Review PRAISE FOR GEORGE WASHINGTON:“In clear prose and a compelling narrative style, Stephen Brumwell balances the popular image of Washington as a reluctant commander, statesman, and father of his country with that of an ambitious young officer in the British military tradition, whose experiences--and hard lessons—in war shaped his leadership of a nation born out of conflict.”—Colin G. Calloway, John Kimball Jr. 1943 Professor of History and Professor of Native American Studies, Dartmouth College"[A] solid military biography . . . Mr. Brumwell's thesis that Washington's own 'pretension to the character of a gentleman' explains his success in the War for Independence." —Allan Pell Crawford, The Wall Street Journal"Dynamic . . . The First Father waves from his high horse with this felicitous new assessment of his derring-do." —Kirkus Reviews  “Brumwell breathes new life into a younger and edgier incarnation of our first president—the feisty frontier warrior who engaged the French and their Indian allies in brutal border skirmishes, the tough mid-career officer who turned the Continental Army into the weapon that defeated the British Empire.  Even while Washington fought the redcoats, Brumwell argues, he relied on British models of military organization and gentlemanly behavior in shaping his distinctive style of leadership.”—from the 2013 The George Washington Book Prize winner citation announcement   “Stephen Brumwell’s book is a pleasure to read from the very first pages, when he puts you right there, literally looking down the sights of a rifle held by a British officer who’s about to decide whether to kill George Washington. . . . [Brumwell] brings the frontier military experience to life—the vermin, the floggings, the constant fear of ambush and massacre. And readers get a vivid sense of Washington himself as a creation of eighteenth-century military culture.”—Adam Goodheart, Hodson Trust-Griswold Director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, George Washington College   “George Washington: Gentleman Warrior is a wonderful read and the scholarship is deeply impressive—Stephen Brumwell was way down in the scholarly weeds sorting out things most eighteenth-century specialists don’t know much about”—James G. Basker, President, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History   “Well-written and engaging . . . In the hands of this fine biographer, Washington emerges as a flesh and blood man, more impressive than the mythical hero could ever be.”—2013 Washington Book Prize Jury’s finalist selection citationPRAISE FOR WHITE DEVIL:"Excellent research and gripping prose!" —Sunday Telegraph"A thrilling narrative…vividly written." —Times Literary SupplementPRAISE FOR PATHS OF GLORY:"Paths of Glory is a powerful tonic, which shows that...[Wolfe's] generalship—and not luck—won for England a continent." —Times Literary Supplement"Every so often, books are published that combine first-rate, innovative scholarship and page-turning readability. Stephen Brumwell's revisionary retelling of the life of James Wolfe is a shining example." —Globe and Mail Read more About the Author Dr. Stephen Brumwell is an award-winning independent historian and journalist. He attended the University of Leeds, gaining a PhD in history and British Academy funding to research eighteenth-century North America. Brumwell's widely acclaimed books include Redcoats: The British Soldier and War in the Americas, 1755–1763; White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery and Vengeance in Colonial America; and Paths of Glory: The Life and Death of General James Wolfe. Brumwell lives and writes in Amsterdam. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
T**Y
I Love History
I do love history and especially the American Revolution, the Civil War, and their participants. It was fascinating to see the development of our first president both as a man and as a figure of importance in the founding of our nation. Learning is never dull and the author made it easy to learn. The book though not a fast read was an easy read. .
C**S
A good primer of George Washington's military career in the French & Indian War and the American Revolution
George Washington. His name evokes the encomium uttered by Light Horse Harry Lee: "First in War, First in Peace, First in the hearts of his countrymen." Our mental image of Washington is portrayed in the Gilbert Stuart iconic portrait of GW as an elder statesman who is the Father of his country. Yet Washington was a mortal man who grew in his abilities to lead men into the maw of demon war. He grew from a relatively uneducated young man in love with Sally Fairfax (his neighbor's charming wife ) who also loved fox hunting, gambling, drinking and socializing with chaps over a brimming punch bowl at ye olde inn snug in the countryside of rural Virginia. Washington became a strong warrior gentleman. He wed the fabulously wealthy Martha Dandridge Custis and became a loving but often stepfather to her two children by her first husband. He also decided to give up surveying for the stern arts demanded by Mars. Washington worked with colonial governor Dinwiddie to explore the backcountry to see what the French were up to along the frontier. As a result he fired the first shots of what became the French and Indian War. Washington and his men lost to the French and Indians at Fort Necessity and the young colonel was lucky to escape with his life in Braddock's 1755 ,massacre as the Anglo-American troops failed in their ill fated effort to seize what became Pittsburgh from the French. Washington and his Virginia Regiment of colonials were well respected for their fighting prowess but were made subordinate to English Army officers. This fact rankled causing Washington to resign his commission and retreat to Mount Vernon. During the years between the end of the French and Indian War and the American Revolution we see Washington serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses becoming convinced that America needed to sever ties with the Mother Country. Due to John Adams nomination he became Commander of the Continental Army. Long years of travail and Fabian tactics led Washington and the Americans to finally triumph over Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. Here is where this partial history of George Washington is concluded. Dr. Stephen Brumwell is a British historian who is an expert on the British Army in the eighteenth century and is well versed in the military strategy, tactics, weapons and social milieu of the period. His book is quite detailed in portraying the many campaigns of the war s in which Washington took a leading role. Without the patriotic leadership of George Washington the revolution would not have succeeded. The book is focused on the military aspects of Washington' career. It will appeal chiefly to history buffs interested in military aspects of the American Revolution. The book will teach you new material about Washington. An excellent read on the Father of our Country. We could use leaders like George Washington today!
W**G
Four Stars
Not as historically detailed as I hoped, but helpful in getting to know the man.
J**R
What an excellent book!
What an excellent book!!! I read a lot about the revolution, but I learn something new on very page. This man knows how to write history !
J**S
Excellent coverage of GW's life and contributions, especially of his early life about which I knew very little.
Also I learned a lot about the formation of the country's main institutions, about which I knew little. A broad treatment of one of our earliest founding fathers, a Virginian but much of this history also helps us to understand many events more fully. Interesting and inspiring even for today's world, or perhaps more so because of today's world.John Davis
P**I
A vivid full-figure portrait
I found this slender volume a significant and very readable addition to Washington scholarship. And it is vivid, it would lend itself to dramatization.
M**N
Most enjoyable.
I relearned some and learned much more about G. Washington and the Revolutionary War. The book read well, too. I would be interested in more from Stephen Brumwell.
T**K
A Gripping Story!
This is a great read! Meticulously researched, Stephen Brumwell masterfully reveals the gripping story of George Washington's complex journey as a warrior/gentleman with amazing detail. The author, being a Briton, objectively views Washington without the colored lens of many American authors and reveals the hopes, dreams, struggles, doubts, and philosophy of Washington beginning with his early desire for military fame, his skirmishes in the French and Indian War to his leadership of the novice Continental Army which led to the ultimate defeat of the British.Washington's conduct, bearing and outlook led his contemporaries to view him as a `complete gentleman' and formed his approach to soldiering. This combination of gentleman and warrior was crucial in establishing his leadership. Against the odds, he forged his army in spite of a dangerous shortage of supplies, the feebleness of Congress and the apathy of the States. In the process he won the respect of his old enemy, the French. George Washington wished to be remembered as a soldier above all else. Stephen Brumwell states: `For Washington, war truly paved the way to everything else'.George Washington: Gentleman Warrior is extremely well written and details how Washington became the ultimate gentleman warrior at a time America needed his style of leadership the most. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American history and hope it becomes a must read book in schools across the country. Well Done!
Trustpilot
1 week ago
3 weeks ago
