Rose Rosetree’s Reviews > Washington: A Life > Status Update

Right from the first presidency, Washington had to face so much obstruction, such jealousy, and a ton of complaints.

Plus ca change in government, plus la meme chose!

How did Martha Washington respond to being the wife of the first president?

I'll put bluntly what biographer Chernow worked very hard to sanitize:

She never stopped resenting her life. Hated politics. Stayed at home a lot. And clamped a cheerful expression onto her face.

Okay, she did what she had to do to survive. But, really?

While planning for the Inauguration was underway, back in England, King George had a spell of insanity.

During which he imagined that HE was George Washington, being inaugurated as president.

(I figure this detail is not a "spoiler")

George W. assumed the Constitution would be amended in the future. Frequently.

I wish we had done!

It really was uphill going, negotiating with holdouts for America having a constitutional convention.

George Mason, whose name adorns a university here in Virginia, voted AGAINST this. Despite his alleged brilliance.

But Washington and our country won.

George Washington is, for good reason, agonizing about whether or not to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

One reason I enjoy reading books is about history is that we can be reminded that impossibilities can really happen. Life can turn out better than we fear.

Why the pause? I am still awaiting renewal from Libby. Lucky you, who've been able to finish this.

Once again, I must return this fabulous biography to Libby. I look forward to finishing this masterwork after it becomes available again.

Washington's standards of excellence continue to be British. So many examples illustrate this, in Ron Chernow's balanced narration.

For instance, at Mount Vernon the retired General has stocked his land with British foxes along with American ones, even though that meant he had to curtail the presence of hounds. I gather the British foxes had learned to fear foxes from all the hunting.

Tonight I went to a party held at Mount Vernon. Hadn't been there for 30 years!

To stand on the land at Mount Vernon means so much more to me now, thanks to Ron Chernow's brilliant-and-compassionate book.