Revolutionary

George Washington at War

By: Robert L. O'Connell

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

From an acclaimed military historian, a bold reappraisal of young George Washington, an ambitious if reckless soldier destined to become the legendary general who took on the British and, through his leadership, defined the American character.

How did George Washington become an American icon? Robert L. O’Connell, the New York Times best-selling author of Fierce Patriot and The Ghosts of Cannae, introduces us to Washington before he was Washington: a young soldier champing at the bit for a commission in the British army, frustrated by his position as a minor Virginia aristocrat. Fueled by ego, Washington led a disastrous expedition in the Seven Years’ War, but then the commander grew up. We witness George Washington take up politics and join Virginia’s colonial governing body, the House of Burgesses, where he became ever more attuned to the injustices of life under the British Empire and the paranoid, revolutionary atmosphere of the colonies. When war seemed inevitable, he was the right man - the only man - to lead the nascent American army.

We would not be here without George Washington, and O’Connell proves that Washington the general was at least as significant to the founding of the United States as Washington the president. He emerges here as cunning and manipulative, a subtle puppeteer among intimates, and a master cajoler - but all in the cause of rectitude and moderation. Washington became the embodiment of the Revolution itself. He draped himself over the revolutionary process and tamped down its fires. As O’Connell writes, the war was decisive because Washington managed to stop a cycle of violence with the force of personality and personal restraint.

In his trademark conversational, witty style, Robert L. O’Connell has written a compelling reexamination of General Washington and his revolutionary world. He cuts through the enigma surrounding Washington to show how the general made all the difference and became a new archetype of revolutionary leader in the process. Revolutionary is a masterful character study of America’s founding conflict filled with lessons about conspiracy, resistance, and leadership that resonate today.

Advance praise for Revolutionary:

“Given the amount of ink spilled over the years, it is not easy to offer a fresh look at George Washington’s leadership role during the war for American independence. But Robert L. O’Connell has done it in Revolutionary. The title announces the insight, which is the otherwise uncontrollable political and military energies released by the war that Washington was able to orchestrate.” (Joseph J. Ellis, author of American Dialogues: The Founders and Us)

©2019 Robert L. O'Connell (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“George Washington underwent a remarkable arc of transformation from the vain, brazenly ambitious, and disaster-prone young officer of the French and Indian War of the 1750s to the Revolutionary leader known as the ‘Father of His Country’ two decades later. With his graceful writing, thoughtful insight, and intimate knowledge of his subject, Robert L. O’Connell in Revolutionary generously takes us along on that transformative journey of Washington’s. This is a fascinating portrait of a leader emerging into greatness out of the cauldron of war.” (Peter Stark, author of Young Washington: How Wilderness and War Forged America’s Founding Father)

“Robert O’Connell has captured the essence of General George Washington, showing him to be a class-conscious man of the eighteenth century and a leader who could, and did, err egregiously. But he also demonstrates Washington’s perceptive understanding of the American Revolution, the army he commanded, the enemy he fought, and the cultivation of his own image. Revolutionary is an illuminating and provocative book that should be read by all who wish to understand Washington’s contribution to America’s victory in the War of Independence.” (John Ferling, author of Apostles of Revolution: Jefferson, Paine, Monroe, and the Struggle Against the Old Order in America and Europe)

“A provocative biography arguing that George Washington’s greatest accomplishment was guiding a rare revolution that turned out well for the revolutionaries...a delightfully convincing case that Washington was history's least ruthless and most successful revolutionary.” (Kirkus Reviews)

GW and Revolutionary US explained

full of facts (traces the entire war), insights (Washington psychology and those of associates), enough humor and clever turns of phrase, and some original proposals (Britain could not lose given geographic and demographic scale they faced) to be informative and entertaining throughout.

Interesting

I took off a star because the author consistently refers to sex workers as "whores."

It's a fascinating book otherwise, explaining how the revolution was sparked, essentially, by a conspiracy-theory - white colonists believed that British authorities intended to literally enslave them.

I don't buy the author's numerous assertions that George Washington grew to hate the institution of slavery, however. He doesn't back up this statement other than by explaining Washington's will freed the people he kept enslaved after his death. He excuses Washington's life-long reliance on slave labor by saying most of the enslaved people were Martha's property, which doesn't square with Washington's ability to emancipate them in his will. It also doesn't make sense that Martha, who we are told was Washington's dear friend and confidant throughout their marriage, would have radically different values from her husband or that he would be unable to convince her if he really thought slavery was wrong. He may have regretted the institution in the same way I regret the death of adorable cows while eating a burger, but not nearly enough to be credited with hating the system that profited him.

GW GOAT!

Washington was the greatest American that has ever lived! Not a perfect man but perfect for the tone and job he was destined to perform!

And just why isn’t Washington smiling in all those pictures

This is well worth the blood & treasure as military might put it. If you don’t know much about the Revolution you will, but if you did you will find what the ‘Revolution’ War was all about. An amazing take at just how indispensable Washington was. And this is the first book where Washington is revealed as a man. I’ve read all of them. In or around 1975 the way history was written was changed for the better. We now are in the third generation of telling history by way of science. Be assured no maths required, this is as real as it gets. And Eric Martin is perfect in telling the tale. Fanatic.

Great Book, but only an okay narrator

Really enjoyed the in-depth knowledge you take away from the book. If you enjoy US history, this is a great place to start. The narrator, though, was only okay. He makes an intense whistle sound with most “sh”, “ch”, and “tion” sounds, which is an issue for a book named Revolutionary and has a main character named Washington. That’s my only complaint though, so if that doesn’t bother you this is a great listen!

Narrator sounds creepy like "Outer Limits"

I love American History. I'll need to read this book because the narrator sounds so creepy.