Inventing George Washington: America's Founder, in Myth and Memory

Lengel, Edward G.

ISBN 10: 0061662585 / ISBN 13: 9780061662584

Published by Harper, 2011

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Synopsis:

Explains how, in the wake of George Washington's death, some Americans sought to deify him, while others wanted to discover the true man behind the myth, laying out a tense struggle for the founding father's soul, one that has played out for generations and deeply affected American history. By the author of This Glorious Struggle. 20,000 first printing.

From the Back Cover:

An entertaining and erudite history that offers a fresh look at America's first founding father, the creation of his legend, and what it means for our nation and ourselves

George Washington's death on December 14, 1799, dealt a dreadful blow to public morale. For three decades, Americans had depended on his leadership to guide them through every trial. At the cusp of a new century, the fledgling nation, caught in another war (this time with its former ally France), desperately needed to believe that Washington was—and would continue to be—there for them.

Thus began the extraordinary immortalization of this towering historical figure. In Inventing George Washington, historian Edward G. Lengel shows how the late president and war hero continued to serve his nation on two distinct levels. The public Washington evolved into an eternal symbol as Father of His Country, while the private man remained at the periphery of the national vision—always just out of reach—for successive generations yearning to know him as never before.

Both images, public and private, were vital to perceptions Americans had of their nation and themselves. Yet over time, as Lengel shows, the contrasting and simultaneous urges to deify Washington and to understand him as a man have produced tensions that have played out in every generation. As some exalted him, others sought to bring him down to earth, creating a series of competing mythologies that depicted Washington as every sort of human being imaginable. Inventing George Washington explores these representations, shedding new light on this national emblem, our nation itself, and who we are.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Inventing George Washington: America's ...
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: 2011
Binding: hardcover
Condition: Very Good