His Excellency: George Washington

Washington & Religion

One reviewer lambasted Mr. Ellis¿ work because ¿historical documents prove that George Washington was a devout Christian and based the belief of God on everything he did.¿ Historical documents prove no such thing. And wishing doesn¿t make it so. Washington gives us little in his writings to indicate his personal religious beliefs and asserted no beliefs in any specific traditional religious dogma. His own writings never refer to Jesus Christ. Franklin Steiner in The Religious Beliefs Of Our Presidents '1936'¿highly recommended¿states that Washington commented on sermons only twice, joking that he had enjoyed a German Reformed service because he hadn¿t understood a single word. Washington was certainly not anti-religious and indeed spoke out against religious intolerance, banning in 1775 a Protestant celebration called Pope's Day 'mocking of the Catholic leader' by the Continental Army. In the Revolutionary War, Washington supported troops selecting their own chaplains. He reportedly did not take communion, though his wife did, and supported no particular theology, while complimenting all sorts of religious groups. He attended church irregularly but did attend and praise Quaker, German Reformed, and Roman Catholic services. In securing workmen in 1784 at Mount Vernon, Washington said he would welcome ¿Mohometans, Jews or Christians of any Sect, or they may be Atheists.¿ Washington rejected the notion that there should be any narrow religious test for officeholders, and he never advocated the superiority of one religious sect over another. In Washington's replies to messages from Jews and Swedenborgians, he demonstrates not a mere tolerance for those who had not chosen the ¿correct path,¿ but an endorsement of what Jefferson later called the 'wall of separation between church and state.¿ It might be best to read Washington¿s own words: ¿To the General Committee Representing the United Baptist Churches of Virginia¿ and ¿To the Hebrew Congregation of Savannah, May, 1790.' Some of the inaccuracies about Washington¿s religious piety come from the famously silly fabrications in The Life of Washington, 1800, by Mason Locke `Parson¿ Weems, the source of the invented tale about the cherry tree. Many writers have tried to project their own biases and agendas onto Washington's image. Perhaps this is where we get such phrases as ¿historical documents prove¿ without the understanding that ¿historical documents¿ need to be questioned for credibility and are indeed subject to scholarly review. If some of us want to believe in that the earth is flat, that the founders made this an exclusively Christian Nation, that the world is suspended on a stack of turtles, that due process is ¿quaint,¿ or that recognition of universal human rights did not have the historical context of the Enlightenment, we should just say so. But don¿t claim things that are not true. And don¿t criticize good scholarship simply because it¿s not bad scholarship. Which brings us back to Ellis¿ work. It is well researched, well written¿enjoyably so for this reader¿and provides valuable scholarship.

5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Only the Best for th Best

'His Excellency' is a biography that allows the reader to visualize the life of George Washington as if they were experiencing his life right beside him. There isn't a better time than now to read about how our Presidency was shaped. This should be a recommended read for all who are running as well as the everyday American who wonders about the current political struggles.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

The man behind the monument

This is an interesting insight into the life of one of the most important figures in American history. The book attempts to show you the human side of the myth and monument that is Washington to modern America. He is shown not as the perfect, honest, legend but as the human man trying to make a name for himself in his early adulthood. The mistakes of his life are laid out before you and the lessons he learned from them. How his great judgment lead history to select him for the roles he would play as the Commander in Chief for the Continental Army, Chair of the Constitutional convention, and ultimately First President. Each time he reluctantly at first, then with an enthusiastic sense of fate, returned to public life, all the time yearning to return to his beloved Mount Vernon. The Washington monument does represent a human being and here he is. There is not a lot of military information in the book which I like it is more an insight into the man and his thinking processes as a biography should be. The book is recommended if you have an interest in learning about Washington and the founding of the nation but the language can be a bit tangled and high brow at times. I found myself more than once wishing I had a dictionary handy.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Insightful, but was it truly truthful?

I've read this book by Joseph Ellis with the intent to learn more about our Founding Fathers and what they believed in to make the United States such a great country. To start, 'His Excellency' was a complete let-down to me. I don't like sounding like a Christian, but historical documents prove that George Washington was a devout Christian and based the belief of God on everything he did from the time he lived on Mount Vernon till the moment he first saw blood. I am somewhat disgusted at how Ellis portrayed Washington in this 'biography'. He referred to him as a 'prideful man/slave-owner/blood-thirsty brigand' and other things. But what bewildered me was the little given information on Washington's religious background. The only time I saw mention on this topic was when, 'when Washington prayed, he stood up and was never seen bowing his head.' Thats it. The overall biography was insightful, but I have to remain skeptical at its validity. In post-modern America, biased people, and, to no offense, liberals and atheists, tend to swath American history with made-up lies and to tell incorrectly what made our founding fathers, and any given key character in our nations history, persist to act upon what they truly and spiritually believed. I find this book lacking in the latter. If you are looking for a more foundational approach on the life/or lives of our Founding Fathers, I recommend David McCullough's books on American Biographies. He, I find it more evident, strikes the truth more accurately than Ellis.

2 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

An Enjoyable Read

As much as I admire Mr. Ellis' knowledge and love hearing him speak, his writing style is not the most compelling. That said, this is a very worthwhile book and it is certainly worth anyone's time to learn more about General Washington. Buy it, read it, enjoy it, just don't expect the world.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Great Extened Essay, But Not a Narrative

I recommend Ellis's book, though feel it is important to understand that this is less of an account of Washington's life and more of 1) a rexamination of other biogrophies 2) a correcting of false but popular myths 3) and an effective presentation of Ellis's own interpretation of Washington's Actions and Motives. While I enjoyed this book, and went through it rather quickly, I was disopointed in a few respects. Firstly, although I had read Ellis before (being aware of his essayist style), I was still expecting a fuller presentation of the facts of Washington's life, in the narrative style of David McCullough (An admittedly unfair expectation on my part). This is less of an Authoritative Biography in that, as a previous reviewer has indicated, it leavs out much detail and breezes through the parts of the Founder's life with which Ellis does not choose to make a point. I also was disapointed that Ellis used this biography to make comparisons to future, and even current events--drawing his own political conclusions instead of allowing the reader to make their own conclusions based on the facts in full. There is much to praise in this book, it excells in scholarship and review. It gives insightful interpretation and is well worth reading. But this is not a detailed narrative biography which covers all the events of Washington's life.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great read

Very well written book. It was very enjoyable.

Recommend it to all my friends..

This book is a great read. Not only is it an in depth picture of our first President, but it is an entertaining read, which can not be said about most historical non-fiction books. I recommend this book to anyone interested in history.

His Excellency is the Man!!

A fantastic example of what we should all aspire to be like.

Best of Ellis' works

Although pretty much anything this US Historian writes is gold, this work of our greatest President is a great read. Without the need to write 1000 page works of history, Ellis again proves why he is Gordon Wood are the best at what they do.

An excellent biography

I just finished reading this last night and am thrilled with it. I have read many biographies on Washington and am in fact a collector of his portraits, etc. This is the best yet! Here is Washington as he was, not, perhaps, how we might wish him to be. (Hear that, the reviewer who criticized Ellis for not showing a more fervently Christian side of Washington.) Through it all, I remain a staunch Washington supporter and in awe of all he was able to accomplish. His ability and willingness (and, more than once, sheer luck) to persevere despite odds stacked high against him is mind-boggling. No, he wasn't a perfect man, but he said what he meant and did what he said. Whether you agree with all his actions or not, his personal integrity is rock solid - a model that will continue to serve for future generations.

A superb insight into the Father of Our Country.

Joseph Ellis wrote an excellent book that will give you a superb insight into the Father of Our Country. There can only be one man to fit those shoes and George Washington is that man. Mr. Ellis enlightens the story of Washington in an engaging, easily understanding way, that non-historians will appreciate. He doesn't get bogged down in trivial details, but gives the reader amble details to get a thorough understanding of George Washington.

In his book you will learn a great deal about Washington; his greatness and how he had to overcome so many criticisms and failures to become the sole beacon for the fledging United States. Ellis lets you know that Washington was not perfect by any means. In fact he wasn't a great general. But, what he did have was persistence, courage and the ability to take advice from his staff of officers and even the French. Highly recommend.

Awesome

Joseph J. Ellis presents the "foundingest father of them all" in a way that we can understand and almost relate to him .
Instead of holding Washington to the litmus tests of todays political correctness Ellis shows a man living in his time who rose to the occaion and helped forge the most unique republic in history.

Acutally a page turner

I bought this book along with a history of the American Revolution, thinking I would dip into this one while reading the battle history. But in the end I did the reverse. This book is such good reading I couldn't put it down, it almost reads like a novel. I do agree with one reviewer that this book is a bit short on details - especially the great military moments like the crossing of the Delaware, or Valley Forge, etc. But what more than makes up for it are the insights into Washington's inner life. This all the more precious because Washington was notoriously guarded, and clues are hard to obtain from the archives. Another great merit of this book is that it is free of the sanctimonious and derogatory tone that comes from so much academic work these days. This book has the legitimacy and polish of good scholarship without the cruelty of it.

An outstanding read with many familiar legends.

This book is a wonderful read. It focuses on the overall picture of a man with incredible insight and clarity. It also allows a reader to see the political process of Party definement in a country that is in its Infant stage and the difficult choices 'His Excellency' had to make. A must for all Libraries.

Not overly impressed

This was my first read of Ellis and I hope the next one is better. It was too short, skipped too much and didn't get into many details. As a result, I didn't feel as though I learned what I should have. The only thing I came away with was the impression that Washington was more interested in his legacy than the welfare of the country.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I feel closer to him than ever before in my life!

He writes of 'His Excellency' in a way that makes me feel as though i'm reading about a grand father I always heard about but was not yet alive to know personally. In the end a very touching account.

Ellis Has Done It Again!!!

Joseph Ellis has once again proven why he is the leading historian of today in the study of our country's founding fathers. Everyday we see Washington's face on the dollar bill, or have at one time stood in front of his memorial in the city which holds his name. Yet with that said the majority of us still dont understand exactly what this man did, and why he merits all the honor and celebration. Ellis argues, and does a great job, that Washington stood out because of all the founding fathers he understood that in order for the young infant country to surive it had to become united as one, take a macro approach to foreign affairs, and most important in order to lead he had to put all personal feelings aside and lead with his head, not his heart. By accomplishing all three of these tasks George Washington set the foundation for which this country still sits on today. I started this book with the mind set that Washington was only a puppet to the likes of Jefferson, Hamilton, and Madison. I finished the book with a greater appreciation for the man who should go down as the greatest president of our time. I urge everyone to READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Excellent character study

I loved this book. It provided insights to the character of George Washington that I was not aware of. The book concentrates on the personality and emotional make up of Washington. Joseph Ellis has distilled a lot of facts into a highly readable and informative 278 pages. I highly recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in our founding fathers. We tend to treat Washington as a semi-mythical god figure. This book paints a picture of the real person.

A fantastic look at the man behind the myth

This is my first Ellis read, and I must say I was very impressed. His Excellency gives its reader a warts and all view of Washington, from his failures and shortfalls during the French & Indian War coupled with his seemingly uncanny ability to evade death during battles. Ellis paints the picture of Washington as a Man who was as much one of destiny as well as foresight. I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious about how the United States' First President was destined for greatness during and after the War for Independence, and was altogether aware of the part he played in the American Experiment.