A Perfect Union

Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation

De: Catherine Allgor

Narrado por: Anne Twomey

An extraordinary American comes to life in this vivid, incisive portrait of the early days of the republic—and the birth of modern politics hen the roar of the Revolution had finally died down, a new generation of American politicians was summoned to the Potomac to assemble the nation's newly minted capital. Into that unsteady atmosphere which would soon enough erupt into another conflict with Britain in 1812, Dolley Madison arrived, alongside her husband James. Within a few years, she had mastered both the social and political intricacies of the city, and, by her death in 1849, was the most celebrated person in Washington. And yet, to most Americans, she's best known for saving a portrait from the burning White House, or as the namesake for a line of ice cream.

Why did the Americans of her time give so much adulation to a lady so little known today? In A Perfect Union, Catherine Allgor reveals that while Dolley's gender prevented her from openly playing politics, those very constraints of womanhood allowed her to construct an American democratic ruling style, and to achieve her husband's political goals. And the way that she did so—by emphasizing cooperation over coercion, building bridges instead of bunkers—has left us with not only an important story about our past but a model for a modern form of politics.

Introducing a major new American historian, A Perfect Union is both an illuminating portrait of an unsung founder of our democracy, and a vivid account of a little-explored time in our history.

©2006 Catherine Allgor (P)2006 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Where is Dolley Madison when we need her? Catherine Allgor makes clear that Mrs. Madison's skills as a hostess and politician held the country together when rabid partisanship threatened to tear it apart. This is a well-told biography of a true nineteenth-century celebrity, but a celebrity with substance, savvy and courage.” —Cokie Roberts, author of Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation

“For some time Dolley Madison has been a beguiling ornament, flashing her femininity in the parlors of the early American republic. Here, at last, Catherine Allgor, with great style and wit, recovers a different Dolley, a full-fledged political partner with James Madison. Now, in addition to John and Abigail,we have James and Dolley.” —Joseph J. Ellis, author of His Excellency: George Washington

“A lively, clear-eyed account of a master politician. As first ‘Presidentess,' Dolley Madison established herself among our earliest female celebrities and left an enduring mark on American culture. Hers is a rousing tale of ambition, gossip, and policy, told with empathy and understanding by Catherine Allgor. ” —Stacy Schiff, author of A Great Improvisation

A great first lady!

While reading other books I became very intrigued by Mrs. Madison, and I picked up this book to learn more about her. I have both read the book in paperback form and listened to this audio book, and I would highly recommend both!

Dolly Madison was a complex and fascinating woman, both in her time and in ours. This book gives a very detailed but never boring look at the life of this great first lady. Her larger than life personality comes to life in this book, and the reader is very enjoyable as well! I highly recommend it!

Somewhat ponderous

This book is full of interesting tidbits, such as the sad state of early Washington,D.C., but it just took so long to pick up any momentum, I had to let it go partway through.

Fascinating life excellently done

Allegor’s book is the best on Dolley and her life and times. The narrator is perfect, perfectly pitched voice. If you close your eyes as you listen it’s like you are there at Mrs. Madison’s socials and a friend is whispering all the details and backstory on the hostess and her guests. I totally enjoyed the experience,

Where's Dolley?

I've been torturing myself with this one for months and have finally given up. Bought with the expectation of learning more about a very interesting lady, I keep waiting for her to play a leading role. Instead, she appears in all too brief snippets. In the meantime, I am forced to wade through pages of long drawn out descriptions of early Washington D.C, highly biased and questionably accurate anti-Jefferson comments, Henry Latrobe's interior decorating, and half of the war of 1812....

Maybe Dolley appears in the second half, but I think I learned more about her in "Patriot Hearts: A Novel of the Founding Mothers". If you want a detailed discription of early Washington D.C., this might be interesting, but the anti-Jefferson bias greatly detracts from the quality of the history presented.