
The Life of George Washington (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Romantic Historical Biography of Revolutionary War Leadership and the Early American RepublicBy Washington IrvingLength34h 26m
About this audiobook
Published in five volumes between 1855 and 1859, The Life of George Washington is Washington Irving's ambitious attempt to render the first president as both historical actor and exemplary national figure. Drawing on documentary materials and earlier biographical accounts, Irving traces Washington's career from colonial Virginia and the French and Indian War through the Revolution, presidency, and retirement at Mount Vernon. The narrative combines archival exposition with the elegance, irony, and atmospheric description associated with Irving's fiction and essays. Its polished prose, moral emphasis, and attention to character place it within the nineteenth-century tradition of national biography, when history served simultaneously as scholarship, civic instruction, and the construction of American memory. Irving, born in 1783, belonged to the first generation of internationally recognized American men of letters. His years in Europe, his historical biographies of Christopher Columbus and other figures, and his lifelong interest in the origins of the United States prepared him for this culminating work. Writing in the decades before the Civil War, he confronted the need to preserve a unifying republican ideal while acknowledging the complexities of Washington's political world. His admiration is evident, yet his method seeks a measured portrait grounded in research rather than mere patriotic legend. This book is especially valuable for readers interested in Washington, early American political culture, biography, and the formation of national mythology. It rewards attention both as a historical source and as a sophisticated literary interpretation of American leadership.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.3 (193)
Includes Goodreads, Amazon
GenreBiography and Memoir
Length34 hrs 26 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 13, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
26CHAPTER XXI.
2Introduction
27CHAPTER XXII.
3Synopsis
28CHAPTER XXIII.
4Historical Context
29CHAPTER XXIV.
5Author Biography
30CHAPTER XXV.
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6CHAPTER I.
31CHAPTER XXVI.
7CHAPTER II.
32CHAPTER XXVII.
8CHAPTER III.
33CHAPTER XXVIII.
9CHAPTER IV.
34CHAPTER XXIX.
10CHAPTER V.
35CHAPTER XXX.
11CHAPTER VI.
36CHAPTER XXXI.
12CHAPTER VII.
37CHAPTER XXXII.
13CHAPTER VIII.
38CHAPTER XXXIII.
14CHAPTER IX.
39CHAPTER XXXIV.
15CHAPTER X.
40CHAPTER XXXV.
16CHAPTER XI.
41CHAPTER XXXVI.
17CHAPTER XII.
42CHAPTER XXXVII.
18CHAPTER XIII.
43CHAPTER XXXVIII.
19CHAPTER XIV.
44CHAPTER XXXIX.
20CHAPTER XV.
45CHAPTER XL.
21CHAPTER XVI.
46CHAPTER XLI.
22CHAPTER XVII.
47CHAPTER XLII.
23CHAPTER XVIII.
48CHAPTER XLIII.
24CHAPTER XIX.
49CHAPTER XLIV.
25CHAPTER XX.
50CHAPTER XLV.