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The Intimate Lives Of The Founding Fathers (2009)

by Thomas J. Fleming(Favorite Author)

3.87 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0061139122 (ISBN13: 9780061139123)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Smithsonian

review 1: A really interesting book. Most of these "founding fathers" were greatly influenced by their wives and children. As in all families, their were also some kids who went bad, some drunken uncles who went bankrupt, and tragic early deaths of children. It was fun to learn about their early relationships that did not lead to marriage. I never realized how young wealthy widows were strongly pursued. They brought wealth and status to a future spouse and they gained a partner who could help them manage large farms and investments. I especially enjoyed reading about Dolley Madison.
review 2: Well worth the time. I've read biographies of all of men covered by this book except for Alexander Hamilton but still felt I learned a great deal more about each of them. The word "... moreintimate" in the title is, however, somewhat misleading as for for the most part, Jefferson being the exception, the book addresses the personal connections these men had with their parents, siblings, wives and children rather than their love interests or mistresses. Fleming does a good job of explaining how those relations shaped their respective characters and personalities. My only other quibble with the book was the excessive attention paid by the author to Jefferson's connection to Sally Hemming. A few pages covering that subject would have more than sufficed but Fleming went on and on for dozens of pages and I found it tedious. less

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