Inventing a Nation

Washington, Adams, Jefferson

By: Gore Vidal

Narrated by: Paul Hecht, Gore Vidal

Gore Vidal, winner of the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, is one of the great figures in American writing. Now through Vidal's extraordinary literary talents, the three men most responsible for the shaping of America come to life as never before.

Volumes have been written about George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but no previous work captures the intimate and vital details the way Inventing a Nation does. Vidal's consummate skill takes you into the minds and private rooms of these great men, illuminating their opinions of one another and their concerns about crafting a workable democracy.

Inventing a Nation is a remarkably vivid portrait of three American icons, men whose revolutionary ideas had a profound and lasting impact on the nation they helped create.

©2003 Gore Vidal (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"This entertaining and enlightening reappraisal of the founders is a must for buffs of American civilization and its discontents." (Booklist)
"An unblinking view of our national heroes by one who cherishes them, warts and all." (New York Review of Books)

I enjoyed how Mr Vidal laid the timeline out.

I learned a lot about the three figures in the book. It was easy to follow from where he starts a little after the revolution in 1780s til their timely passing. The last hour really felt like a movie scene. I really enjoyed it and do plan on listening to listening to another work of Mr Vidal.

Eeeeh

This is a great treatise on exactly what it is titled -- the inventing of our nation, how the founders put together the democratic republic that exisits today, even if it isn't exactly what many of them intended. It's not really the author's fault that I am lukewarm. I probably should know more about American history than I do to enjoy this audiobook. He does jump around a lot... one minute he is talking about the Hamilton/Burr duel and the next telling us what Hamilton is doing. I'm like, wait I thought Hamilton was dead! In his defense, the whole "US invade Canada in response to 9/11" thing is really quoting some modern-day pundit and comparing that silly notion to an attack on Canada that took place in 1795. (Some people are so sensitive!) If you're really into history and can understand some of his more oblique references, I'm sure you will love this book. As for me, it is back to "U.S. History for Dummies!"

Being with Gore Vidal

I love Gore Vidal and American history. Listening to him discuss various aspects of our history, official and unofficial, with little asides and gossip, is an absolute pleasure. One reviewer called it a "pontification", and I agree -- but am so pleased to just curl up and listen to such a brilliant mind pontificate! Its a joy. But the work IS complex so be prepared to give it your full attention.

Vidal at his finest

An accessible introduction to the early Republic. This read will be much richer if you have taken an introductory American History course.

Missed

He will be m.......is already missed. I would have loved to hear his comments on the suit & haircut about to take the oath of office in a few days.

Can't tell if opinion or fact

The book is interesting, but beware. As the author moves off subject and into events of the last 50 years it becomes apparent the author is giving opinion more than facts. For example he states the US had as much right to invade Canada after 9/11 as we did Afghanistan. It is okay with me if he wants to have this opinion, but he makes statements to support his belief without mentioning other side of the issue (he gives an unbalanced view of current history). These comments seem out of place and fairly slanted. It makes you wonder what part of the historical events is his opinion or fact.

Inventing a Nation

The recent attraction for knowledge of our country?s founding fathers has given rise to numerous volumes dedicated to their lives, both public and private. Yet Gore Vidal?s Inventing a Nation clearly delivers a wide assortment of information regarding both spectrums of life while simultaneously reinforcing or denouncing legends of these men. This text is unmatched by any towards that era and can be enjoyed by more than simply historians. It receives my highest rating.

Brilliantly irreverent

Had history of American politics been taught like this in school at any level, I would have certainly heeded Pericles admonition to Sophicles about civic duty (as discussed in the book).

Really brilliant. I am a Gore Vidal fan for life and will read all his books.

An entertainig tutorial tour

This book is more like a collection of entertaining, waspisjly opinionated tutorials about the early years of American nationhood than conventional history. As such it works well. Vidal is not about detail here. He is about rendering witty judgements and, to an extent, wielding a broard brush to lament the loss of the ideas and passionate debates on matters of substance that were ever present during the terms of the first three presidents. Not to mention the plots and manipulations of the mercurial conservative Alexander Hamilton. An ideal introduction to further study of the time when the constitution's ink seemed provisional.

Inventing a Nation

I wrote a review of this book, it was not posted and I wonder why? It's strange that those reviews that seem to have a "poltical bent" and even go so far as to say "reader beware" are allowed to be posted - but mine was not. If you have a chance, please let me know, thanks, MC