Synopses & Reviews
Historian John Ferling has been called a "national resource," and his latest book again demonstrates his unsurpassed insight into the Founding Fathers, giving us George Washington as we have never seen him before. Our first president has long been viewed as a hero who rose above politics.
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. 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.
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.
A Washington Post Best Book of 2009Our 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 imageone carefully burnished by Washington himselfto 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 virtuebut 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. 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 Ferlings eminently readable, landmark interpretation, we cannot help but marvel at the man.”Marie Arana, The Washington PostOnce 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 Ferlings 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 Washingtons 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 Washingtons political activities . . . While illustrating the substance behind Washingtons 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
Review
“Sensing that such biographers as James Flexner and Joseph Ellis have accepted the above-politics thesis, Ferling inspects the evidence of Washingtons political activities…while illustrating the substance behind Washingtons 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
“Never questioning Washingtons 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
“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 Ferlings eminently readable, landmark interpretation, we cannot help but marvel at the man.” -Marie Arana, Washington Post
“The Washington who emerges from the nearly four hundred pages of well-crafted narrative is a man who became first in the hearts of his countrymen by looking out for Number One… Washington was a complex personality, as John Ferlings study makes clear, and it provides readers with a fuller portrait of the figure who was the First of Men of his time.”--Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
Synopsis
Historian John Ferling has been called a "national resource," and his latest book again demonstrates his unsurpassed insight into the Founding Fathers, giving us George Washington as we have never seen him before.
Our first president has long been viewed as a hero who rose above politics. 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. 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.
About the Author
John Ferling is Professor Emeritus of History at the State University of West Georgia. A leading authority on American Revolutionary history, he has appeared in many documentaries and has written numerous books, including Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War for Independence, Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, The First of Men: A Life of George Washington, Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, and Jefferson in the American Revolution, and the award-winning A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic.