THE ASCENT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon

The author claims not to have written a biography of the first U.S. president, but rather an examination of his politics. Much of the book's language comes from letters, speeches, and newspapers of the eighteenth century, making the vocabulary and style seem stilted and foreign. One can, however, still learn a great deal about Washington's military mind, his demeanor, and how his contemporaries viewed him. Norman Dietz narrates as many nonfiction lovers prefer: no frills or embellishments, just words off the page. His pace never varies from medium-slow, allowing listeners to hear and understand every word. As some audio readers also prefer, his plain-vanilla narration gradually moves to the background, allowing the focus to stay on the vast amount of historical information. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2009]