Young Washington

How Wilderness and War Forged America's Founding Father

By: Peter Stark

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

A vivid and groundbreaking portrait of a young, struggling George Washington that casts a new light on his character and the history of American independence, from the best-selling author of Astoria

Two decades before he led America to independence, George Washington was a flailing young soldier serving the British Empire in the vast wilderness of the Ohio Valley. Naive and self-absorbed, the 22-year-old officer accidentally ignited the French and Indian War - a conflict that opened colonists to the possibility of an American Revolution.

With powerful narrative drive and vivid writing, Young Washington recounts the wilderness trials, controversial battles, and emotional entanglements that transformed Washington from a temperamental striver into a mature leader. Enduring terrifying summer storms and subzero winters imparted resilience and self-reliance, helping prepare him for what he would one day face at Valley Forge. Leading the Virginia troops into battle taught him to set aside his own relentless ambitions and stand in solidarity with those who looked to him for leadership. Negotiating military strategy with British and colonial allies honed his diplomatic skills. And thwarted in his obsessive, youthful love for one woman, he grew to cultivate deeper, enduring relationships.

By weaving together Washington’s harrowing wilderness adventures and a broader historical context, Young Washington offers new insights into the dramatic years that shaped the man who shaped a nation.

©2018 Peter Stark (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Foot notes are annoying

Great story, though I feel like some of the scenes are embellished to create a dramatic effect, which is kinda cool and fun at times. The foot notes and citations are annoying. They should have been written into the story instead of a foot note every other paragraph with a citation. Overall a good book and another fun read for fans of his Excellency.

Fine New Information On George Washington

I was very pleased to learn about young Washington's actions and failures during the French Indian War. The few hints read in history books were well filled out. I appreciate the sense of Washington's development and growth as a young man. At times I was frustrated by the author's speculations on Washington's motive or possible feelings. when we don't have the information, we can remain silent. Good history.

Loved learning how a greater leader became one!

Great book. It made some assumptions, but framed them accordingly. Seemed to overplay the affections toward a friend, but otherwise it was top notch.

Catchy

I really enjoyed listening to this story about Washington’s youth. And my young kids loved listening too!! We all learned and got excited about the 18th century together!

Very well done

Exceeded my expectations. Enjoyed the focus on Washington’s often overlooked early years. Ended up being a very informative book on French Indian War

History

All of it, the foot notes, how creative it is. Good word pictures. The details were great.

Stark is a master storyteller

Peter Stark leads you into the damask wallpapered ballrooms of British-owned colonial America, He guides you on months-long trecks over the wintry Appalachians, nearly starving and freezing. You peer over the shoulder of 23-year-old George Washington as he bungles his first musket attack on a breakfasting French camp, and sets off the 7-years war (“The French and Indian War”, in North America). What a tale! Huge arcs of history. Giant egos! Battle carnage! Romance! You won’t think of the founding of the USA the same way after reading this.

Stark is a master story teller.

Excellent.

Well written, well researched, well read. I loved the historical detail and insights into Washington's personality and motivations. I enjoyed the narrator much more than Scott Brick's narration of George Washington, A Life. This book is a wonderful complement to that biography.

You think you know George Washington?

This is probably the most enlightening book on how and why President Washington ruled the way he did.
This work does not sugar coat or gloss over the failures and struggles that would craft the greatest President America has ever seen.
I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who thinks they know who George Washington was.
Lovers of American history and The Founding Fathers have been missing this detailed account and it has been done in a magnificent way in this book!
Last but not least- he footnotes are such an amazing addition and add a rich texture to the story.
You really get a sense of how truly amazing it was to have this man in the right place at the absolutely right time in our founding and we would not be here as Americans in 2021 had it been any other man.

Best Book I Have Ever Listened To...

I absolutely loved this book and will miss it terribly! I would recommend it to anyone!