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The Madisons
Dolley and James Madison were America's original "power couple. "The nation's most underrated Founding Father, James was everywhere in the early republic. He passed the nation's first religious freedom law, and did more than any other man to draft and ratify our Constitution. Even today, judges parse each word of his Bill of Rights to determine the constitutionality of abortion, gun control, campaign finance reform, the death penalty, and other hot-button topics. After sparking the creation of the Federalist Party with his Constitution, he then revised his views and became the first leader of the Democratic-Republicans, pioneering the modern two-party system. Meanwhile, his wife Dolley became a major power broker in her own right, mastering unofficial channels and the politics of high society to become a vital unifying force-one that probably tipped the close presidential election of 1812.
This groundbreaking joint biography traces James and Dolley's lives apart as well as together, through war and peace, from the glories of ratification to the blunders of the 1807 embargo. Through Alexander Kennedy's intimate portraits of both husband and wife, we discover anew how these extraordinary individuals united their talents to shape and unify the fragile young nation.
"It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business." - Dolley Madison
Buy Now and Read the True Story of Dolley and James Madison... Thank you in advance for buying our book. We know you'll love it!
This groundbreaking joint biography traces James and Dolley's lives apart as well as together, through war and peace, from the glories of ratification to the blunders of the 1807 embargo. Through Alexander Kennedy's intimate portraits of both husband and wife, we discover anew how these extraordinary individuals united their talents to shape and unify the fragile young nation.
"It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business." - Dolley Madison
Buy Now and Read the True Story of Dolley and James Madison... Thank you in advance for buying our book. We know you'll love it!
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
215 pages, Paperback
Published July 20, 2016
About the author
Alexander Kennedy
63 books5 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 10, 2018
Basic, a bit shallow, poorly edited, but it does give a good overview of the lives of the Madisons. If you are looking for an in depth look at James or Dolley, this is not your book, but if you want a quick read that hits the highlights this will do the trick. Just be prepared for some awkward syntax now and then.
July 27, 2021
strong>Morsels of lesser known history
You will enjoy learning details about the interplay of the personalities of our presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. I was shocked to learn about Great Britain’s aloof attitude and lawless treatment of our merchant ships before the war of 1812. Britain’s Impressment of sailors was despicable, and probably only tolerated because it compared to what the Barbary Pirates were doing in the Mediterranean - another interesting little known tidbit of history contained here. Dolly’s importance was elevated for me in this documentation - not just deserving of a picture on a cake box. Dolly developed the foundation of how domestic and foreign emissaries should be entertained in a gracious and civilized capital setting at Washington DC. Dolley established the role of First Lady, acting for Jefferson two terms, and then followed up with two more terms for her husband, a total of 16 years that set a high bar for protocol. James and Dolley were the opposites that were truly attracted to and in full love and support of each other. On the gossipy side, Dolly’s son Payne is beyond a shocking disappointment, her brother John is a hopeless alcoholic disaster, and her (second) husband James’ family was mega rich. She once spent $2,000 just for the shipping costs for one season’s worth of clothing. Wow, in early 1800’s!! The historic chapter describing slavery reveals and fails to explain the common conflict between what slave owners of the day would say about slavery and then what they would actually do - including BOTH of the Madison’s. Historic accuracy of this storytelling was acceptable and well documented in the index - the foundation of such being set by the opening scene with Dolly staying until the last minute at the ‘White House’ burning by the British. The saving of Washington’s portrait - with the mention of the slave Jennings helping (often never mentioned although his first hand account provides much believable detail, and is at least alluded to here in spite of Dolley being the one who is given credit/as his supervisor/and owner’s wife). On the down side, the storytelling was sometimes repetitive or going up and down an orderly timeline as part of a strategy to stick to topics over continuity. A 5th star would be worthy if the historic tales had been bridged with a fluent storyline instead of jumping back and forth and including similar facts multiple times as a variety of resources are reviewed for each topic. For me this was a slower read to jump start further research down a few rabbit holes - more for a non-fiction history buff than a literary historic fiction consumer. Well worth the read for me; truly enjoyable and memorable.
You will enjoy learning details about the interplay of the personalities of our presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. I was shocked to learn about Great Britain’s aloof attitude and lawless treatment of our merchant ships before the war of 1812. Britain’s Impressment of sailors was despicable, and probably only tolerated because it compared to what the Barbary Pirates were doing in the Mediterranean - another interesting little known tidbit of history contained here. Dolly’s importance was elevated for me in this documentation - not just deserving of a picture on a cake box. Dolly developed the foundation of how domestic and foreign emissaries should be entertained in a gracious and civilized capital setting at Washington DC. Dolley established the role of First Lady, acting for Jefferson two terms, and then followed up with two more terms for her husband, a total of 16 years that set a high bar for protocol. James and Dolley were the opposites that were truly attracted to and in full love and support of each other. On the gossipy side, Dolly’s son Payne is beyond a shocking disappointment, her brother John is a hopeless alcoholic disaster, and her (second) husband James’ family was mega rich. She once spent $2,000 just for the shipping costs for one season’s worth of clothing. Wow, in early 1800’s!! The historic chapter describing slavery reveals and fails to explain the common conflict between what slave owners of the day would say about slavery and then what they would actually do - including BOTH of the Madison’s. Historic accuracy of this storytelling was acceptable and well documented in the index - the foundation of such being set by the opening scene with Dolly staying until the last minute at the ‘White House’ burning by the British. The saving of Washington’s portrait - with the mention of the slave Jennings helping (often never mentioned although his first hand account provides much believable detail, and is at least alluded to here in spite of Dolley being the one who is given credit/as his supervisor/and owner’s wife). On the down side, the storytelling was sometimes repetitive or going up and down an orderly timeline as part of a strategy to stick to topics over continuity. A 5th star would be worthy if the historic tales had been bridged with a fluent storyline instead of jumping back and forth and including similar facts multiple times as a variety of resources are reviewed for each topic. For me this was a slower read to jump start further research down a few rabbit holes - more for a non-fiction history buff than a literary historic fiction consumer. Well worth the read for me; truly enjoyable and memorable.
December 17, 2018
This Book is Mis-titled
If there were a way to give this book two and a half stars, that’s what I would have given it because the writing is all that carried it. It had little to nothing to do with the Madisons as a couple, or what would define them as a power couple. In fact, it had little to do with Dolley Madison at all, even in the sections of the book that were (supposedly) about her.
After having read this account, if there were any two people who made up the “power couple”, it was James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. According to this, they lived in each other’s (political) pockets from Jefferson’s return from France throughout his presidency.
I’m thankful that I borrowed this book through my Kindle Unlimited account rather than having bought it outright!
If there were a way to give this book two and a half stars, that’s what I would have given it because the writing is all that carried it. It had little to nothing to do with the Madisons as a couple, or what would define them as a power couple. In fact, it had little to do with Dolley Madison at all, even in the sections of the book that were (supposedly) about her.
After having read this account, if there were any two people who made up the “power couple”, it was James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. According to this, they lived in each other’s (political) pockets from Jefferson’s return from France throughout his presidency.
I’m thankful that I borrowed this book through my Kindle Unlimited account rather than having bought it outright!
November 18, 2019
Having just read another book on historical American women, this book caught my attention and I was curious to see how IT portrayed James & Dolley.
If you want a quick overview, with a handful of details, this is a good little volume (about 200 pages). If you want something more in depth, you'll have to look elsewhere. I have been thinking about how James - one of the Founding Fathers, right, who wrote MOST of the Constitution, was a terrible Chief Executive. Dolley was apparently Miss Congeniality, so that many people supported HER husband.
I did enjoy it, and will probably read more by this author.
If you want a quick overview, with a handful of details, this is a good little volume (about 200 pages). If you want something more in depth, you'll have to look elsewhere. I have been thinking about how James - one of the Founding Fathers, right, who wrote MOST of the Constitution, was a terrible Chief Executive. Dolley was apparently Miss Congeniality, so that many people supported HER husband.
I did enjoy it, and will probably read more by this author.
July 7, 2020
I have previously enjoyed Kennedy's brief and straight forward account of historical events and found them a good way to refresh my memory. However, this one veered off into the writer's political views - I do not know if I did not pick up on it in earlier books or if this one differs in that regard. . I wanted information only as I prefer to do my own thinking and analyses. Therefore I found the book of diminished value for my purposes.
January 17, 2019
Easy historical read
This was an easy read that touched on many of the historical events in the early years of our country. A good read because it helps the reader gain perspective in some of the turmoil of those early years. I felt as if it skimmed the surface of our history and could have gone into more depth.
This was an easy read that touched on many of the historical events in the early years of our country. A good read because it helps the reader gain perspective in some of the turmoil of those early years. I felt as if it skimmed the surface of our history and could have gone into more depth.
June 4, 2018
Amazing Story
A great review of history and how the country survived its early, infant years. I really never realized the influence of Madison before his presidency. He was a smart, determined political figure with a clever, skilled wife! They weren’t perfect, but they always seemed to be committed to making the country strong!
A great review of history and how the country survived its early, infant years. I really never realized the influence of Madison before his presidency. He was a smart, determined political figure with a clever, skilled wife! They weren’t perfect, but they always seemed to be committed to making the country strong!
November 5, 2016
Pretty light and easy reading but not enough
Easy read and enjoyable but it wasn't really substantial enough to warrant a full book. Each chapter felt like the cliff notes or prelude to something that would get more in depth but it never came.
Easy read and enjoyable but it wasn't really substantial enough to warrant a full book. Each chapter felt like the cliff notes or prelude to something that would get more in depth but it never came.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews