Customer Reviews

Mount Vernon Love Story : A Novel of George and Martha Washington

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George Washington's father died when the future president was young. His mother was a harsh disciplinarian insuring George and his siblings behaved. George seemed to flee her whenever he could get away spending time at his half-brother's Mount Vernon home (yes - that historical home). George's first love is Sally Fairfax and his chosen profession surveyor, but war seemed to be his destiny. First he fought (unsuccessfully) during the French and Indian War and then the American Revolution.

This biography uses Washington's retirement to Mount Vernon with his beloved Patsy (Martha's nickname) as a focal point for looking back over the lives of the first president and his spouse. The book concentrates on his personal life not his public life. Thus, readers see another side to Washington. Though opinions are interspersed throughout, mystery suspense thriller writer Mary Higgins Clark provides a strong insightful look at Washington and literally the first "First Lady" that historical readers will enjoy.

Harriet Klausner

I've always enjoyed Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries and this historical love story has proven to me that Ms. Clark is more than a great mistress of suspense - she is quite capable of entertaining in other genres as well!

This charming historical novel was actually the author's first novel, originally published in 1968 under the title "Aspire to the Heavens". It was re-released in 2002 and I can't think of a more appropriate time to do so!

With the tragic attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001, it is wonderful to read this highly-readable, well-researched novel about George Washington - the man who helped to give us the freedoms we so enjoy today! As Washington passes the presidential torch onto John Adams and returns to his beloved Mount Vernon, both he and his wife Martha (aka Patsy)flashback to their younger years. We're so used to stodgy accounts of Washington's military victories and political accomplishments that it was a pleasure to read a well-crafted story about Washington as a man and a husband.

This is a short novel and a fast-read so it's a great beach or airplane book. I would love to see it made into a television movie, perhaps to be aired on George Washington's birthday!

Having recently visited Mount Vernon on vacation, I was very interested to read "Mount Vernon Love Story" by Mary Higgins Clark since I assumed it would lead into further insight of the relationship between George and Martha ("Patsy") Washington. Not only did it delve deeper into their relationship than was learned on the visit to their home, but it also provided a deeper insight into the history of the United States.

The book's chapters alternate between the beginning of George and Martha's relationship and the end of his presidency. It's a very clever way of storytelling, and each chapter leads into the next with grace, bouncing between time.

I must admit that this is the first book I've ever read by Mary Higgins Clark, so I am not familiar with her writing style. And I am sure that this book of history is quite different from her mystery books. It is her first book, however, and it shows.

The love story in the title is more the love of Mount Vernon -- the home, the grounds, the idea of it, etc. -- than the love story between George and Martha Washington. It's about the growth of Mount Vernon and the love its owners and visitors had for it. And why they couldn't stop being excited returning to it day after day.

Although I wasn't that drawn into the book and the romance between George and Martha, it was intriguing to learn some details about the Washingtons' lives. I especially enjoyed the chapter involving George introducing Martha to his domineering mother for the first time. Here, I felt drawn into the characters and loved the interaction between them. George tries to keep his temper in place over his mother's criticisms while Martha calms him down with her gentle touch. Unfortunately, this type of character development did not seem to continue through the rest of the book.

It was definitely an enjoyable read, but I guess I was hoping for something more.

I read this book under it's original title of "Aspire to the Heavens" and was pleasantly surprised. I picked it up expecting a suspense story by my favorite author and found instead a well written tale about the relationship between George and Martha Washington. The era is well researched and the Washington's relationship is human and believable.
My only complaint about the book is it seemed somewhat short to me. I found myself wanting more. I felt like certain events were glossed over and could have been woven into the plot more.
Still, it's an excellent read and a major departure from the "Queen of Suspense".

While the battle scenes and political stuff seemed to drag somewhat, the true wealth of this book lies in discovering the domestic personality of George Washington. The book makes the man seem all the more human, all the more flawed and all the more courageous. The segments/chapters were short enough to keep me interested but long enough to shed some light on each aspect of his life. The part that interested me the most were the sections on how George fell in love with his friend's wife Sally, but eventually came to see that this could never be and eventually fell in love with another lady, Martha Washington. I liked how it explained that Sally was charismatic, charming, exciting to be with yet utterly taken and Martha was a quieter, more domestic, a more rational choice.. yet he was able to love them both in different ways. It was like a page out of my own history and made me relate to him in a way I never have before. This was the first historical fiction I've read in a long time, but it was good enough to make me want to go to the library and check out some more.

I still don't know Washington any better. I wish she would've added a small ending explaining why the author chose to go into some subjects and neglect others entirely. Weird. This is supposed to be a love story, but we mostly read about George's passion for his neighbor; or his house. Where is this love story in the body of the text? They apparently like each other, George and Martha...
Some of the story looks like it is taken from their letters. But the author assures us it is all true. There is not much to the story---love or otherwise. Washington doesn't care for much---the Presidency or the way Martha spoils her children. He is stiff because his mom was a hag---another part played up. As for his Revolutionary campaigns or life in the White House, look elsewhere, baby!
I believe I saw somewhere that this was Clarks first book. That explains A LOT. Its a short story. Readable, not boring.
But I still feel like I know very little about George and Martha and their relationship together. But obviously it was written with love and admiration!
Would I recommend it? Sure, why not. Go for it. Don't expect much.

Mount Vernon Love Story, a biographical novel by suspense, mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark is actually her first novel published in 1969. It pre-dates all her encounters with murder, mayhem, crime investigations and of course Kay Scarpetta. The work was originally published as Aspire to the Heavens which was George Washington's mother's family motto.
The book begins as Washington is getting ready to leave the Presidency to attend the inauguration of John Adams. The novel takes place in the present 1797 and is a series of flashbacks following Washington as an army officer in colonial campaigns against the French and Indians in the Ohio valley up to the American Revolution.
Clark tells us of his affection for Sally Carey to Martha Patsy Curtis, the widow with two children he eventually marries. Martha was called Patsy by her father and of course George. (As Lady Bird Johnson was never called Claudia, the first first lady was never addressed as Martha.) George always called her "my dearest Patsy" and her referred to him as "my old man."
From a historian's point of view Mount Vernon Love Story is an interesting short book. It's not the type of book I would like to see again by this wonderful author.

I really liked this book. It was friendly, charming, and undemanding. It flowed gently and easily without too much undue excitement, but enough to keep from being bored. Its pace was like that of a good marriage: Simple, straightforward, honest, reassuring, with occasional surprises to keep things interesting.

I read a lot of really intellectual and fast paced, intricately dramatic stuff. This book was just sweet and light -- I read it in three evenings -- but made me want to be a better person, and made me proud of my country's heritage (if not its current political situation). I like our founding father even more now that I realize he was a real person with real emotions and struggles not unlike my own.

On the other hand, it is much more of a biography of George than a story of his simple yet real romance with Patsy (Martha). I did feel like I got to know her (and would have liked her) pretty well, though. Its original title, Aspire to the Heavens, is also a bit too grandiose, however. I might have called it simply George Washington at Home.

This was a wonderful story. It was touching, interesting and kept me wanting more. It was not only a story of George Washington's life but of his love for Martha and his home. I would recommend to anyone.

Thank-you Mary Higgins Clark for another fine read. I am not a history buff but was mesmerized with the information you shared in this book. It was quite enjoyable!!! A great book for those who want to know a bit more about the daily lives of those who shaped our country...but do not want to get buried in geneologies and factual tidbits.