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James Monroe: A Life
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About This Book
The extraordinary life of James Monroe: soldier, senator, diplomat, and the last Founding Father to hold the presidency, a man who helped transform thirteen colonies into a vibrant and mighty republic. Monroe lived a life defined by revolutions. From the battlefields of the War for Independence, to his ambassadorship to France in the days of the guillotine, to his own role in the creation of Congress's partisan divide, he was a man who embodied the restless spirit of the age. He was never one to back down from a fight, whether it be with Alexander Hamilton, with whom he nearly engaged in a duel (prevented, ironically, by Aaron Burr), or George Washington, his hero turned political opponent. When the British sacked the capital in 1814, it was Monroe, by now secretary of state, who rallied troops and volunteers to America's defense, reliving old glories. Yet even in temperament, he was capable of radical change, as displayed when he was elected the fifth president of the United States. The last of his generation to wield such power, this fiercest of partisans instead sought to bridge divisions and sow unity, calming turbulent political seas and inheriting Washington's mantle of placing country above party. Over his two terms, he transformed the United States, strengthening American power both at home and abroad. Critically acclaimed author Tim McGrath has delved into an astonishing array of primary sources, many rarely seen since Monroe's own time, to conjure up this remarkable portrait of an essential American statesman and president.
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Reviews
"McGrath, an independent scholar whose specialty is the naval history of the American Revolution, writes enough lively phrases—the young Lafayette had 'a nearly unbearable exuberance'—to make the reader wish he had written more."
"This, too, is an ambiguous legacy – and McGrath is cautiously aware of that fact."
"McGrath, whose wide-ranging research is evident from the extensive list of primary sources, considers Monroe's legacy as 'put[ting] his country on the world stage, for better and worse, for all time.' It's a sturdy, straightforward text that will appeal to fans of presidential biographies, if not general readers ..."
"McGrath makes a convincing case for Monroe's pivotal role in American history, but occasionally grinds the narrative to a halt with accounts of endless partisan debates, political bickering, and diplomatic maneuvers."
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