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‘This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers.’

'This book is a brief, but remarkably complete and accurate biography of Washington.  It manages to evenly cover most of the main events of Washington’s life without diving too deeply, but still does so in an accomplished manner.  Much of the material Thayer covers will be familiar to readers of McCullough’s 1776 and Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton.  Thayer’s treatment is remarkably free of either hagiography or apology.

Washington was unquestionably the “indispensable man” and larger than life.  Thayer acknowledges this and does not apologize for his accurate portrayal of Washington’s contributions to the founding of the country.  The tone is matter of fact.  It is well-researched and footnoted throughout.  The author cites biographies by John Marshall, Washington Irving, and Henry Cabot Lodge, as well as original sources.

Written in 1922, it is refreshing to read and seemingly free of unsubstantiated opinion.  In cases where the author is unsure of his ground, for instance with regard to the role Jefferson is likely to have played in setting up the polemicist Philip Freneau, Thayer addresses the reader directly and states as much.

… I cannot rid myself of the suspicion that Jefferson furnished Philip Freneau, who came from New York to Philadelphia to edit the anti-Washington newspaper with much of his inspiration if not actual articles.'

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