Review of Joseph J. Ellis' His Excellency: George Washington
January 13, 2023
Joseph J. Ellis' His Excellency: George Washington was an excellent way (no pun intended) to kick off the presidential biography project. There was no way possible that I was going to be able to read Ron Cherow's Washington: A Life to kick this off. The book is very long, cumbersome, minutely detailed, and with small print. Ellis' had the right length and went into just enough detail.
One of the things I liked about it was the fact that each chapter started off with a good introduction into what was about to happen and then descended into the content. While many take this for granted, we all know authors who have a hard time doing just that. It read beautifully and I enjoyed it.
I also learned a lot about Washington that I never would have imagined. It was impossibly obsessed with his image and reputation, so much so that he was still editing his early correspondence even after he ended his presidency. He was also one of those people who would wave away praise but actively sought it. Ellis portrayed Washington as a living mythical figure who tried so hard to retire but was never really allowed to.
Though I will go back to Chernow's book at the end, Ellis' book was an excellent way to kick this project off. I will start reading David McCullough's John Adams today and hopefully get that done soon. It's been good to step away from the screen and read a book with black and white ink that doesn't need to have its battery recharged.
Rating: 4.25 / 5