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Reviews
| Martha Washington: An American Life, by Patricia Brady. New York: Penguin Books, 2006. 288 pages. $15.00, paper.
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| Patricia Brady begins and ends her conversation about Martha Washington with the L.P. Hartley quote, "The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there." These words capture the essence and the strength of Martha Washington: An American Life. While it provides insight into the life of America's premier first lady, the strength of Brady's work lies in her ability to illuminate the intricacies of life in early America, especially the mores and daily activities of the landed gentry in early Virginia. Brady also offers a vivid portrayal of the interactions between early American politicians that contrasts with the stock characters that are oftentimes presented in high school textbooks. For example, the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson about creating a national bank is commonly portrayed as a dispute solely based on economic theory. Looking beyond this version of the story, Brady paints an in-depth picture of both the relationship between Hamilton and Jefferson and the close-knit political society in which their debate occurred. When Alexander Hamilton was infected with yellow fever, Jefferson "characterized his opponent's illness as imaginary, brought on by Hamilton's 'excessive alarm'" (p. 199). Furthermore, in a letter to James Madison, Jefferson mocked "his [Hamilton's] supposed timidity on water and horseback" and doubted whether Hamilton's reputation for military courage was genuine (p. 199). Brady's approach gives life to the past, making history clear, multi-dimensional, and understandable. |
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Brady's work can also be used to discuss the nature of historical investigation. For example, Brady notes the limitations imposed on her work by the fact that Martha Washington destroyed the majority of her letters to George Washington. Somewhat less problematic, but still eye-opening for young students, is Brady's discussion about the difficulties historians encounter while reviewing sources. Due to eighteenth-century marriage practices (frequent remarriage due to death) and naming practices, numerous people in one family carried the same name. This makes it difficult to decipher the identity of individuals when reading diary entries and letters. Exploring the logistical obstacles historians encounter provides the opportunity to discuss how histories are created and therefore how histories should be interpreted. |
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Martha's marriage to George Washington serves as the dividing point between the two sections of the book. The first, focused on her life before her marriage to George Washington, discuses her origins and family. This detailed discussion sheds light on the marriage practices, daily routines, and the morality of the time. The paucity of information often forces Brady to make educated assumptions. The focus of the book shifts dramatically once Martha marries George Washington. Brady continues to discuss the events of her life, but now it is her husband George's life, not Martha's, that steers the narrative. Given the importance of George Washington, and because women were largely dependent upon their husbands during this time period, this approach is valid. There is an insightful analysis of her relationship with her husband which notes that her relationship with the wives of contemporary politicians influenced and even facilitated George Washington's ability to interact with his colleagues. However the picture and analysis of her loses depth and is much weaker than the analysis presented in Brady's pre-George Washington discussion. Brady's language is sometimes romanticized. Although a discussion of "the burning intensity of her love for George Washington" (p. 105) may be valid, this language becomes problematic when Brady's arguments rest on these types of romanticized statements. Martha Washington: An American Life does a fine job of presenting the events of Martha Washington's life. With diligent attention to the books' several weaknesses, high school educators can use this book effectively to discuss early America, Martha Washington's significance in American history, and the nature of historical investigation. |
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| California State University, Long Beach |
Laurie M. Chin |
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