Writers of our Fortune

So many pages of Ellis's Founding Brothers have been turned down to mark illuminating passages my copy looks as though it has been chewed by one of my dogs. He not only deals with this foundational period with an acute and scholarly familiarity, he shares the stories of our revolutionary leaders as if they were both our collegial friends and duly the luminary fathers of our country.

The final chapters encapsulating the final years of Adam's and Jefferson's friendship are far and away my favorite. This surprised me as the start of the book with Burr and Hamilton seemed impossible to surpass.

My wonderful

friend Tim first introduced me to Ellis many years ago when we decided to read American Sphinx at the same time so we could discuss it. This book is even better.

"By 1796, he (Washington) had begun to draft his last will and testament, in which he eventually made elaborate provisions to assure that all his slaves would be freed upon the death of his wife. He also made even more elaborate provisions to guarantee that Mount Vernon would be sold off in pieces, part of the proceeds used to support his freed slaves and their children for several decades into the future." How did I not know this already? What are we being silent about today?

Read hardcover.