The Essential George Washington: Two Hundred Years of Observations on the Man, the Myth, the Patriot

What do they say about George Washington? this book includes fascinating, revealing, and often surprising opinions on the ‘Father of his Country’ from more than sixty selected observers of the past two centuries. This is a vivid portrait in the words of the man who – more than any other – brought the United States into the world. Why did Thomas Paine turn against him? Why did Martha Dangerfield Bland call him ‘impudent’? What is the truth about the cherry tree story? What was his single most important quality? Why, for two centuries, has his fame endured – as a glorified icon or as an all-too-human man? The answers to these and more questions about the ‘Father of his Country’ are brought to light in this collection. Washington’s contemporaries are followed by famous Americans from the decades between then and now, and finally by well-known modern-day Americans. Includes biographical sketches of the contributors.