JAMES MADISON

In this biography, Garry Wills takes a harsh look at an early president and shaper of the U.S. Constitution. James Madison, who led the nation in its first foreign war, the War of 1812, was a rare wartime leader who is not ranked among our nation’s top presidents, Wills writes. Here, Wills sets out to articulate why, detailing Madison’s personal flaws, the political climate he faced, and the often questionable decisions he made because of these influences. Although often critical, Wills ultimately reaches a balanced assessment of Madison’s career. Ira Claffey reads with the necessary detachment. Most interesting is the glimpse of how personality has always shaped politics, not just in the TV age. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB / MAR 03]