Washington Books

This is an excellent book of high quality which merits the attention of sudents of both the French and Indian War and George Washington.The many portrait images are clear and sharp. The images of the 11 manuscript pages are not easy to read, but to a large extent this appears to be due to the condition of the document, which is over 200 years old. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to see the actual handwriting of Washington in one of his few autobiographical efforts. The actual content of the manuscript appears in highly readable transcript immediately following the images of the manuscript pages. A preliminary "Note to the Reader" suggests reading the transcript first before attempting to read Washington's handwriting. Following the transcript are 77 annotations by Martin West, the highly regarded director of Fort Ligonier and author of numerous historical articles on the French and Indian War.In some respects, these scholarly, yet concise annotations are the most interesting aspect of this book.The book also contains an excellent essay on "Young Washington" by Don Higgenbotham of the University of North Carolina and an essay, "Biography and Autobiography" by Rosemarie Zagarri of George Mason University, placing Washington's autobiographical manuscript remarks in the context of Lt. Col. David Humphreys' intended biography of Washington. The book concludes with an interesting essay by Professor Fred Anderson of the University of Colorado, author of "Crucible of War", probably the definitive book on the French and Indian War.Two appendices follow. The first is a fascinating explanation of the conservation of the manuscript by the conservator, Christine Smith. The second appendix,by Burton Kummerow, will be of considerable benefit to those interested in historical tourism. It is a guide to the historic French and Indian War sites mentioned in Washington's manuscript.A previous reviewer remarked negatively on the book's omission of the defeat of troops under Major James Grant of the Forbes Expedition in 1758. This is explained by the fact that Washington had no direct knowledge of this engaggement. At the time of Grant's Defeat, Washington was more than 100 miles away in Raystown (Bedford, PA). Washington's only knowledge of the event was based on hearsay. One of the principal values of the Washington manuscript is that it is a primary source.Neither it nor the book purports to be an exhaustive accounting of all the events of the French and Indian War, so criticism based on the omission of one's personal favorite event seems unfair.Those who purchase this book will be glad they did.

This richly illustrated and thoroughly documented book preserves and perpetuates George Washington's ONLY autobiographical account: Here he recalls the world war that he started, the war that transformed North America, and created the United States and Canada. "Big picture" historians will delight in the accompanying essays by Professors Anderson, Higginbotham, and Zagarri. Those concerned with historical specificities and historic sites will applaud the thoroughness of annotators Martin West and Burton Kummerow. All of us wanting to SEE the 18th century will appreciate the collection of portraits and maps assembled here. In this volume, the marble Washington morphs back into the real person he once was: a middle-aged man at yet another decisive turning point in his career (the first-ever Presidency lay just ahead) thinking back to his resume-ruining role in the series of disasters launching the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War). What did it all mean? How had he ended up at THIS juncture? In wrestling with this memoir, he comes to understand that he had been preserved by Providence for the enormous challenge ahead. We should all be thankful that he was; and thankful for the guiding hand of Providence that preserved the manuscript and makes accessible this compelling volume.

Since reading this guide I am absolutely sure of my decision to go to GWU. The information presented in this guide was honest, thoughtful and incredibly informative. I am not only certain that the school has what I need academically, but I am sure that my social life will also improve, since GWU has so many hotspots so close to campus (good since I won't have a car).

This book seriously helps students who are unsure of where they want to go to college. Since it's written by a GW student, all of the information is honest and open -- NOT from an official's point of view. Also, it'll be awesome once at GW b/c it lists the best dorms, food venues and nightlife spots. Cool!!!!

In this book, you will find the works of an author with a tremendous talent for creative writing and imagination. The writer has a very unique way of blending current issues (and well-researched takes on potential future scenarios) with fictional writing. While advanced observers of current issues and foreign policy can appreciate his articulation and projections, the average reader is not distracted or bored by them.

Perhaps what is most amazing is the elements of truth that are inserted into the book about the author's background--including a letter from Colin Powell's office. For an interesting read with a spiritual overtone, a non-fiction theme, fictional story-telling, and an attention-catching personal story, read "The George Washington Vision!"

This is going to be a piece of American literature for the next century! A must read! From Isaac Newton finding the Bible Code that George Washington saw at Valley Forge co-witnessed by one of his men that led to the defeat of the British, the Confederate Army and lastly the forces of evil that will assemble against the US of A in the future. The fact that this has been a secret in the US military for so long is incredible. I was intrigued by the apparant evil leader's description on the website www.georgewashingtonvision.com so I got the book and couldn't put it down. Lion seems to answer many of the questions that mankind has been asking for so long as he weaves fact into fiction and back again. Wild! I'm a believer!!

I read this book, and Joyce Milton, sure did a good book about the first president of the united states, who married Martha Dandrige Washington, got his face on a quarter, and got his face on a penny. I give it a ...(5 out of 5), and I give it 5 stars.

This book was a worthy tribute to our first President who was truly a quiet and even a reluctant hero. It told something of his boyhood, but the main focus was on his part in the formation of the United States. The reading was perfect for my sixth grade readers, and also held the interest of my Asian college-aged exchange students who are here to study American culture.

Carolyn Yoder is extremely knowledgable about history and weaves her knowledge and interest into this wonderful book about our first president. I look forward to reading her John Adams edition as well, and plan to use them both as teaching tools for children of different ages. Thank you Carolyn, for writing and editing a book that I know I can count on for accuracy and for a way to make history come alive! Please keep them coming...

This is a very well-written, thoroughly researched book that keeps your interest throughout. A fascinating look into the thoughts and mind of our first President through his own writings.

This book is a perfect starting place for anyone interested in the life and career of George Washington. Covering all facets of his life, from his childhood on the Rappahannock to his youthful indiscretions and achievements on the frontier during the French and Indian War, and from his role as commander-in-chief during the Revolutionary War to his duties as first President of the United States and first EX-president, Grizzard's book provides a truly comprehensive and scrupulously accurate source. Everything you could ever need is here, clearly and attractively presented in one extremely useful volume. You'll find yourself pulling it off the shelf again and again.

This is by far the best reference available for George Washington. The A to Z format makes it a breeze to look up any topic related to Washington. If Washington said it, it is in his own hand. If anyone else said it about Washington, it is in their own hand. Forget the myths. Read this book and know the truth about George Washington.

This book shows thirty great paintings by what I consider the second-best French painter of the seventeenth century (to me, but to very few others, Simon Vouet was the best).

Those who haven't seen Georges de La Tour's paintings will be struck by the fact that the backgrounds are typically dark black. That was his style. He'd paint the design, starting with the light colors. Then he would add darker colors to it. And he'd finish up with a very dark background.

We see people paying taxes. We see a peasant couple. A hurdy-gurdy player. Brawling musicians. Dice players. There's a great work showing someone cheating at cards. In the version in the Louvre, the cheat has the Ace of Diamonds behind his back. La Tour did a copy of the painting, which is in the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, but in that one, the cheat holds the Ace of Clubs!

Some of the paintings have religious significance. Three of them involve Magdalene and a skull. Another shows Irene tending to the wounded Saint Sebastian. And there are paintings of the Holy Family. One is of Jesus and Saint Joseph in Joseph's carpenter's shop. Another is of Saint Anne (Mary's mother) teaching Mary to read. One more is of Anne and Jesus. And yet another is of Anne, Mary, and Jesus.

The detail in all these paintings is stunning. And the expressions on the faces of La Tour's characters are remarkable.

I recommend this book.

That only taxes and death are certain would sum up what we know for sure about GEORGES du Mesnil DE LA TOUR AND HIS WORLD. Just as his native Lorraine lost its independence to France, so was he factored out of the art world during the 250 some years after he died in 1652. His "flea catcher"; "hurdy-gurdy player," variously mistaken as the work of 17th-century Spanish masters Herrera the Elder, Maino, Murillo, Rivera, Velazquez, and Zurbaran; and my favorite, Jacques Callot-type "newborn child" have been recognized as the most beloved of his art of Dutch- and Flemish-type earthy realism and luminously softened colors, eerily flickering light and spectacular lighting effects, finely drafted clothing and hair, highly focused and tensely concentrated mood, and minimal expressions, forms and gestures subtly cluing character. He excelled in not only the theatrically controlled daylight manner, with the henpecked "old man" and thin-lipped "old woman" of the piercing eyes and the careworn "old peasant couple eating" in worn clothing with pulled stitches accented by light brushstrokes and rubbed-thin paint, but also the deeply shadowed and dramatically night-time style, with "denial of St Peter" and "dream of St Joseph." His subjects ranged from the everyday life of ordinary people, as in his boys blowing on a charcoal stick and a firebrand, "girl blowing on a brazier," and my favorite "payment of taxes" with a Jacques Bellange-styled unsettling atmosphere of crowded space, deeply shadowed eyes, meticulously folded drapery and unusual candle-cast shine to arms and faces; to music, with "cornet player," "musicians' brawl" of gesturing arms and gnarled hands around beautifully painted musical instruments and lively highlighted weather-cracked and wrinkled faces, Jean Appier aka Hanzelet-type "woman playing a triangle," and "young singer"; to nonreligious moralizing with all the furtiveness and sideways glances by cheats with the aces of clubs and diamonds in Fontainebleau school-styled solidly brushed half-length figures and Simon Vouet-type colorfully light fine materials, "dice players," and my favorite "fortune-teller"; to religious meditations with "adoration of the shepherds," Job with his broken bowl for scraping sores and his Jacques Bellange-styled highwaisted wife, and such Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio- and Hendrick ter Brugghen-type ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events as saints Alexis, Andrew, Anne mothering Mary and grandmothering Jesus, Francis in ecstasy, James the Less of the brushy arthritic hands, Jerome the scholarly ascetic with a bloodstained knotted rope against self-indulgence, John the Baptist in the wilderness, Jude Thaddeus, Mary Magdalene sorrowing over her sins, Philip of the crystal buttons ingeniously refracting light onto his jacket, Sebastian tenderly cared by Irene and her tearful assistant, and Thomas transformed from doubt to toughly unflinching faith. I particularly like the way he showed children behaving goodly with "Christ with St Joseph in the carpenter's shop" and "education of the Virgin." Ever since reading Aldous Huxley I have wondered which three books I would take to a BRAVE NEW WORLD: chances are that one would be editor Philip Conisbee's carefully written, gorgeously illustrated and well-organized book, because I have loved de La Tour's art ever since learning about him from my artist mother and sister during my student years and because this one-of-a-kind, reader-friendly book plants his first American exhibition so firmly in the art world that, what with GEORGES DE LA TOUR in French by Paulette Chone, Pierre Rosenberg and Bruno Ferte, and Jacques Thuillier and what with David Huddle's upcoming LA TOUR DREAMS OF THE WOLF GIRL and Christopher Wright's THE MASTERS OF CANDLELIGHT, he should never be dislodged again.

This book is easy to read and follow. It is inspirational and inspiring, we can ALL, with practice, have a glimpse beyond!

This book is well written and inspirational. What is brought up in the book is the TRUTH. Reader should read it with an open mind. God speaks to man on earth today just as in the past. I really enjoyed reading this book. It has everything that I too have been taught.

Quoting from the deeply religious John Adams to the dramatic deist Jefferson, God of Our Fathers provides an interesting window into a time when God was much more a part of the cultural vernacular, consciousness, and everyday conversation. There is no way to properly understand the culture at the time of our country's formation without considering the role religion played in the lives of the people. In a clear and user-friendly way, God of Our Fathers presents an important aspect to any study or understanding of the world that the Founding Fathers inhabited.

God of Our Fathers is an excellent compilation of some of the most fascinating writings and statements by the Founding Fathers regarding God, religion, and virtue. This highly-engaging book is clearly the result of meticulous research, and I highly recommend it.

I hope Amazon will order Going Places again from Green Acres School. I gave my last copy away assuming I could get it easily from Amazon.

It is the all-time best book about Places to See in Washington, DC -- for children AND adults. It gives useful information such as operating hours as well as very informative commentary about each venue. It's a MUST HAVE.

This book is not out of print, the 16th edition just came out in June 2003, with updated information on places to visite and things to do with children in the Washington, DC area. It is a must when planning a trip to the Nation's Capital! If you can't find it in a book store, you can order it from Green Acres School in Rockville, Maryland.