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who did much of the work to build this country in its early days and, while the opprtunity was there, given nothing in return. "Patriot Sage" is an excellent insight into many aspects of Washington's life of which I was ignorant (like his influence on the Constitutional Convention) Sadly, some of its essays are too right-wing, to the point of Clinton bashing. What modern era president could really live up to the accomplishments of the one who defined the job's parameters ? One essay focuses on the moral symbolism of Washington now devoid in today's presidents, while another openly admits he gambled and sought prostitutes. To be read overall with some perspective.
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Neither had I until I stumbled onto a gratis copy of Benjamin E. Dean's classic tome "A Virginian in Yankeeland." This is THE indispensable work for those of us who have wondered about the issue of our greatest Founding Father's issue.
Benjamin Dean is apparently a man wealthy enough to self-publish his own account of being "George Washington VI". Bully for him, I say. The world needs more of this sort of thing. In any event, Benjamin Dean stumbled upon this revelation sometime in the 1940s while he was in Kentucky. A bunch of GIs, off to fight the Nazis, observed that he had a stunning resemblance to George Washington (Just like the grocery clerk I saw the other day who thought I resembled James K. Polk).
By far the best section of this immense book is the introduction. The rest of the books, as far as I can tell, is full of rich yarns about the author's childhood in upstate New York. But the introduction lays bare the heart of the matter, including the author's (or, as he likes to write, "your George Washington VI" or "your Virginian") fight to reveal the truth.
He first made his point sometime during the 60s when he called a live radio show to declare his ancestry. After that, in his words, "seven years of media silence" followed. His next big break was an appearance on a "closed-circuit" TV show sometime in the 1970s. Finally he got the attention of the powerful interests who connive to deprive the heirs of Washington of what is rightfully theirs. A very catty article was written about him. Nothing if not determined, Benjamin Dean has chosen to take the high road in answering this scurrilous attack, writing and publishing a multivolume epic.
And you have to hand it to him. I can't say I fully read this book, but anyone interested in the history of upstate New York in the early 20th century, or the progeny of George Washington will undoubtedly find this books and its sequels riveting. May Benjamin Dean write and publish many more books on these themes!
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The book tells the story of a young Washington and his early life as a surveyor on the western Virginia frontier and his relationships with his neighbors the Fairfaxes and his love affair with Sally Carey, later the wife of his friend George Fairfax. In 1753 Washington is called upon by the Crown to take a message to the French forces moving into the Ohio lands demanding their immediate evacuation from the King's lands. Following the failure of this mission, Washington is sent as the leader of an expedition to force the French from the Ohio Country, leading to the disasterous debacle of Fort Necessity and, later as aide de camp to General Braddock, to the horrible and bloody defeat of that campaign at Fort Dusquene. The history here alone is more than adequate for a exciting and engaging tale.
Unfortunately, Grey, who has written some great material, fails here to convey any sense of interest or excitement. It was a struggle just to get through the first few chapters. Historical accuracy has been sacrificed for melodrama and poor dialogue. Washington comes across as a brave and hardy frontiersman, able to fight Indians, track game, and carve civilization from the wilderness almost single-handedly. Nothing could be further from the truth. Washington, while possessing many admirable traits, not the least of which was his leadership qualities, was really just an ambitious syncophant, eager for a commission as a royal officer and really nothing more than an untried greenhorn in the ways of the woods as can be seen by his horrible failure at Green Meadows and in his dealings with the Indians.
Ultimately, this book failed to live up to many of its expectations, and that was a great disappointment. I would greatly recommend Allan Eckerts "Wilderness Empire" for a far more enjoyable telling of the same events.
Most unaccountably, the book has dialogue like this: "I know now what wives are for! They are to help husbands feel important" And if that wasn't good enough, the author sees fit to repeat it again toward the end. The Discovery Biography series makes a big fuss about its editor, Dr. Mary C Austin, touted as an "outstanding reading educational specialist". Unless she proposes to turn elementary school children into ultra-right wing dullards, I can only imagine that she never actually laid eyes on this text.
I certainly wish I hadn't.
For a really exciting read, try A World Explorer:Henry Morton Stanley, written back in 1965 by Charles Graves
Washington's achievements were primarily in three areas: commanding the continental army, being president of the Constitutional Convention, and serving as the country's first President. He practically single-handedly fostered a sense of our being one united country and held it together through the war, the draftig of the Constitution, and the national's early history.
It is difficult to overestimate Washington's contributions. Everything he did set a precedent for the nation. And everything was being done for the first time. There had been no democratic country in the history of the world. No country had had a democratically elected leader; they had all been kings.
Washington was a fascinating man. Unfortunately, this book is not. Still, it is worthwhile as a superficial overview of Washington's life.