Bloomsbury Press
464 Pages
My initial intention for a presidential reading project was to read at least two biographies of each president in the order that they served. Because of my tendency to be a bit obsessive, the list has grown massive. As an example, I have thirty-three books on George Washington alone. It’s insane. As of this writing, I have most of them already read. I’m just behind on writing the reviews. After looking at my list, I can assure you that there will be less books forthcoming for subsequent presidents. I’ve learned my lesson (I think).
The Ascent of George Washington by John Ferling attempts to peek behind the facade that George himself built and that was reinforced by over a century of biographers indulging in hagiography. Since the days of Washington, there has been a concerted effort to make him bigger than life, a greater human than the rest of us. Ferling works to find a crack in that thick veneer. What we end up with is an author who has gone too far to destroy the myth. Using his opinion as a means to support his theory, Ferling destroys the carefully crafted myth around George Washington.
The author gets quite aggravating as you read this book. His insistence that he is right about Washington’s foibles is never-ending. He goes too far. Yes, we understand that Washington had motives and ambitions. We understand that he made mistakes and missteps. However, none of that is nefarious. Unfortunately, Ferling makes each instance seem like the work of a dark overlord intent on world domination. (Not really, but I’m making a point about Ferling’s theory.)
Instead of Washington being a possible narcissist, I tend to believe that most sane people think of Washington as a man who worked hard to overcome the hardships of early deaths in his family to become a better man, a man who would make those fallen forefathers proud. Washington genuinely attempted to be better and to make those around him better. Yes, he made mistakes, as we all do, but hopefully, he learned from them.
There is a fine line between blind devotion to a man practically beatified by the American public, and character assassination. While Ferling does not fall completely into the latter, and definitely not in the former, he comes close to that assassination. Despite Ferling’s best efforts, Washington’s legacy after reading this book is less tarnished than bent. There were better ways for the author to get behind the facade.
George Washington, at the birth of our nation, had so many options. The fact that we were not ruled by despotic Emperor Washington, or King George I of the United States, is a testament to his character, whether you’re a fan or not. Ferling seemed to have an ax to grind. I wasn’t sure if he was even a fan of George Washington at all after reading this book, although his afterword tempered some of his more outrageous claims.
I would have a hard time recommending The Ascent of George Washington by John Ferling to any casual reader. It’s really not a biography of Washington. It’s a theory on his character. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it does not pass muster. On the plus side, he writes well, and doesn’t bog down the narrative in academia. Still, this is a tough book to recommend.
Craig Bacon can see the light at the end of the tunnel with the Washington biographies. Stay tuned for more reviews.
NEXT UP: You Never Forget Your First - Alexis Coe