The Life of George Washington: With Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honourable to Himself and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen... / by M.L. Weems, Formerly Rector of Mount Vermon Parish

by M.L. Weems

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: History, Biography, American History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, American

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1800

About the author

Mason Locke Weems, more commonly known as Parson Weems, was an American book agent and author best known for his biography of President George Washington, with its most-likely apocryphal tale of chopping down the cherry tree.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have ever encountered the legendary anecdote concerning the youthful George Washington - who "could not tell a lie," and thus confessed to chopping down the cherry tree - and wondered where it came from, then look no further. Parson Weems' "biography" of George Washington, first distributed as a pamphlet in 1800, seems to the modern eye to be more in the way of historical fiction than legitimate history. Full of apocryphal stories that historians have long discounted, Weems' work was wildly popular in the nineteenth century, when adulation of the "Father of Our Nation" was rampant.

But in spite of its historical "fabrications", The Life of Washington still has value as an example of the nineteenth-century mythologizing of American history, and should be of interest to scholars of that period. I myself might never have stumbled across this book if it had not been assigned reading for a college course I took on the intellectual history of nineteenth-century America. (Thank you, Professor Ponce de Leon!) I’m glad that I did, as founding-father “worship” seems once again to be in vogue, making this nineteenth-century hagiography rather interesting.

[Ursula Stickelmaier · Rating 1 out of 5]

George Washington fanfic disguised as a biography even though literally none of it is true

[Nora Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cherry Tree Story

[Morgan Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s camp!!

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my I probably have a very valuable book. My 27th edition book has a copyright of 1837, and it's literally falling apart. It says the author was Mason L Weems, formerly Rector of Mount Vernon Parish. The publisher was Joseph Allen, ND and the book was sold by Grigg and Elliot of No.9 North Fourth Street, but it doesn't say what city and state.

The book was in a group of old documents of our parents' estate, and I just decided to pick it up and read it. The language is very flowery. He takes about 50 words to say something that should be 10 words.

The most interesting part for me was reading about George's childhood. Mr. Weems, the author, uses primary sources--quotes of people that actually knew him. I was really shocked to read about the incident of chopping down the cherry tree. I had always heard that was just a legend, but someone here declares it really happened. (hmmm...)

George was the oldest of five children from his dad's second marriage. Here's a quote about them. "By his second wife he had five children--George, Samuel, John, Charles and Elizabeth. Those over delicate folk, who are ready to faint at thought of a second marriage, might do well to remember that the greatest man that ever lived was the son of their second marriage." (p.9)

George's dad was a 40 year old widower with two sons from his first marriage. He married a 16 year old, Miss Mary Ball, a young lady of fortune who was descended from one of the best families in Virginia. She was universally toasted as the belle of North Neck and was in full bloom when his dad married him:)

[Brooke]

Mentioned by Sterling W Sill in a talk

[Peter Pactor · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book was written educated people received a classical education and were therefore familiar with the works of Homer and Virgil. In reading this book I felt that Weems was trying to create his own American epic in the classical vein. So the modern reader might struggle with the elevation of Washington into a classical divine being. As Virgil did in the Aeneid with Aeneas, Weems wanted to pass on the laudable character traits of his hero by telling Washington's story.
There are times in both books, when I find the reading tedious, even thought I might enjoy it and find it interesting.

This book was actually one of Lincoln's favorites (which is why I read it), and some historians believe it had a profound influence on Lincoln's character. I could see where such a conclusion could be the reality.

Although Weems doesn't mention it, Washington was possessed by the importance of character traits—of doing the right thing. He made a list of 101 (I think) behaviors that it was important for him to develop. Interestingly, he did it when he was a boy. Whether he created the list or whether he copied another one is not yet known.

In spite of the challenges for a modern reader, the book is worth reading for several reasons; foremost how Americans loved and respected George Washington. It is no wonder that Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee eulogized Washington with those now famous words: First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen. Weems' book certainly captures that esteem.

[Anup Sinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is to be read for a cultural experience, more than anything. It is the book that helped to build the legend of George Washington, read by probably every little boy in the early 1800’s. Of course, it is hardly a concise or fair-handed biography, it is much more about deification.

This has got to be the first book I’ve ever read that begins with a 60-page rebuttal of the author himself! Editor Marcus Cunliffe harshly criticizes Mason Weems, pointing out that even intellectuals of his time dismissed his work as juvenile and fabricated to sell copy.

Cunliffe does credit that at least Mason Weems lived during the time of General Washington and spoke with people who knew him first-hand. That is something modern biographers, of course, are unable to do. Despite all the aggrandizement, it does have a genuinity of its era.

And I feel a little more American reading a book that was read by much of mainstream America 200 years ago just as I do when I watch famous old movies, whether or not I actually enjoy their content. It’s a valuable cultural experience for me.

I wish Weems would have gone more into supporting characters like Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette, and Alexander Hamilton, among so many other fascinating cohorts of Washington. He’s good with anecdotes, just not with historical accuracy. He doesn’t even mention the word “Yorktown” even though he tells little stories from the battle that is ultimately Washington’s pinnacle as a general. This is no Ron Chernow effort, but I imagine there were no Ron Chernows in 1809!

[Sarah Clapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit of an anomaly to review, as I read it for my classics course on The American Presidency and it's non-fiction (a heightened form, sure) and not something I'd just pick up at the library. But I enjoyed it! Like, I don't know what to say. There's a bee metaphor, so I guess that's good. The tone was quite lofty, which just made it a hoot (just open it up, put on a passionately affected British accent and listen to how over the top it sounds). Idk, fun to see the classical allusions (and the language definitely seemed like it was a translation of an epic, which is my jam).
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what we know as history

Written in the style of the time, this is NOT what we are used to reading as a history book. It's more of a story, full of hyperbole and figurative language to the point that it's unreadable. I had to read this for a class, or I would not have finished it.

[Bryson Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Washington was such an amazing man. A true American story of a self made man that at that time could really only happen in America. Washington was a man that feared God and always lead with God in the front of his mind.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

January book club pick

[Armatstorage]

I loved this book, even tho it's written in a very dramatic style. Mason adored Washington it is evident and included some excellent facts, and also Washington's speech after his service as the first President of the US.

Has 374 pages.