James Madison: A Son of Virginia and a Founder of the Nation - Hardcover

Broadwater, Jeff

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807835307 ISBN 13: 9780807835302

Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press, 2012

Synopsis

<p><em>James Madison</em> is remembered primarily as a systematic political theorist, but this bookish and unassuming man was also a practical politician who strove for balance in an age of revolution. In this biography, Jeff Broadwater focuses on Madison's role in the battle for religious freedom in Virginia, his contributions to the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, his place in the evolution of the party system, his relationship with Dolley Madison, his performance as a wartime commander in chief, and his views on slavery. From Broadwater's perspective, no single figure can tell us more about the origins of the American republic than our fourth president. </p> <p>In these pages, Madison emerges as a remarkably resilient politician, an unlikely wartime leader who survived repeated setbacks in the War of 1812 with his popularity intact. Yet Broadwater shows that despite his keen intelligence, the more Madison thought about one issue, race, the more muddled his thinking became, and his conviction that white prejudices were intractable prevented him from fully grappling with the dilemma of American slavery. </p>

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Review:

In an engagingly formulated work of synthesis, Broadwater offers a compelling view of the essential Madison. . . . [His] clear writing style and contextual explanations make this work especially appealing to incipient scholars and general readers.--Library Journal Readers who want an introduction to [Madison's] political thought and practice over his whole career will find these volumes considerably valuable.--Journal of American History [Broadwater's] biography is very solid and scholarly. . . the best medium-sized life of Madison that we have.--Gordon S. Wood, The New York Review of Books Thorough, judicious, and insightful. . . . [Broadwater] leads us to appreciate the perceptiveness of the French diplomat Louis Otto's observation that Madison is 'a man one must study for a long time in order to make a fair appraisal of him'.--The Review of Politics There are few one-volume works which stand in the pantheon of James Madison biographies. . . . [Broadwater's] is a welcome new addition to that list.--Register of the Kentucky Historical Society Broadwater has produced an eminently readable synthesis that is well suited for classroom use as well as for those looking for an insightful introduction to James Madison's thought and public career. . . . [He] has succeeded in giving us a thoughtful and interesting analysis of this pivotal figure, around whom so much of the political discourse of the early national period revolved.--Journal of Southern History Highly recommended. General readers and undergraduate collections.--Choice Meticulously researched and surprisingly readable. . . . History buffs and early-America aficionados will find Broadwater's work indispensable.--Publishers Weekly [A] bold and worthy assessment.--The Historian Deal[s] with the whole man and with the complete story of [Madison's] life insofar as the biographer can limn it. . . . Restore[s] Madison's humanity.--The Wall Street Journal [James Madison] will appeal to readers looking for an in-depth analysis of Madison's revolutionary thinking.--ForeWord Reviews Broadwater has done an excellent job of discussing and analyzing the major issues, events, and people with whom Madison had to deal. His book is a welcome addition to the literature on Madison's remarkable career.--Virginia Magazine A comprehensive and fascinating view of the nations, personalities, economic issues and events that led to the War of 1812.--Rocky Mount Telegram An essential American philosopher and president gains a substantive treatment.--Kirkus Reviews Broadwater grounds his study in the best Madison scholarship and thus understands Madison's position on the Constitution. . . . As good an account of James Madison as there is likely to be.--Claremont Review of Books

About the Author:

Jeff Broadwater is professor of history at Barton College and author of <i>George Mason, Forgotten Founder</i>.

About this edition

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0807835307
• ISBN 13: 9780807835302
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288