George Washington's America

the long version

An account of the travels of Washington as he lived out his life as surveyor, general and statesman adds much to the picture of late 18th century America and takes much of the lacklustre from the standardized portraits of the ""father of our country"". Stating at the outset his debt to Freeman's four volume study, Tebbel, a prolific writer himself, divides his study into five parts- a survey of the limits of Washington's America and his explorations therein; journeys as commander-in-chief of the army; residence in New York; residence in Philadelphia; and his return to the south and his own region. Careful chronology within subdividing chapters spotlights historical orientation while the author's fortunate sense of the drama of time, place and character provides the fill-in, setting the developing political issues, the economy of the young country and, most particularly, the thought and personality of Washington himself in pronounced relief. The last chapter especially, on his old age, presents a resume of the opinions others had of Washington, and culis from them a fresh view that does much to humanize him. Readable.