First published 1972
James Thomas Flexner opens his biography with Washington arriving back at Mount Vernon following his military triumph. The general has grown weary from years of command and craves nothing more than the simple joys of plantation life. Away from the burden of leading armies, Washington reveals sides of himself that few have witnessed. His personality blooms in ways that surprise those around him. He tends to his fields, manages his estate, and savors the routines of a Virginia planter. Yet this peaceful interlude cannot last. New challenges emerge that will once again demand his leadership and pull him from the tranquil existence he treasures. Flexner captures both Washington's humanity and the forces that shaped early America, offering readers a portrait of the man behind the legend during a pivotal period in the nation's founding.
Genres: biography, history, military-history, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: leadership, military-command
Setting: Mount Vernon, Virginia
Period: 1775-1783
618 pages · Hardcover · L Cooper