James Madison
Books | Biography & Autobiography / Presidents & Heads of State
4.2
Lynne Cheney
A major new biography of the fourth U.S. president, from New York Times–bestselling author Lynne CheneyJames Madison was a true genius of the early republic, the leader who did more than any other to create the nation we know today. This majestic new biography tells his story.Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution. His visionary political philosophy—eloquently presented in the Federalist Papers—was a crucial factor behind the Constitution’s ratification, and his political savvy was of major importance in getting the new government underway. As secretary of state under Thomas Jefferson, he managed the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States. As president, Madison led the country in its first war under the Constitution, the War of 1812. Without precedent to guide him, he would demonstrate that a republic could defend its honor and independence while remaining true to its young constitution.
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More Details:
Author
Lynne Cheney
Pages
592
Publisher
Penguin
Published Date
2015-05-05
ISBN
0143127039 9780143127031
Ratings
Google: 1
Community ReviewsSee all
"I've been reading a lot of biographies of the founding fathers and this one is unique in its tone and structure. Cheney certainly has strong feelings about both her subject and his actions, which she is not shy to share, and I'm fine with that, whether I agree with her opinions or not. That sort of editorializing helps to keep a book from becoming dry. My bigger issue with the book is how it delves into Madison and his life; although all the high points are covered, I feel at times as though the book is rushing through his life, without the detail I've found in many of the other biographies I've read recently. Perhaps because of that, I also never felt like I knew James Madison; I walked away with a general feeling of the man, but I almost feel like I know him better through biographies of other men in this period. It was disappointing to feel like, after over 400 pages, I still had only the barest sketch of who James Madison was."
John Detrick