The Ascent of George Washington - John Ferling

See larger image
See Hi-Res Jpeg image

The Ascent of George Washington

The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon

Bloomsbury Press, May 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60819-095-9, ISBN10: 1-60819-095-1,
6.125 x 9.25 inches, 464 pages, 16 p color insert,
Trade Paperback, $20.00

Praise
Biography

Share this book with friends through your favorite social networking site.

Shelve:

add this book's widget
to your site or blog

Categories and Subcategories

See All Categories History United States: Colonial to 1860

A Washington Post Best Book of 2009

Our first president has long been painted as a stoic figure who rose above the rough-and-tumble politics of his era. The Ascent of George Washington peers behind that image—one carefully burnished by Washington himself—to reveal a leader who was not only not above politics, but a master manipulator adept in the arts of persuasion, leverage, and deniability.

During the Revolution, Washington used his skills to steer the Continental Army through crises that would have broken less determined men; at the same time, he ruthlessly froze out rival generals and shrewdly defused dissent from those below him. Ending the war as a national hero, Washington "allowed" himself to be pressed into service as chief executive, and guided the nation with the same brilliantly maintained pose of selfless public interest.

In short, Washington deftly screened burning ambition behind an image of republican virtue—but that image made him just the leader that an overmatched army, and a shaky young nation, desperately needed. As Ferling reveals, the proof of Washington's political genius lies in the fact that he is no longer thought of as a politician at all. The Ascent of George Washington gives us Washington as we have never seen him before.

Praise

“Once in a while a book comes along to remind us that history has no gods, that the past is less fossil than textbooks suggest and America more vibrant than a mere list of principles. John Ferling's Ascent of George Washington is just such a book: a fresh, clear-eyed portrait of the full-blooded political animal that was George Washington . . . In John Ferling’s eminently readable, landmark interpretation, we cannot help but marvel at the man.”—Marie Arana, The Washington Post

"Mr. Ferling's writing is fluent and informed, and if he diminishes the mythic Washington on the one hand, he builds up the pragmatic Washington on the other as 'a highly political individual, one of the very best politicians in American history.'"—The Wall Street Journal

"Makes [Washington] considerably more approachable and at the same time even more admirable."—The Washington Times

“Ferling shatters the myth of a selfless, nonpartisan patriarch who wielded power without ambition. In reality, George Washington was a leader who consistently outmaneuvered rivals and political foes alike. Washington was motivated by legitimate political interests and goals that surfaced at an early age. By moving beyond the image of a noble and disinterested leader, Ferling helps readers appreciate a brilliant, albeit flawed, leader. In fact, Washington astutely manipulated others to achieve his aims. By 1785, Washington realized that the Union's survival coincided with his own interests and acclaim. As a result, Washington supported efforts to create a stronger national government. Not surprisingly, he also supported the Federalists and particularly supported Andrew Hamilton's policies, crafted to favor the nation's urban and commercial elite. 'With the hidden skills of an illusionist,' writes Ferling, 'Washington combined discerning statesmanship with the partisanship of a chief executive with a political agenda.' Washington was loved precisely because he had created an image of not seeking power for himself. In Ferling's opinion, however, Washington was a masterful politician who deserves to be recognized as one of the very best in US history. An outstanding book. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries.”—J. L. Brudvig, Choice magazine

“Never questioning Washington’s greatness, Ferling insists that seeing him as an artful self-promoter and master politician only enhances his reputation as an adept leader who knew exactly what he was doing . . . a fresh take on a monumental American.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Sensing that such biographers as James Flexner and Joseph Ellis have accepted the above-politics thesis, Ferling inspects the evidence of Washington’s political activities . . . While illustrating the substance behind Washington’s image as the indispensable man, Ferling pointedly grounds that image in the political soil from which it sprang.”—Booklist

“Ferling has done his research and offers some new insights . . . Recommended for readers interested in taking a fresh look at Washington's political life.”—Library Journal

About the Author(s)

John Ferling

John Ferling is a professor emeritus of history at the State University of West Georgia. A leading authority on American Revolutionary history, he is the author of seven books, including Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, The First of Men: A Life of George Washington, and the award-winning A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic. His most recent work, Almost a Miracle, was a history bestseller.