by Stark, Peter
First published 2018
George Washington stands in the Ohio Valley wilderness at twenty-two, serving as a British officer far from the legend he will become. He is naive, self-absorbed, and driven by relentless personal ambition. His inexperience leads him to make a catastrophic mistake that ignites the French and Indian War. The conflict opens a path toward American independence that no one yet imagines. Washington faces brutal wilderness conditions, from devastating summer storms to freezing winters that test his endurance. He leads Virginia troops through controversial battles that force him to abandon his selfish pursuits. He learns to stand with the men who depend on him for survival. Military negotiations with British and colonial allies sharpen his diplomatic abilities. His obsessive love for a woman ends in rejection, teaching him to build deeper connections. These wilderness trials transform a temperamental young striver into a mature leader. The skills he develops in the Ohio Valley will serve him at Valley Forge and beyond.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, military-history, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Ohio Valley
Period: 18th Century
848 pages · Paperback · Harper Large Print