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Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation Paperback – February 5, 2002

by Joseph J. Ellis (Author)

766 customer reviews

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In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award—winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals–Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison–confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.

The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brothers–combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes–Hamilton and Burr’s deadly duel, Washington’s precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams’ administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin’s attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison’s attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams’ famous correspondence–Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation’s history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A splendid book–humane, learned, written with flair and radiant with a calm intelligence and wit.”–The New York Times Book Review

“Lively and illuminating…leaves the reader with a visceral sense of a formative era in American life.”–The New York Times

“Masterful…. Fascinating…. Ellis is an elegant stylist…. [He] captures the passion the founders brought to the revolutionary project…. [A] very fine book.”–Chicago Tribune

“Learned, exceedingly well-written, and perceptive.”–The Oregonian

“Lucid…. Ellis has such command of the subject matter that it feels fresh, particularly as he segues from psychological to political, even to physical analysis…. Ellis’s storytelling helps us more fully hear the Brothers’ voices.”–Business Week

“Splendid…. Revealing…. An extraordinary book. Its insightful conclusions rest on extensive research, and its author’s writing is vigorous and lucid.”–St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Vivid and unforgettable . . . [an] enduring achievement.” –The Boston Globe

“Founding Brothers is a wonderful book, one of the best . . . on the Founders ever written. . . . Ellis has established himself as the Founders’ historian for our time.” –Gordon S. Wood, The New York Review of Books

From the Inside Flap

The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brothers–combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes–Hamilton and Burr's deadly duel, Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams' administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin's attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison's attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams' famous correspondence–Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation's history.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Vintage (February 5, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780375705243
ISBN-13: 978-0375705243
ASIN: 0375705244
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 766 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #23 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > United States > American Revolution
- #37 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Revolution & Founding
- #53 in Books > Deals in Books

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Book Review Number Four: year 2018

January 25, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis
Hardcover edition

Six chapters are presented, none dependent on the others (you can read them out of sequence), the longest being about forty pages, with the layout being similar to that used in the great book Profiles In Courage.

The togetherness and unity of purpose, so necessary during the Revolution, begins to erode on the road to the Constitution, yielding to a more diverse spectrum of human passion. Fault lines, held in check by the necessities of war, become increasingly apparent in the aftermath of peace. Here, deeper personal reflections take the founders in opposing directions; loyalties are questioned; etiquette and protocol become strained, in some cases fracturing those buried fault lines beyond the repair of civil discourse and famously demonstrated in the duel between Hamilton and Burr.

The plans and maneuvering of the battlefield had now moved to the less bloody theatre of parchment, quills and tables. There are no cannons here, but it’s clear to see that John Adams, by his own doing, set himself up to be everyone’s favorite cannon fodder.

A very well worded book, with gracefully crafted sentences containing so much more that their initial brevity might suggest. For example, Chapter Four, The Farwell: “Washington was the core of gravity that prevented the American Revolution from flying off into random orbits, the stable center around which the revolutionary energies formed.”
Very good book. Recommended.

14 people found this helpful

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Donald

You Will Understand Them Much Better

June 11, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

When I started this book, I expected a historical accounting similar to other books covering this period. But, Ellis’s book went much further. Author Ellis enables a glimpse into the key figures and their issues during the country’s first-generation administrations. This contentious period gave rise to political parties. Because communications during this period depended on journals and mailings, ample written records exist. I can’t imagine the amount of research it took to locate and examine these, but the results are rewarding.

The book dealt with such “behind the scenes” subjects as the reasons for the Burr-Hamilton duel, the 1790 Quaker petition to end the African slave trade, and the formulation of Washington’s Farewell Address. But, the book was highlighted by the evolution of the Jefferson -Adams relationship: from friendship, to abhorrence; and after 12 years of silence, to reconciliation. Ellis guides us through this relationship to their later years. Here, they have put aside their individual differences to reflect, clarify the record, and focus on their places in history. The book ends on a surprising note.

This book was difficult to read. In explaining and analyzing deep and subtle topics, the book’s sentences could be complex and the paragraphs lengthy. I needed to re-read some sections to grasp their meanings. But, the extra time was worth the effort.

11 people found this helpful

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Leon Lam

A pleasant reading

March 13, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is one of the most well-known work on early American history. Ellis's argument of the gentlemanly American Revolution, which stresses consensus and compromise, is persuasive. His analysis of John Adams is more sympathetic than the mainstream view. This book is a good bridge to link general readership and academic scholarship. In an era of polarizing politics and increasing hostile interaction between different parts of the society, politicians and laymen alike should really look into the days of Washington and understand some of the true values of American political structure.

14 people found this helpful

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R. Zimmer

THANK YOU FOUNDING FATHERS

December 11, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Well written, well researched description of several pivotal events in the formation of our republic. Accentates how important is was then as it is now to have men/women in power that have VISION. Even though they had almost absolute power, their integrity and motives were directed towards creating a NEW COUNTRY, imagine that, creating a new country. Seems like an impossible task.
If the events shown in this book had turned out differently we may be having High Tea @ 4 O’clock and speaking The King’s English.
Jolly good....

Bottom line- you are reading how a small group of men who faced almost impossible odds shaped our country into what it is today. The same debates on “Big Government” vs States rights to govern themselves, taxes, foreign policy are still wildly debated today....
Fascinating reading, Especially the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, why it happened, the results of its outcome and how ONE event can change everything

8 people found this helpful

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A.A. Ron

Really interesting at points but some slow parts too

December 27, 2017

Format: Audible AudiobookVerified Purchase

How you feel about this book will be largely dependent upon what you expect going into it. So I will tell you right now, this is not a narrative, it's more of a collection of essays, each focused on a specific event or relationship. At least, that is my take anyways. I do audio books and I have been listening to a lot of fiction lately, so it was a bit jarring to go from a narrative to the slower pace of this book. I listened to it as if it were the build up to the story but that never happened. I eventually got used to it, for the most part. It still reads slowly at times. On the other hand, some points I found so interesting I would have to stop to think and process the issue that was being discussed. I can't really say anything more without spoilers.

I have read a few things about the founding fathers, most recently a biography on Jefferson. And even being familiar with the characters and events, Ellis presents topics that I haven't heard discussed in much detail, or at least presents them from new angles.

I would give this book 4 and half stars if I could, because of the parts I found slow, but because of the description of slavery and elitism I will round up to 5 stars, instead of down to 4.

3 people found this helpful

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