Book Review

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Book Review | The Journal of American History, 86.3 | The History Cooperative

George Washington: A Life. By Willard Sterne Randall. (New York: Holt, 1997. x, 548 pp. $35.00, isbn 0-8050-2779-3.)

Since 1965 a four-volume life of George Washington and at least four single-volume biographies have been published. Numerous studies have appeared recently that scrutinize aspects of Washington's life, including his youth, character, military endeavors, and presidency. Given the magnitude, and quality, of much of this literature, any new biography must offer fresh and innovative insights if it is to contribute to our understanding of Washington. Sadly, Willard Sterne Randall's life history of Washington fails to meet that exacting standard. 1

Randall's life of Washington is not without merit. With few peers in academe as a literary craftsman, he has produced an engagingly written account that vividly captures many dramatic events in Washington's life. His depiction of battles, as well as his portrayal of Washington's perilous journey to Fort LeBoeuf in 1753 and the backbreaking construction of Fort Necessity the following summer, are unsurpassed. 2

Nevertheless, this work is marred not only by a lack of bold, original analysis but too often by an absence altogether of analysis. Randall explains neither Washington's success as a planter-businessman nor his extraordinary leadership abilities. Washington's failures are often skirted. For instance, Randall does not acknowledge, much less attempt to explain, General Washington's indecision that nearly proved fatal in the campaign for New York and the battle of Brandywine and that resulted in disasters at forts Washington and Lee. . . .

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