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The Virginia Dynasty: Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation
A vivid account of leadership focusing on the first four Virginia presidents--George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe--from the bestselling historian and author of James Madison .
From a small expanse of land on the North American continent came four of the nation's first five presidents--a geographic dynasty whose members led a revolution, created a nation, and ultimately changed the world. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe were born, grew to manhood, and made their homes within a sixty-mile circle east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Friends and rivals, they led in securing independence, hammering out the United States Constitution, and building a working republic. Acting together, they doubled the territory of the United States. From their disputes came American political parties and the weaponizing of newspapers, the media of the day. In this elegantly conceived and insightful new book from bestselling author Lynne Cheney, the four Virginians are not marble icons but vital figures deeply intent on building a nation where citizens could be free.
Focusing on the intersecting roles these men played as warriors, intellectuals, and statesmen, Cheney takes us back to an exhilarating time when the Enlightenment opened new vistas for humankind. But even as the Virginians advanced liberty, equality, and human possibility, they held people in slavery and were slaveholders when they died. Lives built on slavery were incompatible with a free and just society; their actions contradicted the very ideals they espoused. They managed nonetheless to pass down those ideals, and they became powerful weapons for ending slavery. They inspired Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and today undergird the freest nation on earth.
Taking full measure of strengths and failures in the personal as well as the political lives of the men at the center of this book, Cheney offers a concise and original exploration of how the United States came to be.
From a small expanse of land on the North American continent came four of the nation's first five presidents--a geographic dynasty whose members led a revolution, created a nation, and ultimately changed the world. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe were born, grew to manhood, and made their homes within a sixty-mile circle east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Friends and rivals, they led in securing independence, hammering out the United States Constitution, and building a working republic. Acting together, they doubled the territory of the United States. From their disputes came American political parties and the weaponizing of newspapers, the media of the day. In this elegantly conceived and insightful new book from bestselling author Lynne Cheney, the four Virginians are not marble icons but vital figures deeply intent on building a nation where citizens could be free.
Focusing on the intersecting roles these men played as warriors, intellectuals, and statesmen, Cheney takes us back to an exhilarating time when the Enlightenment opened new vistas for humankind. But even as the Virginians advanced liberty, equality, and human possibility, they held people in slavery and were slaveholders when they died. Lives built on slavery were incompatible with a free and just society; their actions contradicted the very ideals they espoused. They managed nonetheless to pass down those ideals, and they became powerful weapons for ending slavery. They inspired Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and today undergird the freest nation on earth.
Taking full measure of strengths and failures in the personal as well as the political lives of the men at the center of this book, Cheney offers a concise and original exploration of how the United States came to be.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2020
246 people are currently reading
917 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Cheney
19 books66 followersLynne Ann Vincent Cheney, is a novelist, conservative scholar, and former talk-show host who is the wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
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November 19, 2020
A few years ago, I read Lynne Cheney’s book “James Madison: A Life Reconsidered” and was impressed by Cheney’s writing skills. Therefore, I jumped to get her new book “The Virginia Dynasty”.
The book is well written and researched. The book is not an academic history book. Cheney’s doctorate degree is in British Literature, not history. That is probably why she picked up on little-known information about Jefferson’s fascination with words and cadence. The book provides an overview of four men: Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe along with some little-known facts about each man. Cheney is a master storyteller so the book reads more like fiction than non-fiction. If you are interested in the early days of our government, you will enjoy this book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and forty minutes. Nan McNamara does an excellent job narrating the book. McNamara is an actress, voice artist and has won the Earphone Award and was Best Narrator of audiobook for 2016.
The book is well written and researched. The book is not an academic history book. Cheney’s doctorate degree is in British Literature, not history. That is probably why she picked up on little-known information about Jefferson’s fascination with words and cadence. The book provides an overview of four men: Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe along with some little-known facts about each man. Cheney is a master storyteller so the book reads more like fiction than non-fiction. If you are interested in the early days of our government, you will enjoy this book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and forty minutes. Nan McNamara does an excellent job narrating the book. McNamara is an actress, voice artist and has won the Earphone Award and was Best Narrator of audiobook for 2016.
July 7, 2024
I have once again decided to embark on a mission to read a number of books on subjects that will be of great importance to the upcoming 2024 US Presidential Election. This was a great success as I prepared for 2020, with an outcome at the polls (and antics by both candidates up to Inauguration Day) that only a fiction writer might have come up with at the time! Many of these will focus on actors and events intricately involved in the US political system over the last few years, in hopes that I can understand them better and, perhaps, educate others with the power to cast a ballot. I am, as always, open to serious recommendations from anyone who has a book I might like to include in the process.
This is Book #5 in my 2024 US Election Preparation Challenge.
I realise now that I ought to have started my reading challenge with this piece, which sets the scene for all the others. While American historians have explored this time period in great detail, Lynne Cheney offers her own spin on things and how four men—Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe—helped create a semblance of the country that stands before us today. Sinking her teeth into this piece of history, there is no mention of modern political events as a contrast. Full of vivid depictions and great storytelling, Cheney impresses the reader who is curious about those building blocks in American history and how the republic became a robust country under four early politicians, each with their own passions. A pleasurable read that left me eager to learn more at a later time.
After her successful biography of James Madison, historian Lynne Cheney brings a more thorough exploration of the time when the American colonies sought to push for their own independence. Cheney’s exploration of the time is seconded by a further examination of four Virginia men who could be called visionaries and helped shape the creation of the country. Four of the country’s first five presidents, these men sought to foment the revolution needed to turn colony into independent nation-state status, as well as a unification needed to develop a collective effort, a set of united states that would become a country formidable on either side of the Atlantic. Cheney interweave the lives of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe, showing their similarities, differences, and sentiments about the land in which they lived and how their choices would shape the early ears of the country, which would forever make a difference in governance, legal interpretation, and geographic semblance of order.
Cheney sets the scene by discussing how the thirteen colonies functioned while still part of the England collective. While lands were plentiful and ideas developed with ease, the ultimate rule lay in London and with a king whose choices were completely out of touch. Some, like George Washington, were ready to fight for freedom with gun and musket. Others, such as Thomas Jefferson, sought to us the quill to write rebellion into words and exultations. As Cheney furthers her exploration of the early years, it becomes apparent that there would be no peaceful passing of the torch from England to the colonies, which would ensure that rebellion would make the needed changes.
During a time when blood had to be shed, Washington took up the task and fought valiantly against the British in hopes of making a difference and ensuring that the colonials had the power they deserved. Cheney does not focus too much time on the rebellion war and its fallout, but does make sure that Washington receives his due. The man was a born leader and sought not only to fight, but to be tactical, ensuring that the British could not simply come in and disable the colonial forces. Washington’s prowess would not go unnoticed by those who served in colonial legislatures or wrote up some of the key documents to sever ties with the British. Rather, hid leadership led to him being offered the first presidential role in the new republic.
Under Washington, the country began to get its legs, as Cheney aptly discusses. There was a need for great leadership to forge onwards and ensure that things did to slip back into the hands to the marauding British. To help this, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence—which formally got the rebellion underway—began crafting his views and legislation that would help develop the country into an early powerhouse. While he did not have all the answers, Jefferson sought to influence many with his writing style and depict a country that needed not the shackles of British oppression, but would also have to be able to keep its citizenry in line during a time when things were still uncertain. Serving as a diplomat back in Europe when the time came, Jefferson also had to ‘sell’ the idea of the United States to other independent countries and sought to earn its respect amongst other powers. This was no small feat at a time when British held sway, but also had numerous enemies on the European continent.
Cheney explores not only the independent lives these men lived in trying to help strengthen the country, but their intersecting actions. How Jefferson and Madison would clash on occasion, but always kept the republic at the forefront of their discussions. Madison’s rise to power came with many challenges, the least of which was not the British seeking to west control back during the Way of 1812. However, with the congressional buildings in ashes and destruction widespread, the American nation stood firm and resilient.
There were moments when Monroe would have a different view on things and sought to extol the virtues he saw, which helped create a larger and more forceful country at a time when he ran things. There were the constant squabbles one might expect of a new and growing country, but the expansion of the country under Monroe cannot be discounted. Cheney explores this and makes it clear to the reader that this expansion would soon create the needed momentum to keep growing.
It is not possible to extrapolate with ease when it comes to what Cheney is arguing and place things in a modern perspective. While I would like to think the Founding Fathers—these four especially—would have a thing or two to say about the modern America, this is not the time to do so. What Cheney does do effectively is set the scene for how and why certain things were decided as they were, providing needed context to help the curious reader. One can only hope that modern readers will see that and understand the roots of things, rather than rally against modern interpretations. In an era of fake and jilted news, some of the truths and core sentiments are lost, which is why this book is so refreshing in its delivery.
Lynne Cheney is not an author or historian I have read before. While I am not unfamiliar with this era, I enjoyed her take on things and the interpretation she sought to add to the discussion. In thorough and easy to digest chapters, Cheney helped the reader better understand the four men on offer and their choices, many of which proved to be helpful to forge a strong and determined United States of America. The discussion throughout was poignant and detailed, which lays the groundwork for better understanding of where things moved and how they did so. It also leaves the reader with an understanding of why things took a certain direction, which is important at a time when there are ongoing challenges to what constitutional drafters meant. I was eager to understand things and Cheney did well in exploring all facets of the argument. While much of my challenge will be looking at the modern state, it is nice to look backwards and what things might have been intended to be and how they could have been different, if listening to the Founding Fathers was an essential part of modern governing. This was a great foundational piece and I will be sure to keep it in mind while I parse through some of the more recent and controversial analyses of actors in the American state. Cheney is to be applauded for her actions and this book has me eager to return and look at some of her other work.
Kudos, Madam Cheney, for an insightful book.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
This is Book #5 in my 2024 US Election Preparation Challenge.
I realise now that I ought to have started my reading challenge with this piece, which sets the scene for all the others. While American historians have explored this time period in great detail, Lynne Cheney offers her own spin on things and how four men—Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe—helped create a semblance of the country that stands before us today. Sinking her teeth into this piece of history, there is no mention of modern political events as a contrast. Full of vivid depictions and great storytelling, Cheney impresses the reader who is curious about those building blocks in American history and how the republic became a robust country under four early politicians, each with their own passions. A pleasurable read that left me eager to learn more at a later time.
After her successful biography of James Madison, historian Lynne Cheney brings a more thorough exploration of the time when the American colonies sought to push for their own independence. Cheney’s exploration of the time is seconded by a further examination of four Virginia men who could be called visionaries and helped shape the creation of the country. Four of the country’s first five presidents, these men sought to foment the revolution needed to turn colony into independent nation-state status, as well as a unification needed to develop a collective effort, a set of united states that would become a country formidable on either side of the Atlantic. Cheney interweave the lives of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe, showing their similarities, differences, and sentiments about the land in which they lived and how their choices would shape the early ears of the country, which would forever make a difference in governance, legal interpretation, and geographic semblance of order.
Cheney sets the scene by discussing how the thirteen colonies functioned while still part of the England collective. While lands were plentiful and ideas developed with ease, the ultimate rule lay in London and with a king whose choices were completely out of touch. Some, like George Washington, were ready to fight for freedom with gun and musket. Others, such as Thomas Jefferson, sought to us the quill to write rebellion into words and exultations. As Cheney furthers her exploration of the early years, it becomes apparent that there would be no peaceful passing of the torch from England to the colonies, which would ensure that rebellion would make the needed changes.
During a time when blood had to be shed, Washington took up the task and fought valiantly against the British in hopes of making a difference and ensuring that the colonials had the power they deserved. Cheney does not focus too much time on the rebellion war and its fallout, but does make sure that Washington receives his due. The man was a born leader and sought not only to fight, but to be tactical, ensuring that the British could not simply come in and disable the colonial forces. Washington’s prowess would not go unnoticed by those who served in colonial legislatures or wrote up some of the key documents to sever ties with the British. Rather, hid leadership led to him being offered the first presidential role in the new republic.
Under Washington, the country began to get its legs, as Cheney aptly discusses. There was a need for great leadership to forge onwards and ensure that things did to slip back into the hands to the marauding British. To help this, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence—which formally got the rebellion underway—began crafting his views and legislation that would help develop the country into an early powerhouse. While he did not have all the answers, Jefferson sought to influence many with his writing style and depict a country that needed not the shackles of British oppression, but would also have to be able to keep its citizenry in line during a time when things were still uncertain. Serving as a diplomat back in Europe when the time came, Jefferson also had to ‘sell’ the idea of the United States to other independent countries and sought to earn its respect amongst other powers. This was no small feat at a time when British held sway, but also had numerous enemies on the European continent.
Cheney explores not only the independent lives these men lived in trying to help strengthen the country, but their intersecting actions. How Jefferson and Madison would clash on occasion, but always kept the republic at the forefront of their discussions. Madison’s rise to power came with many challenges, the least of which was not the British seeking to west control back during the Way of 1812. However, with the congressional buildings in ashes and destruction widespread, the American nation stood firm and resilient.
There were moments when Monroe would have a different view on things and sought to extol the virtues he saw, which helped create a larger and more forceful country at a time when he ran things. There were the constant squabbles one might expect of a new and growing country, but the expansion of the country under Monroe cannot be discounted. Cheney explores this and makes it clear to the reader that this expansion would soon create the needed momentum to keep growing.
It is not possible to extrapolate with ease when it comes to what Cheney is arguing and place things in a modern perspective. While I would like to think the Founding Fathers—these four especially—would have a thing or two to say about the modern America, this is not the time to do so. What Cheney does do effectively is set the scene for how and why certain things were decided as they were, providing needed context to help the curious reader. One can only hope that modern readers will see that and understand the roots of things, rather than rally against modern interpretations. In an era of fake and jilted news, some of the truths and core sentiments are lost, which is why this book is so refreshing in its delivery.
Lynne Cheney is not an author or historian I have read before. While I am not unfamiliar with this era, I enjoyed her take on things and the interpretation she sought to add to the discussion. In thorough and easy to digest chapters, Cheney helped the reader better understand the four men on offer and their choices, many of which proved to be helpful to forge a strong and determined United States of America. The discussion throughout was poignant and detailed, which lays the groundwork for better understanding of where things moved and how they did so. It also leaves the reader with an understanding of why things took a certain direction, which is important at a time when there are ongoing challenges to what constitutional drafters meant. I was eager to understand things and Cheney did well in exploring all facets of the argument. While much of my challenge will be looking at the modern state, it is nice to look backwards and what things might have been intended to be and how they could have been different, if listening to the Founding Fathers was an essential part of modern governing. This was a great foundational piece and I will be sure to keep it in mind while I parse through some of the more recent and controversial analyses of actors in the American state. Cheney is to be applauded for her actions and this book has me eager to return and look at some of her other work.
Kudos, Madam Cheney, for an insightful book.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 19, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this look into the lives of the first four presidents from Virginia. There were Erie parallels to politics in 2020. Appreciated how it was an intimate look at the friendships and struggles between the four men as well. A book history lovers will enjoy. The narration was also very well done.
July 7, 2021
Great little book. This book covers the "need to know" of some of the most influential personas of this Country's founders. Ironically, many were from Virginia. I know, especially recently, that the founders get a bad rap. Like in the book of Matthew (Matthew 7:1-2) “Do not judge other people. Then you will not be judged. 2 You will be judged in the same way you judge others. You will be measured in the same way you measure others" (NIRV) we see about judging others. Even the wokest of the woke will be judge later in life by their actions or inactions today. For all the bad things in these men, and there were some doozies, the good they did arguably outshine those bad ones.
Cheney dives into each of these men's political lives. Not a full biography of the same however there are plenty of books out there that will give you the upbringing of these remarkable men. In full disclosure, I feel a connection to Washington more especially because he was a Freemason and one of the reasons, I myself became one. As for the others, Maddison and TJ were my other favorites. Monroe, not so much. He always seem to me to be like an SJW today. Always upset and being passed over or not given all the attention. That is no way diminishes his contribution. But having my own presence with would be Washington, Maddison, Jefferson and then Monroe.
The contribution from Virginia to These United States from the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, The Constitution and the many POTUS' it gave us, was incredible. You will learn quite a bit from the book. One of the things is that history does in fact repeat itself. Much of what you saw in the last election, was something that was an issue to some degree during the founding of this country. This is why I still have hope for this country.
Cheney dives into each of these men's political lives. Not a full biography of the same however there are plenty of books out there that will give you the upbringing of these remarkable men. In full disclosure, I feel a connection to Washington more especially because he was a Freemason and one of the reasons, I myself became one. As for the others, Maddison and TJ were my other favorites. Monroe, not so much. He always seem to me to be like an SJW today. Always upset and being passed over or not given all the attention. That is no way diminishes his contribution. But having my own presence with would be Washington, Maddison, Jefferson and then Monroe.
The contribution from Virginia to These United States from the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, The Constitution and the many POTUS' it gave us, was incredible. You will learn quite a bit from the book. One of the things is that history does in fact repeat itself. Much of what you saw in the last election, was something that was an issue to some degree during the founding of this country. This is why I still have hope for this country.
October 5, 2020
A good non-fiction book can read like a novel - it keeps the reader engaged and waiting to see what comes next. Dr. Cheney’s book takes 4 Virginia presidents and brings them to life. And the parallels to today’s political situation are stunning. A great many people think these are the most politically perilous times and this book clearly illustrates that everything old is new again. Great subject and excellent writing - I highly recommend it!
December 9, 2020
Dr. Cheney is the first to point out that her doctorate is in English and not history. So, that being the case, "The Virginia Dynasty" is not deeply-researched history for academics, but a well-crafted historical tale for the layman.
The book is essentially a history of the United States' first half century, told through the lens of the Virginians who made up four out of the five of our first presidents. It's quite the challenge to compress 50 years of history into about 350 pages, so major events are not always described in great depth, nor do you necessarily get great insight into the lives and minds of the book's protagonists.
But Dr. Cheney is a wonderful storyteller, and reels you in from the very first sentences in the prologue, in which she describes sticking a compass into a designated spot on a map of Virginia, drawing a circle, and recognizing that "from this small expanse of land... came four of the nation's first five presidents."
From there, what is basically a quadruple biography unfurls. Events must be described to set the scene and propel the story forward, but the book is at its best when it focuses on the various relationships among the four men as they crossed paths and sometimes crossed swords - from Gen. George Washington and Lt. James Monroe's parallel experiences in the Revolutionary War, to James Madison and Thomas Jefferson's close political partnership, to the seemingly perpetually-petulant James Monroe's hot-and-cold relationship with everyone, and Washington's eventual estrangement from them all.
I wouldn't necessarily say there's anything new here for anyone already familiar with the individuals' life stories. Those who aren't familiar, will learn something new; those who are, may still enjoy the journey.
That said, the two most problematic parts of the book, in my estimation, occur in the prologue and the epilogue. In the prologue, after setting the scene with the compass-on-a-map-of-Virginia story, she doesn't go on to lay out a thorough argument as to why our country produced a "Virginia Dynasty" and not, say, a "New Hampshire Dynasty" or "North Carolina Dynasty." Was it a coincidence that four of our first five presidents happened to be from Virginia? Were there men just as worthy in other parts of the country that just didn't benefit from the symbiotic relationships these four individuals had? She does point out that Virginia was the largest colony, while also "on the periphery of civilization," which together gave its citizens both the ability to question authority, and the prominence to become leaders of the eventual effort to assert their own authority. But this thesis is never really expanded upon after its introduction; the book just settles into its story without revisiting the question of "why Virginia?"
The second criticism has to do with the epilogue, which is the only part of the book that really deals with slavery in any meaningful way, and even then, it's not too thorough. Jefferson gets the most scrutiny on the topic of slavery these days, and she does touch on the topic as it relates to him earlier in the book. But the other men were slaveowners too, and especially in the current climate, any story of Washington, Madison and Monroe's lives ought to dig a little deeper into the contrast between the Founding Fathers who fought for freedom, but owned slaves nonetheless. The epilogue explores how each came to terms - or didn't - with slavery in their final years, but not in great depth, and doing so in the epilogue feels a bit too little, too late.
In all, though, this is a well-written if not deeply analytical tale. It's not as thorough and thought-provoking as a full biography of any one of these men would be, but it is an enjoyable work of popular history. I say this having read Dr. Cheney's earlier biography of James Madison, which I also found to be not as thorough and analytical as it could have been; I think a book like this one, which focuses on more characters and a broader theme, is simply more suited to her style than a biography of a single individual.
But for those who might not pick up a full biography of any of these four Founders, "The Virginia Dynasty" is an engaging way to tell the story of the early days of our country - not with a dizzying array of names and dates, but through a tight focus on the lives, personalities and relationships of four individuals who together had a great influence in creating the country we know today.
The book is essentially a history of the United States' first half century, told through the lens of the Virginians who made up four out of the five of our first presidents. It's quite the challenge to compress 50 years of history into about 350 pages, so major events are not always described in great depth, nor do you necessarily get great insight into the lives and minds of the book's protagonists.
But Dr. Cheney is a wonderful storyteller, and reels you in from the very first sentences in the prologue, in which she describes sticking a compass into a designated spot on a map of Virginia, drawing a circle, and recognizing that "from this small expanse of land... came four of the nation's first five presidents."
From there, what is basically a quadruple biography unfurls. Events must be described to set the scene and propel the story forward, but the book is at its best when it focuses on the various relationships among the four men as they crossed paths and sometimes crossed swords - from Gen. George Washington and Lt. James Monroe's parallel experiences in the Revolutionary War, to James Madison and Thomas Jefferson's close political partnership, to the seemingly perpetually-petulant James Monroe's hot-and-cold relationship with everyone, and Washington's eventual estrangement from them all.
I wouldn't necessarily say there's anything new here for anyone already familiar with the individuals' life stories. Those who aren't familiar, will learn something new; those who are, may still enjoy the journey.
That said, the two most problematic parts of the book, in my estimation, occur in the prologue and the epilogue. In the prologue, after setting the scene with the compass-on-a-map-of-Virginia story, she doesn't go on to lay out a thorough argument as to why our country produced a "Virginia Dynasty" and not, say, a "New Hampshire Dynasty" or "North Carolina Dynasty." Was it a coincidence that four of our first five presidents happened to be from Virginia? Were there men just as worthy in other parts of the country that just didn't benefit from the symbiotic relationships these four individuals had? She does point out that Virginia was the largest colony, while also "on the periphery of civilization," which together gave its citizens both the ability to question authority, and the prominence to become leaders of the eventual effort to assert their own authority. But this thesis is never really expanded upon after its introduction; the book just settles into its story without revisiting the question of "why Virginia?"
The second criticism has to do with the epilogue, which is the only part of the book that really deals with slavery in any meaningful way, and even then, it's not too thorough. Jefferson gets the most scrutiny on the topic of slavery these days, and she does touch on the topic as it relates to him earlier in the book. But the other men were slaveowners too, and especially in the current climate, any story of Washington, Madison and Monroe's lives ought to dig a little deeper into the contrast between the Founding Fathers who fought for freedom, but owned slaves nonetheless. The epilogue explores how each came to terms - or didn't - with slavery in their final years, but not in great depth, and doing so in the epilogue feels a bit too little, too late.
In all, though, this is a well-written if not deeply analytical tale. It's not as thorough and thought-provoking as a full biography of any one of these men would be, but it is an enjoyable work of popular history. I say this having read Dr. Cheney's earlier biography of James Madison, which I also found to be not as thorough and analytical as it could have been; I think a book like this one, which focuses on more characters and a broader theme, is simply more suited to her style than a biography of a single individual.
But for those who might not pick up a full biography of any of these four Founders, "The Virginia Dynasty" is an engaging way to tell the story of the early days of our country - not with a dizzying array of names and dates, but through a tight focus on the lives, personalities and relationships of four individuals who together had a great influence in creating the country we know today.
March 22, 2021
I enjoyed the story of these four men told by Lynne Chenney, and narrator, Nan Mcnamara. Interesting to learn about and to be reminded of our country's early history!
October 23, 2020
Did not know what to expect given the politics of the author’s husband and daughter. But fears of some D’Souza alternate universe were set aside early on.
It’s a relatively basic story, more highlight than detail, but still an excellent overview of the role of Virginia in the United States’ early years
It’s a relatively basic story, more highlight than detail, but still an excellent overview of the role of Virginia in the United States’ early years
November 16, 2020
This was a difficult read for me. Although it was full of historically significant information, I found it difficult to follow and I got lost in all the details.
June 15, 2021
3.5 Stars
This was a good overview of the four presidents from the State of Virginia. Before reading this book, I had not realized that four out of the five first presidents had been from ONE state.
I have yet to read the life of James Monroe. The least among his peers.
I understand the context that the book was written, but it didn't carry through to the end (for me). It seemed to be lacking as the book ended. Nice try, just not a great book...worthy of these men's lives.
I am looking forward to reading President James Monroes biography, though.
This was a good overview of the four presidents from the State of Virginia. Before reading this book, I had not realized that four out of the five first presidents had been from ONE state.
I have yet to read the life of James Monroe. The least among his peers.
I understand the context that the book was written, but it didn't carry through to the end (for me). It seemed to be lacking as the book ended. Nice try, just not a great book...worthy of these men's lives.
I am looking forward to reading President James Monroes biography, though.
October 8, 2023
An interesting and historical look at the birth of our country and the involvement of four Virginians who were four of the first five presidents. The author touches on the many differences and back door politics of the two main parties at the time (Federalists and Republicans), and it is amusing to see the correlation with the political parties of today. It is dis-heartening to see that the fears of our founding fathers (overreaching and expanding federal government) is being realized in the present day.
March 7, 2021
I have read many historical books on the early presidents. This is by far one of the best!
January 15, 2022
SO MUCH DRAMA. A great telling of these four men’s political contributions, their less favorable moments, and their family lives.
July 26, 2024
A good book that covers a lot of ground. Stories you have heard before, with some slight twist and more detail. However, you have heard them all before. Virginia is certainly a special state, and the first 30 years of our republic make this very clear, the book explains it well.
March 31, 2021
Nothing about this book is bad, but the book doesn't really justify its existence whatsoever. Cheney is actually a fairly good writer, but all of this material has been poured over by much more thorough and/or engaging individuals, and it doesn't really leave any mark on why it should have been written. The fact that four of our first five Presidents all came from Virginia is interesting, and you can do something with it, but Cheney doesn't.
This is my paraphrased version of this book, summed up in one sentence:
"So then there was good ol' George Washington, who was from VIRGINIA, and he also knew VIRGINIAN Thomas Jefferson-By the way, fellow guy from VIRGINIA, James Madison was friends with Jefferson, and all the way from VIRGINIA, James Monroe was hanging out, too."
This is my paraphrased version of this book, summed up in one sentence:
"So then there was good ol' George Washington, who was from VIRGINIA, and he also knew VIRGINIAN Thomas Jefferson-By the way, fellow guy from VIRGINIA, James Madison was friends with Jefferson, and all the way from VIRGINIA, James Monroe was hanging out, too."
October 4, 2025
Surprised this book hasn’t collected more reviews, as I found it quite good. Actually the opening chapters seemed a bit hard to follow for me, as sometimes the timelines seemed to jump around a bit and the narrative arc was hard to pin down. But as we progress into the post-Revolutionary period, I really found interesting new historical perspectives.
Washington. Jefferson. Madison. Monroe. Skipping over Adams as the anomalous non-Virginian to hold the US Presidency over the first thirty-odd years of the constitutional republic. Not only were these four men all Virginians, they all knew each other as friends, sometime rivals, and, eventually, sometime political enemies.
Cheny’s unique approach is to relate the historical events with an emphasis on what they entailed in the evolution of these men’s outlook and relationships.
If nothing else, read this book to get a full appreciation for the context and meaning of Marshall’s famous Marbury vs Madison ruling. I had read about this numerous times and still barely grasped the context for what was happening. With Cheny’s account, I finally get it.
Washingon’s farewell address is well known, and, like the book of Revelations to some Christians, is freighted with import, rife with warnings that may or may not be relevant to our present circumstances. His warning against political parties and factionalism is particularly ominous in view of all that came later (and still may come). The thing is, though, that in making those statements, Washington seems to have lacked the self-awareness to recognize that Federalists were themselves a faction: a self-evident fact in retrospect.
It's thus not without some good reason that the democratic-republican faction suspected Washington and the Federalists of being closet monarchists. Washington thought that for any of the people to criticize government policy, let alone, to organize against government policy, was tantamount to treason. We know best: shut up and submit to your government.
Adams, a Federalist, was quite of the same mind, and the Alien and Sedition Acts exemplify the authoritarianism inherent in their worldview (to oversimplify). He really believed that the republicans (such as Jefferson) were dangerous to the point of ruination of the country. In the closing days of his presidency he passed the Judiciary act of 1801, which created new courts, new judges, and gave the President control over appointments. One of the numerous appointees was Marbury, who could not assume his role as justice of the peace until receiving his commission from incoming SecState Madison.
That’s just one episode which I found enlightening. Another big theme is the international scene, principally the diplomatic relations between the US and Britain, and France, and the long accretion of events that led to the war of 1812. It’s a striking realization that, in an important way, this war was about securing true American independence, by forcing recognition of her maritime sovereignty. You just can’t have the British boarding your ships all the time and arresting your people and taking your stuff.
Through a lot of his life, Madison was prone to writing whiny, self-righteous letters about how he was wronged by Washington, Madison, and others. He didn’t send them, but he also didn’t destroy them. How historically interesting it is to see them laid out, as Cheny does with several of them.
I would recommend for anyone interested in Revolutionary history.
Washington. Jefferson. Madison. Monroe. Skipping over Adams as the anomalous non-Virginian to hold the US Presidency over the first thirty-odd years of the constitutional republic. Not only were these four men all Virginians, they all knew each other as friends, sometime rivals, and, eventually, sometime political enemies.
Cheny’s unique approach is to relate the historical events with an emphasis on what they entailed in the evolution of these men’s outlook and relationships.
If nothing else, read this book to get a full appreciation for the context and meaning of Marshall’s famous Marbury vs Madison ruling. I had read about this numerous times and still barely grasped the context for what was happening. With Cheny’s account, I finally get it.
Washingon’s farewell address is well known, and, like the book of Revelations to some Christians, is freighted with import, rife with warnings that may or may not be relevant to our present circumstances. His warning against political parties and factionalism is particularly ominous in view of all that came later (and still may come). The thing is, though, that in making those statements, Washington seems to have lacked the self-awareness to recognize that Federalists were themselves a faction: a self-evident fact in retrospect.
It's thus not without some good reason that the democratic-republican faction suspected Washington and the Federalists of being closet monarchists. Washington thought that for any of the people to criticize government policy, let alone, to organize against government policy, was tantamount to treason. We know best: shut up and submit to your government.
Adams, a Federalist, was quite of the same mind, and the Alien and Sedition Acts exemplify the authoritarianism inherent in their worldview (to oversimplify). He really believed that the republicans (such as Jefferson) were dangerous to the point of ruination of the country. In the closing days of his presidency he passed the Judiciary act of 1801, which created new courts, new judges, and gave the President control over appointments. One of the numerous appointees was Marbury, who could not assume his role as justice of the peace until receiving his commission from incoming SecState Madison.
That’s just one episode which I found enlightening. Another big theme is the international scene, principally the diplomatic relations between the US and Britain, and France, and the long accretion of events that led to the war of 1812. It’s a striking realization that, in an important way, this war was about securing true American independence, by forcing recognition of her maritime sovereignty. You just can’t have the British boarding your ships all the time and arresting your people and taking your stuff.
Through a lot of his life, Madison was prone to writing whiny, self-righteous letters about how he was wronged by Washington, Madison, and others. He didn’t send them, but he also didn’t destroy them. How historically interesting it is to see them laid out, as Cheny does with several of them.
I would recommend for anyone interested in Revolutionary history.
April 3, 2021
What, George Washington wasn’t perfect?! He wasn’t the master general, whose strategic tactical vision assured we would win the war? He and James Monroe had such fiery tempers that they typically wrote letters expressing their anger and frustration with people and events that then they never sent? Jefferson, John Adams, and Monroe all died on July 4th, Jefferson and Adams on the same day! And of course, they all always struggled financially. So interesting!
Cheney gives us a terrific sketch of these first four Virginian presidents. I didn’t realize how interwoven their lives were and what close friends they were. The lands and houses of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe all were in the same locale. I knew that John Quincy Adams had been minister to great Britain - his name is on the plaque in the lobby of the Grosvenor Square embassy - but I didn’t know that he had negotiated the peace agreement in the war of 1812. I didn’t know that he served as secretary of state for James Monroe. I also didn’t realize that Monroe had served as secretary of state and secretary of war for Madison.
Knowing a fair amount about the history makes this book a faster and easier read. I definitely recommend it for insight on the “human” side of these founders of what Washington called, “the last great experiment for promoting human happiness.”
Cheney gives us a terrific sketch of these first four Virginian presidents. I didn’t realize how interwoven their lives were and what close friends they were. The lands and houses of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe all were in the same locale. I knew that John Quincy Adams had been minister to great Britain - his name is on the plaque in the lobby of the Grosvenor Square embassy - but I didn’t know that he had negotiated the peace agreement in the war of 1812. I didn’t know that he served as secretary of state for James Monroe. I also didn’t realize that Monroe had served as secretary of state and secretary of war for Madison.
Knowing a fair amount about the history makes this book a faster and easier read. I definitely recommend it for insight on the “human” side of these founders of what Washington called, “the last great experiment for promoting human happiness.”
November 4, 2020
Lynne Cheney has written an interesting book about the early years of America, and the interaction of four Virginians who made up four of the first five presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. It is not a conventional historical narrative in that it covers the period from Bunker Hill to the election of John Quincy Adams in less than 400 pages. The author's focus on these four Virginians results in a selective approach to key events in early American history that omits the details of those where the story is well-known, or where the none of the four was involved. For example. she bypasses the battle of Yorktown, instead discussing the actions of Washington in the lead up to the battle. Her book highlights the fact that, despite the common origins of the four, their relations were not always amicable, due to the Federalist/Republican split in Washington's second term. Cheney has written a historical narrative that provides a unique perspective on the country's early years.
January 27, 2022
I was interested in reading The Virginia Dynasty, because I was curious how the US ended up with 4 of its first 5 presidents hailing from Virginia. That question was not answered. Instead, the book focused on the four men, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, their relationships with one another, and the legacies they left behind. Often they worked together, often they were in conflict. Sometimes they were open in their political dealings, frequently they employed more underhanded and convert methods of getting their way. The details of the politics during the country's founding and its early years were very interesting--the pull and tug of alliances, regionalism, foreign interference and alignments, and the true brilliance of the documents they created. I learned a lot about the Founding Fathers' (and Mothers') personalities and interests. The book reinforced some knowledge and opinions I held and altered or informed me in areas I knew nothing about. What an interesting cast of characters they were.
July 31, 2025
This book is a different take on historical biography. Rather than follow an individual from start to finish of their life this book focuses on the interpersonal relationships between four of our founding fathers who all came from Virginia. As such it is rich in personal details that are normally overlooked in traditional works.
Cheney has an easy to read, almost breezy style, that flows nicely. The book is well researched but as a result of her focus at times the contributions of other actors are glossed over. It is a companion to more single purpose biographies of these famous men.
The piece that I thought was missing, given her approach, is a discussion of the overriding political or philosophical viewpoint these four founders shared, how that evolved, and the lasting impact that had on our country. She comes close in some sections of the book but I think there is much more that could have been brought out.
Cheney has an easy to read, almost breezy style, that flows nicely. The book is well researched but as a result of her focus at times the contributions of other actors are glossed over. It is a companion to more single purpose biographies of these famous men.
The piece that I thought was missing, given her approach, is a discussion of the overriding political or philosophical viewpoint these four founders shared, how that evolved, and the lasting impact that had on our country. She comes close in some sections of the book but I think there is much more that could have been brought out.
June 30, 2025
Nonfiction>US History 1700s/1800s
I've read several books about The Revolution and The Civil War; I've read works specifically on Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers; I've seen Hamilton! (LOL)
This is a great look at how these men interacted with each other: early days of political parties, manipulating (or buying out) the press/media, letters to each other or each other's friends, and growing together and apart over time. This title takes an approach of making these men into human beings. So some might come to start the book feeling these men are legends or mythological ideas from our past, but Cheney is going to show you their humanity and remind you that ordinary men can be made great by their actions, their times, and their responses at a pivotal time.
Read this if you are interested in the history of this time and place or these men.
I've read several books about The Revolution and The Civil War; I've read works specifically on Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers; I've seen Hamilton! (LOL)
This is a great look at how these men interacted with each other: early days of political parties, manipulating (or buying out) the press/media, letters to each other or each other's friends, and growing together and apart over time. This title takes an approach of making these men into human beings. So some might come to start the book feeling these men are legends or mythological ideas from our past, but Cheney is going to show you their humanity and remind you that ordinary men can be made great by their actions, their times, and their responses at a pivotal time.
Read this if you are interested in the history of this time and place or these men.
Read
January 22, 2021Cheney's Virginia Dynasty details the lives and dramas that characterized Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, all of whom were born and raised within a sixty mile radius of each other and contributed mightily to establishing and expanding of our nation. If you are seeking to learn more about these dynamic, complicated men, her easy narrative combined with her extensive research is a terrific place to start. I particularly think her focus on their changing relationships over time and as it was affected by their positions and responsibilities is informative as well as entertaining. She includes an exhaustive list of citations for those who wish to read further. Full disclosure, I received a free ARC.
December 19, 2022
On the way home from Thanksgiving, we visited Montpellier in Virginia. The visit encouraged us to download an audio book on the topic and we chose Lynn Cheney's "The Virginia Dynasty". Fabulous book. The first four presidents were from Virginia and well known to each other. While Washington was clearly a Federalist, the other three, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, were Republicans. I enjoy reading history from this era and this book gave me new insights to the politics and the people at the time. As I read before, the politics of the early 1800s was fraught with polarization and negative ads. We don't seem to have much on them in terms of anxiety over our politics or schisms. Indeed, Cheney points out that it was a time of establishing precedents and that the future of the country was very much uncertain. In fact, the issue of slavery was thought to be a major problem that would destroy the union at some future point. The politicians recognized that they were just moving the problem forward, rather than dealing with it. The fear was that dealing with it would lead to secession. -- Another interesting point in the book was how she dealt with the quirky aspects of the different men. They had strengths and flaws that led them to do great things, sometimes act hypocritically, sometimes exercise poor judgement. But context is everything. They were no more prescient and no less flawed than our leaders of today.
It wasn't until the end of the book that I realized the author was former vice-president Dick Cheney's wife. (I know... where have I been?... how could I not realize that?....). Picking the book was a spontaneous choice after visiting Montpellier. It was fortuitous. If I had known who she was, I wouldn't have chosen the book because I would haveexpected it to be a politically motivated attack book. --- IMO, it wasn't. The book seemed well researched with lots of primary materials cited at the end of the book. It treated the historical figures sympathetically but without glossing over their foibles. I highly recommend it.
It wasn't until the end of the book that I realized the author was former vice-president Dick Cheney's wife. (I know... where have I been?... how could I not realize that?....). Picking the book was a spontaneous choice after visiting Montpellier. It was fortuitous. If I had known who she was, I wouldn't have chosen the book because I would haveexpected it to be a politically motivated attack book. --- IMO, it wasn't. The book seemed well researched with lots of primary materials cited at the end of the book. It treated the historical figures sympathetically but without glossing over their foibles. I highly recommend it.
February 22, 2021
This was an excellent examination of the four dominant figures of the early Republic. While the stories of these men were somewhat familiar to me, the relationships and interplay amongst the four were fascinating to me. John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams played significant roles in this drama, as did Andrew Jackson.
Lynne Cheney is a talented writer and her prose is insightful and easy to read. I feel her admiration of these great men comes through in her carefully researched and documented book.
I recommend this to those wanting a fresh perspective on the influence of the “Virginia Dynasty” early in the history of the United States of America.
Lynne Cheney is a talented writer and her prose is insightful and easy to read. I feel her admiration of these great men comes through in her carefully researched and documented book.
I recommend this to those wanting a fresh perspective on the influence of the “Virginia Dynasty” early in the history of the United States of America.
May 19, 2021
Lynne Cheney has taken the history of the Virginia founders and made it readable. There is still a lot to learn about the way these men crafted our democracy and it is always interesting to read about their strengths vs. their weaknesses and the way they interacted with each other. Early presidential campaigns were run differently but with lots of mud slinging just like today. Each of the Virginians had priorities that were different and they also had huge differences with some of the other major players like Hamilton and Adams. I learned a new perspective and enjoyed every word. Bravo Lynne Cheney.
November 4, 2021
This is an enjoyable review of the relationship of Virginians George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. It is well-researched, although Ms. Cheney seems to have been in a hurry to finish towards the end. The War of 1812 was given short shrift; the author describes the burning of Washington by the British, but fails to mention the terrific storm that doused the fire, a curiosity that deserves mention in every retelling of the story. I learned new things, which is always a pleasure when reading history. One can only hope that soon, Ms. Cheney will have ample time to pursue other topics in American history.
June 28, 2022
Well written narrative on the lives of 4 men who had a profound influence on the development of our nation. Also always interesting to read about political turmoil of the past and the profound affect it had our nation -“a look in the rear view mirror on how we got here”-.
The effect of their own personal turmoils on their life, relationship with each other as well as others, and the political activities of the day, and how they all intertwined was also insightful. We all have are own issues and shortcomings and none of us are infallible.
I would recommend to anyone interested in the foundation years of our nation.
The effect of their own personal turmoils on their life, relationship with each other as well as others, and the political activities of the day, and how they all intertwined was also insightful. We all have are own issues and shortcomings and none of us are infallible.
I would recommend to anyone interested in the foundation years of our nation.
October 8, 2022
This is a great read on the relationship of Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. Filled with all kinds of interesting facts such as that Adams and Jefferson were President and vice President respectively but were from different parties. The only time that has happened in American history. Or that three of these men died on July 4 and that Jefferson and Adams died on the same day. It makes you appreciate the struggle and sacrifice they made that three of them were in financial distress at the end of their lives. I would highly recommend this book about 4 out of the first 5 persons to be President of the U.S.A.
September 8, 2023
This book was enjoyable to read because it showed the relationships between the four Virginia Presidents beyond what we read about them through individual biographies. She writes about the friendships, arguments, divisiveness, plots for and against each other and also how other prominent people fit into the time period. She didn't go into unnecessary detail about certain events that weren't relevant to the four Virginians - Hamilton had a duel with Burr and he died - that was all . The men also had differing feelings towards G.Washington that were not all about how great he was. Very worthwhile reading.
May 23, 2024
While it took me a long time to read this work, I found it to be a great review of the American History course I took over 50 years ago. As a Virginian, we are raised to be so proud of our Presidents. This work presents them as people who were not only great leaders for their time but also quarreled and quibbled among each other and had definite strengths and weaknesses. I ended the book more respectful than ever of Madison, surprised at some of the attitudes of Jefferson, amazed that anyone would dare criticize Washington, and impressed with Monroe, especially as a military person. I would recommend it to anyone who wished to know more or to renew knowledge of early American history.
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