The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness

By Harlow Giles Unger

Book Overview

In this lively and compelling biography Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751-1831) went on to become America's first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing America's national and international durability. Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally America's fifth president. The country embraced Monroe's dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of America's first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history. Like David McCullough's John Adams and Jon Meacham's recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of Monroe is both a solid read and stellar scholarship--history in the grand tradition.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306818086
• ISBN13: 9780306818080
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 388 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Last but not least

Our founding fathers were extraordinary men and Monroe is no exception. His dedication to our fledgling country and the sacrifices he made to ensure we prospered are nothing short of astounding. Monroe was a true revolutionary hero in every sense of the word.

A tribute to a mostly forgotten president

James Monroe was the last president to actively participate in the Revolutionary War and one of the first to preside over an expanding America that made his friend Thomas Jefferson's dream of an "Empire of Liberty" come true. He lived in exciting times, besides fighting on the Patriot side he saw firsthand another revolution, the French, going in a wrong direction, leading through ever-increasing bloodshed and terror to a new dictatorship, not a new birth of freedom. He served his home state (pardon, his Commonwealth) of Virginia and his country in several functions, not the least of which was becoming one of the few dynamic and competent leaders the nation had in the disastrous War of 1812. He was President during a time that has been rightfully called "The Era of Good Feeling" - which other Chief Executive can boast of that ? Besides, he was a happily married man whose life was free of any scandals. To sum it up, Unger's book might be full of praise, even of adulation. But it is heaped upon a character who deserves it - and with it, even almost two centuries later, the gratitude of his fellow Americans. It is a wonderful book, particularly for cozy, long winter evenings.