false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178739800m/829507.jpg 7493 13 In retrospect, it seems as if the American Revolution was inevitable. But was it? In <I>Founding Brothers</I>, Joseph J. Ellis reveals that many of those truths we hold to be self-evident were actually fiercely contested in the early days of the republic.<p> Ellis focuses on six crucial moments in the life of the new nation, including a secret dinner at which the seat of the nation's capital was determined--in exchange for support of Hamilton's financial plan; Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address; and the Hamilton and Burr duel. Most interesting, perhaps, is the debate (still dividing scholars today) over the <I>meaning</I> of the Revolution. In a fascinating chapter on the renewed friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at the end of their lives, Ellis points out the fundamental differences between the Republicans, who saw the Revolution as a liberating act and hold the Declaration of Independence most sacred, and the Federalists, who saw the revolution as a step in the building of American nationhood and hold the Constitution most dear. Throughout the text, Ellis explains the personal, face-to-face nature of early American politics--and notes that the members of the revolutionary generation were conscious of the fact that they were establishing precedents on which future generations would rely.<p> In <I>Founding Brothers</I>, Ellis (whose <I>American Sphinx</I> won the National Book Award for nonfiction in 1997) has written an elegant and engaging narrative, sure to become a classic. Highly recommended. <I>--Sunny Delaney</I> 1290896 2000 Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation total:3091|5:758|4:1422|3:739|2:136|1:36| 3091 12003 4473 449 5 2 false false Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 14 18:43:11 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 14 19:50:48 -0700 2008 more...]]> 1 2 true false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 14 18:09:58 -0700 2007 Fri Aug 24 15:14:46 -0700 2007 more...]]> 1 3 false false Tue Feb 05 23:11:23 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 05 23:11:23 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 2 false false Thu May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Feb 08 21:34:04 -0800 2008 Fri May 16 18:22:44 -0700 2008 Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation was very informative and educational. I learned many things about America's founding fathers and the revolutionary period of history that I didn't previously know....more...]]> 2 1 false false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Feb 06 12:49:28 -0800 2008 Wed Feb 06 13:16:24 -0800 2008 Founding Brothers reads like an apologetic for long-time Founding Father of disrepute, John Adams, whose aggrandizement here expectedly reduces Thomas Jefferson to the dual role of timely revolutionary opportunist and self-deluding contradictorian, which may not be a word. Giv...more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Jan 02 11:30:39 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 02 11:53:16 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Dec 23 15:40:50 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 23 19:48:16 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 19 08:43:29 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 19 08:54:20 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 15 04:59:46 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 15 05:40:16 -0700 2009
The final story in this book on the history of the friendship ...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Mar 28 01:52:23 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 29 16:13:56 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed May 27 20:25:29 -0700 2009 Sat May 30 15:13:23 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Wed Sep 05 05:59:24 -0700 2007 Wed Sep 05 06:04:27 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 2 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Wed Apr 09 17:04:30 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 09 17:15:10 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 02 11:03:25 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 08 17:45:23 -0800 2008 1 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 25 12:21:41 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 01 19:46:48 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Mon Feb 02 17:43:08 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 23 15:18:14 -0800 2009 Mon Feb 02 17:43:09 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 28 08:10:47 -0700 2009 Tue Nov 10 16:33:16 -0800 2009 My favorite chapter was called T...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Oct 18 11:31:19 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 18 12:39:44 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Nov 28 05:20:16 -0800 2008 Thu Dec 11 10:46:54 -0800 2008 1 more...]]> 2 0 false false Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Jan 07 08:36:55 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 27 05:52:39 -0800 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=829507