A Companion to George Washington

These essays by scholars and popular historians cover every aspect of Washington's life and provide rich new insights into his legacy. George Washington is a national American icon. A towering historical figure—both in stature and reputation—Washington has attracted generations of scholars while continuing to fascinate the modern public. Yet with so many scholarly and popular works available on Washington, could there possibly be anything new left to be said? The answer is an emphatic yes, with the recent release of some 135,000 new documents through the Papers of George Washington, documentary editing project dedicated to the transcription and publication of original documents. Utilizing this treasure trove of new primary source material, A Companion to George Washington presents a series of original essays that shed important new light on the most enigmatic of the original founding fathers. Featuring original research from several top scholars and popular historians, readings examine almost every conceivable aspect of the great man’s life, including Washington’s youth, family, and education; his experiences in the French and Indian War; his views on slavery and the management of Mount Vernon; his military career, political career, and retirement; and Washington’s enduring legacy for the United States. A Companion to George Washington offers modern readers and scholars alike with a wealth of fresh and fascinating new insights into America’s first founding father. Utilizing new primary source material from the Papers of George Washington, a documentary editing project dedicated to the transcription and publication of original documents, A Companion to George Washington features a collection of original readings from scholars and popular historians that shed new light on all aspects of the life of George Washington. Provides readers with new insights into previously neglected aspects of Washington's life Features original essays from top scholars and popular historians Based on new research from thousands of previously unpublished letters to and from Washington