Customer Reviews

The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thomas Fleming's book is divided into 6 books and an appendix; each book is divided into chapters and in depth sections that show both sides of many historical views. For example the appendix and part of the chapter on Jefferson deals with much of the Jefferson - Sally Hemings debate, showing the various interpretations of the DNA testing results and interviews. Both sides of all historical questions with all the men are well covered. Background and historical facts, incidents are given to explain why these men felt, and acted the way they did. There are 22 pages of notes and a detailed index.
The other founding fathers covered are George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
Perhaps the most fascinating inclusions are letters that were sent both by and to these men. They range from mothers, sisters, wives to lovers. The information is easy to interpret and read and understand. Of great interest is the style of writing, their way of thinking and the effect these women had on these men's lives. There is sorrow and happiness and of course some surprising romantic qualities of these men, especially the magnificent love letters of George Washington that most are not aware of.
I have been an interested student of history all of my life; but no where have I read as good an account of Dolly Madison and the British march into Washington. Then there is the description of how Dolly and Eliza Hamilton literally helped to move the funding for the building of the monument that stands to Washington today in DC.
The role the ladies had in the founding father's lives and played in charming political opponents is amazing. Much has already been written of the correspondence between John Adams and Abigail Adams, but there is a great deal of elaboration that is interesting here.
This is a personal understanding of these founding fathers that many have never considered. Anyone who loves history would find this book fascinating.

Hard as I try, I find it impossible to award this book anything but five stars. The title can be misleading. It is NOT a set of tales about mistresses, girlfriends or extramarital "affairs". It is, instead, a brilliant study of six founding fathers - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton and Madison - and the influence of the women on their lives whether they be mothers, wives, friends, daughters or sisters.

Remarkably, four of the six had strong marriages where wives were, in 18th century parlance, their "friend", the highest compliment one could give a spouse. (Think of the letters of Abagail and John - "Dear Friend") Hamilton and Franklin were the exception but even Hamilton and his wife reconciled and she remained faithful to his reputation after death. Most importantly, the author tackles and dispels many urban legends that seem almost unbiquitous today. ("Everyone knows that....") Some tales are demonstrably wrong (people, location, dates). Others make no sense in light of personal letters and actions while others appeared first in the heat of political campaigns or long after they supposedly occurred.

The men and women revealed in these vignettes ("books") are all too human and yet are paradoxically "great". The Founding Fathers seemed intoxicated by women and strangely, all were "romantics", uncommon for the times. Jefferson occupies a central role as we continue reassessing his life and contributions. Like many intellectuals, his private life was at odds with his noble public declarations. He owned slaves, displayed cowardice, incredible mismanagement, impatience, disloyalty and hypocricy that becomes more apparent the more one learns of him (David McCullough's view). Yet there is the Declaration of Independence and a nobility in his devotion to his beloved wife and unfortunate deathbed promise not to remarry.

The old adage "Trouble brings a couple closer" was never truer than in the case of Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison where many times, their spouse seemed like their sole supporter. The evolving role of women in the national debate was ably illustrated by the indomitable Dolly Madison who transformed the role of spouse into that of First Lady. These men became who they were and accomplished what they did because (and in many cases) despite the women in their lives. My Grade - A+

I just finished "The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers," and I can highly recommend it to anyone interested in the "other side" of the lives of these men. Having been a student of American history for years, I was astounded to find out what I did not know about their private lives. Mr. Fleming, has once again created a highly readable, yet erudite contribution to the genre of Revolutionary-era American history. This is a fine gift for any history aficionado, including yourself. I just we could have published it!

With wonderful storytelling skill and research beyond compare, Tom Fleming takes his readers behind the closed doors and into the very heart of the families of the founding fathers. For readers who've enjoyed the countless tales of political and martial intrique during America's Revolutionary years, Fleming offers that missing dimension in the lives of the founders through their wives, families and intimate relationships. He deftly wields his pen to breathe life into those exceptional people who stepped off this mortal coil so long ago. The resulting portraits are at once fresh and more human; making their accomplishments seem that much more extraordinary. As one of America's finest writers and greatest historians, Tom Fleming proved once again that he has a key to unlock that 'Undiscovered Country' of America's past.

As a secondary school history I am constantly looking for parts of the lives of American historical figures to capture the interest of my students. This well written and researched volume by Thomas Fleming provides just what I need for our founding fathers. I want to portray our founders as real people who make bad choices and are faced with problems just as we are. It is extremely readable for a general audience and provides a wealth of information that would have to be mined out of the seminal biographies of these men. Dolley Madison must have been some kind of looker.
The Jefferson/Hemings relationship is deftly handled in an appendix. This controversy seems far form over despite the American public getting only the message of Jefferson's paternity for many of Sally Hemings children. This is further complicated by the success of Annette Gordon Reed's recent book "The Hemingses of Monticello" which won not only the National Book Award but the Pulitzer Prize as well. It is on my to be read list.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the lives of the founders without reading multiple biographies. I finished it in record time.

From other books like Ellis' Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, Jefferson's Vendetta: The Pursuit of Aaron Burr and the Judiciary and others, the secret love lives of the Founding Father's has been touched upon, now finally Fleming has gone the extra mile to compile them all into a wonderful book. I picked up this book because of the interest I already have with the Founding Father's lives, but could not put this one down. Fleming's story telling interwoven with exellent primary and secondary source materials highlights his indepth research to paint a full picture. A great read for anyone.

The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers is fascinating, fun and skillfully written. Mr. Fleming does not gloss over the very human frailties and faults of the people involved, yet he is non-judgemental and fair, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. His analysis of, for instance, John Adams' relentless quest for fame gave me a new insight into this brilliant man's driven personality. This was not an easy book to put down. Its fresh perspective and very fluid writing style made me look forward to every time I could sit down and savor the information offered up. I'm keeping this one on the shelf, as I know I'll return to it again in time. Simply wonderful.

This book is taking a closer look at the personal lives of the six most famous founding fathers, in particular their relationships to their wives and other important women in their lives. I'm not sure why the order of the sections is as it is (I think it should have started with Franklin as the oldest rather than Washington).

1. George Washington: it addresses the rumors of an affair with his friend's wife Sally Fairfax but concludes that GW was very happy with Martha. It was interesting to see how they welcomed all of their assorted relatives to their home and how she worked to maintain a pleasant home for him.

2. Benjamin Franklin: was married by common-law to Deborah (who was actually officially married to another man who had abandoned her) but during his time in London seemed to acquire another woman who acted as wife. I knew Franklin wasn't exactly big on propriety but I didn't realize the full extent of it. I also tend to think of him as an old, gout-ridden man so it was eye-opening to read about his younger self.

3. John Adams: I've always been fond of the Adamses. It was heartwarming to read about her support of him especially considering the tumultous relationships of the couples before and after them in this book. She was so essential to him and they had an amazing relationship sustained over long stretches of separation.

4. Alexander Hamilton: He was a real creep to his wife Elizabeth, what with his affair and subsequent humiliation for her. But after his death she devoted herself to preserving his memory and brilliance.

5. Thomas Jefferson: I was really creeped out by his daughter Martha's devotion to him. She was one of his few remaining relatives but she seemed to want to do everything for him even to the point of alienating her husband and possibly ignoring her children. And I felt too much time was spent on Sally Hemings. At some point, someone with Jefferson DNA raped her and caused her to have children. I don't really care if it was TJ or one of his nephews (as the author claims). There was too much time spent on this speculation for my taste. I also don't really like TJ, with his hypocrisy over liberty/slavery; championing states rights; denigrating the part women should play in politics; depletion of the army/navy under his low taxes so that America was left largely undefended; his insistence on small farmers in an agrarian society (not of course that he was a small farmer) in the face of Hamilton's support for a great industrial power (who won that battle?)

6. James Madison: He had an awesome wife (Dolley!) who was probably the most helpful of all the women mentioned here to helping Madison with his political career. And then after his death, she continued to champion his memory and legacy. She also joined forces with Hamilton's widow to help create the Washington Monument. My favorite part of this though was Madison's statement even as he dies that the Union was made indissoluble; as the writer of the Constitution, it is clear that there is NO basis for secession or the breaking up of the Union. (I'm studying the Civil War this semester so these thoughts are on my mind.)

Overall: 4.5/5 Definitely recommended to those who'd like to see a different side to the Founding Fathers.

I highly recommend this book. I am an American History buff...and I always thought that there was more to our Founding Fathers than their faces on our money...or their portraits and sculptures in our museums and art galleries.

This book shows us the flesh-and-blood characters...their achievements...their flaws...their love lives...and most of all...their up-and-down life struggles against the back-drop of a burgeoning United States.

I finished reading this book with more of a respect-and-awe for these great men...and the great ladies that stood beside them.

Recommended by Glen Beck and since I am a history buff, this is a super read.