Peter R. Henriques is Professor of History, Emeritus, at George Mason University and author of Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington (Virginia).
[A] skillful historian brings to life, with economy and
discernment, an episode in which a statesman actually tried to
reconcile the demands of leadership with the requirements of
personal honor.-- "National Review"
A pleasant collection of isolated essays on the first president.
Although retired from his professorship at George Mason University,
Henriques cannot resist writing about his favorite subject,
delivering eight expert chapters... At least in theory, the
Founding Fathers believed that slavery was wrong, but Washington
was the only one whose will freed all of his slaves. Henriques'
descriptions of some of Washington's slaves turn up
surprises--e.g., that they owned property (including guns) and were
occasionally entrusted with money.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
Historian Peter Henriques has spent a distinguished career studying
the life of George Washington. In First and Always, he reveals
insights into the man in eight erudite and highly readable
essays.... Henriques, in his final chapter, posits a bold and
unique interpretation of Washington as a man driven by ambition,
arguing that the choices the childless first president made were
based on a yearning for fame that would endure beyond his
lifetime.-- "The Beacon"
I had thought Peter Henriques' previous book was one of the best
I'd ever read about George Washington, but with the publication of
Henriques' latest, I'm going to have to add another book to that
select list. First and Always is wonderful--a fascinating,
revelatory examination of our first president in all his startling
complexity. Henriques pulls no punches when it comes to the darker,
controversial sides of Washington's character, yet First and Always
remains a balanced and deeply sympathetic portrayal of the leader
without whom there would be no United States.--Nathaniel Philbrick,
author of Valiant Ambition and In the Hurricane's Eye
No one knows more about George Washington than Peter Henriques, who
has spent years exploring nearly every nook and cranny of
Washington's extraordinary life and character. In First and Always,
Henriques assays the qualities that led to Washington's greatness,
but he does not ignore the man's faults. The result is a balanced,
nuanced, and illuminating portrait that is a must read for all who
wish to understand George Washington.--John Ferling, author of
Whirlwind: The American Revolution and the War That Won It
Peter Henriques highlights the color and drama of George
Washington's life with this vivid and revealing portrait. First and
Always is original, perceptive, persuasive, innovative in terms of
its method, and highly appealing in terms of its execution. As both
a writer and a historian, Henriques is at the top of his
game.--Robert M. S. McDonald, United States Military Academy,
editor of Sons of the Father: George Washington and His
Protégés
Peter Henriques' answer to the question of what made George
Washington tick: honor and fame.Despite Washington's repeated
assertions that he wanted nothing morethan to live a quiet life at
Mount Vernon, he wanted very much to be adored.-- "Trend &
Tradition"
Peter Henriques's short, shrewd takes on Washington climax in a
masterly essay on the passions that burned within him, and his
lifelong effort to tame them to the service of liberty and his
country.--Richard Brookhiser, author of Founding Father:
Rediscovering George Washington
There are already so many studies of Washington that any new
biography ishard-pressed to offer something original. Peter R.
Henriques has spent hiscareer studying Washington and the Founding
Fathers and, in First and Always: A New Portrait of George
Washington, he rises to the challenge by presenting apenetrating
character study of Washington that reflects a deep familiarity
withWashington's writings-- "Journal of Early American History"
Those looking for further context for [Washington's] remarkable
life will appreciate Mr. Henriques's thoughtful collection of
essays, which share insights gained during decades of research and
teaching.... Taken together, the disparate topics scrutinized in
First and Always form a coherent and convincing study of
Washington's character.-- "Wall Street Journal"
With so many books already written about the Founding Fathers, some
believe there is nothing new to be learned about those men....
Peter Henriques shows us in First and Always that this is not
true.... No one is better able to give us an insightful portrait of
the revolutionary war general and first American president. From
the outset, Henriques makes it clear that he admires Washington,
but he does not shy from criticizing him when warranted. In the
book's 226 easy to read and well-written pages, including notes and
a bibliographical essay, Henriques gives the reader superlative
insights into the man, his character, and his career.-- "Journal of
the American Revolution"
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