and became the worlds most famous man. Ellis paperback book, 320 pages see other available editions description the author of seven highly acclaimed books, joseph j. Professor ellis talked about his book his excellency. In fact, he was a mortal man serving as an officer and a statesmen, during the creation of an historic new nation unlike any other the.
Nov 01, 2004 so, too, was the regal general who insisted on being called his excellency and who lost more battles than any victorious general in modern history, but who also surrounded himself with the most intellectually sophisticated collection of statesmen in american presidential history and forged a republic. Ellis brings the exacting scholarship, shrewd analysis, and lyric prose that have made him one of the premier. George washington joseph ellis sets out to make george washington, the person we think of as an icon, into a real person. I really enjoyed this book as i have several other pollan books. This book is an excellent place to start and an easy read.
Ellis is a wellknown author and history professor focusing on the revolutionary era. The book manages to entertainingly retell a story about a person known to everyone, while simultaneously describing a personality known to few. Analysis of the book his excellency george washington. In this followup to his bestselling founding brothers, ellis offers a magisterial account of the life and times of george washington, celebrating the heroic image of the president whom peers like jefferson and madison recognized as their unquestioned superior while acknowledging his alltoohuman qualities. To his excellency general washington summary supersummary. Author joseph ellis attempted to distinguish this work by focusing on the mans illusive character. Excellency george washington by joseph ellis, first edition abebooks. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading his excellency. National bestseller to this landmark biography of our first president, joseph j. Ellis sets the tone by calling his subject americas greatest secular saint and the foundingest.
The author of seven highly acclaimed books, joseph j. Training his lens on a figure who sometimes seems as. Everyone knows george washington as the first president, but most people do not know his other roles in the creation of the united states of america. About his excellency the author of seven highly acclaimed books, joseph j. Ellis is undoubtedly a thrilling narrative of an impressive biography and a delightful read for those willing to be introduced into the life of the father of our country. Phillis wheatleys poem to his excellency general washington is as unique as the poet herself. His excellency the most indepth analysis of george washington. In a historical profession that is scornful of what it calls dead white males, joseph j. So many students today see george washington as a memorial, a monument, a face. It was sent to george washington just after he was given the post of commanderinchief of the armies of north america. Anyone familiar with joseph elliss writtings will not be dissappointed with this biography.
Excellency george washington by joseph ellis, signed abebooks. Having lost his father early and having attained only a gradeschool education. He is unsuccessful in his initial strategy for the war of independence, losing almost every engagement fought against the british and their prussian allies. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. It was written by joseph ellis, a professor of history at mount holyoke college, who specializes in the founding fathers and the revolutionary and federalist periods.
To his excellency general washington is a 1775 poem written by phyllis wheatley, the first female africanamerican poet to have published work. Ellis examines the myths and realities surrounding our nations first president. His excellency is a more intimate biography of washington than many previously written, focusing as much on the subjects character as on his career. George washington by joseph j ellis online at alibris. George washington in 2004, he had already produced several popular books about early american history. The conquests and failures in battle and his achievements as president have been brought out in a way no historian has been able to capture previously. He talks about the events that took place inbetween his childhood and the revolt against great britain.
His excellency is a magnificent work, indispensable to an understanding not only of its subject but also of the nation he brought into being. This is a more detailed look, but i might not have read it without starting on his excellency, george washington. Although it dutifully recounts the events of washingtons life, its primary focus is on unpacking his. Back to top rent his excellency 1st edition 9781400032532 today, or search our site for other textbooks by joseph j. Both physically and politically, washington towered over his peers for reasons this book elucidates. Ellis wished to address what he terms our patriarchal problem with washington, a tendency to split him into cartoon images of saintly hero or imperialistic villain. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. On october 26, 2004 pulitzer prize winning historian joseph elliss latest work, his excellency, george washington, was released.
In the preface to this ambitious and largely successful biography of george washington, joseph j. Ellis looks at the life of one of americas founding fathers george washington. Oct 26, 2004 his excellency is a magnificent work, indispensable to an understanding not only of its subject but also of the nation he brought into being. With careful attention to detail and lyrical prose, ellis draws from the newly catalogued washington.
The author explained washingtons position on several issues, including expansion and slavery. Explaining his greatness is a minor historical industry because, unlike his great contemporaries, george washington rarely explained himself. It helped me understand the feel of the american revolution better than anything ive experienced. Ellis bestselling biography of our first president, published nearly a decade ago. It is also about 12 the lengthj of the chernow book, so start there. His excellency is yet another biography about the foremost founding father george washington. Professor joseph ellis talked about his book his excellency. His excellency a landmark biography of the most important and perhaps least understood figure in american history that brings our countrys first president to life in all his full complexity. His excellency george washington by ellis, joseph j. Steve inskeep, new book takes fresh look at george washington.
His excellency, is the name washington is addressed as by his officers and men. Excellency george washington by joseph ellis, first. His excellency is a full, glorious, and multifaceted portrait of the man behind our countrys genesis, sure to become the authoritative biography of george washington for many decades. George washington from the worlds largest community of readers.
Then, reflecting on the book he has so recently completed, ellis says, i hope his excellency gives you a sense of the character of this person both as a public figure and as a human being. Having written fine accounts of john adams and thomas jefferson, historian joseph ellis turns his attention to washington, and the result is lively and thoughtful, perhaps the best singlevolume work on. Ellis has crafted a landmark biography that brings to life in all his complexity the most important and perhaps least understood figure in american history, george washington. Michael pollan has a way of encouraging us to reclaim our independence and. This is a great introduction to washington scholarship, and an even better portrait of a complex man. Nov 08, 2005 looking for something more in depth, i am now reading washington, a life by chernow. Even when ellis sums up an important battle in a paragraph, he. National bestsellerto this landmark biography of our first president, joseph j. Ellis wished to address what he terms our patriarchal problem with washington, a. Ellis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. George washington is a 2004 biography of the first president of the united states, general george washington. Looking for something more in depth, i am now reading washington, a life by chernow. Joseph ellis, his excellency, george washington, 2004 ellis bestselling biography of washington, based primarily on a close reading of washingtons papers, is short, readable, and insightful.
The character of thomas jefferson, which won the national book award. George washington kindle edition by ellis, joseph j download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Professor joseph ellis talks about his book his excellency. George washington written by mark s on april 9th, 2007.
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