By Ron Chernow, Penguin Press, 904 pages, $40
As the dominant figure of the American Revolution and early republic, George Washington, the man, has long been shrouded by dense myths, the “civic deity” and “exemplar of moral virtue.” In his new large-scale biography of Washington, Ron Chernow pierces the shroud by recreating the man “as he was seen by his contemporaries.” What emerges is a probing examination of Washington as the conflicted slave-owner, sharp-elbowed businessman, under-appreciated son, generous sibling, aloof husband, self-doubting military officer, and debt-ridden planter who had trouble controlling his own personal spending habits. In exposing these human complexities, the author’s masterful narrative enables modern readers to fully appreciate Washington’s achievements.
