His Excellency George Washington Book Report

In His Excellency George Washington, Joseph J Ellis examines the life (most particularly that of the military and political accomplishments) and personal character of Commander in Chief and Founding Father George Washington. Ellis is a renowned historian focusing on the lives of the Founding Fathers and the early history of the United States of America. Ellis’ other works include biographies on other presidents of the time period (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson) as well as other accounts of the Revolutionary War and the early period of independent America. Ellis focuses most directly on the character of George Washington through three main periods of his life –namely, his younger years and initial military service, his time as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, and his political legacy as the first president of the newly formed United States of America. Washington himself proves to be larger than legend, both in physical stature and in reputation. This book follows him from his early days as a soldier, to the choices and beliefs that would later lead him to become the
It is not so much a historical account as it is a character study, but this is where it contributes the most. The majority of pieces on Washington’s life present an almost divine being, an epic leader unmatched by his contemporaries, predecessors, and successors. What he accomplished was truly marvelous, and history itself likes to elevate him to a higher plane, however, this book aimed to show the rarely seen side of Washington, the side that could make mistakes, the side that was not entirely selfless or benevolent, but the side that did the impossible