[Larson] examines how George Washington's leadership aided the political, legal and economic consolidation of the new nation in George Washington, Nationalist. --author of Richmond Times-Dispatch

Edward Larson has written a penetrating and inspiring study of George Washington's outstanding leadership and the critical role he played in rejecting the feeble government under the Articles of Confederation and in fostering the creation of a strong, unifying, and enduring constitutional republic. --Susan Dunn, author of Dominion of Memories: Jefferson, Madison, and the Decline of Virginia

Edward Larson is the most nuanced scholar of George Washington on the contemporary scene. Capitalizing on his earlier studies of years that were crucial in forming both the character of George Washington and the character of the United States of America, Larson focuses on the ways Washington's actions--looking westward across the continent, lending his presence to the development of the Constitution, and acceding to be the first president--coalesced with the efforts of Madison, Hamilton, and Jay to establish the American nation. This is a compelling and wonderfully readable study of a crucial facet of the career of our first president. --George R. Goethals, University of Richmond, author of Presidential Leadership and African Americans: An American Dilemma from Slavery to the White House

In this enticingly titled collection of essays derived from lecturesthe author gave at Mount Vernon... Edward J. Larson implies that Washington was an exponent of nationalism even before the idea transformed Europe. Washington's interestin Potomac River navigation, his conduct at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and his support for ratification--the subjects of Larson's essays--illustrate his supportfor American unification and a robust federal government. --author of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography

Meticulously researched and written in a fluid narrative style, this introduction to Washington as a political actor will prove useful to scholars of history and political theory alike. --author of American Review of Politics

Edward Larson has written a penetrating and inspiring study of George Washington's outstanding leadership and the critical role he played in rejecting the feeble government under the Articles of Confederation and in fostering the creation of a strong, unifying, and enduring constitutional republic.

Edward Larson is the most nuanced scholar of George Washington on the contemporary scene. Capitalizing on his earlier studies of years that were crucial in forming both the character of George Washington and the character of the United States of America, Larson focuses on the ways Washington’s actions—looking westward across the continent, lending his presence to the development of the Constitution, and acceding to be the first president—coalesced with the efforts of Madison, Hamilton, and Jay to establish the American nation. This is a compelling and wonderfully readable study of a crucial facet of the career of our first president.

In this enticingly titled collection of essays derived from lectures the author gave at Mount Vernon... Edward J. Larson implies that Washington was an exponent of nationalism even before the idea transformed Europe. Washington’s interest in Potomac River navigation, his conduct at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and his support for ratification—the subjects of Larson’s essays—illustrate his support for American unification and a robust federal government.

[Larson] examines how George Washington’s leadership aided the political, legal and economic consolidation of the new nation in  George Washington, Nationalist.

Meticulously researched and written in a fluid narrative style, this introduction to Washington as a political actor will prove useful to scholars of history and political theory alike.