The Ascent of George Washington

The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon

By John Ferling

A brilliant new portrait of George Washington as politician and leader from the author of the bestselling Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War for Independence.

Perhaps the most revered American of all, George Washington has long been considered a stoic leader who held himself above the fray of political infighting. What has gone unnoticed about the much-researched life of Washington is that he was in fact a consummate politician, as historian John Ferling shows in this revealing and provocative new book. As leader of the Continental Army, Washington's keen political savvy enabled him not only to outwit superior British forces, but--even more challenging--to manage the fractious and intrusive Continental Congress. Despite dire setbacks early in the war, Washington deftly outmaneuvered rival generals and defused dissent from officers below him, ending the war with the status of a national icon. His carefully burnished reputation allowed Washington, as president, to lead the country under the guise of non-partisanship for almost all of his eight years in office. Washington, Ferling argues, was not only one of America's most adroit politicians, he was easily the most successful of all time--so successful, in fact, that he is no longer thought of as having been political.

Reviews for The Ascent of George Washington:

"Once in a while a book comes along to remind us that history has no gods, that the past is less fossil than textbooks suggest and America more vibrant than a mere list of principles. John Ferling's "Ascent of George Washington" is just such a book: a fresh, clear-eyed portrait of the full-blooded political animal that was George Washington...In John Ferling's eminently readable, landmark interpretation, we cannot help but marvel at the man. —Marie Arana, The Washington Post . Read full review.

“You have to hand it to Mr. Ferling. So much has already been written about Washington—by so many scholars from so many angles—that there really isn't much left to be said… Mr. Ferling's writing is fluent and informed, and if he diminishes the mythic Washington on the one hand, he builds up the pragmatic Washington on the other as "a highly political individual, one of the very best politicians in American history.” —Aram Bakshian Jr, Wall Street Journal. Read full review.

Included in the St Louis Post Dispatch Summer Books Round Up.

"Ferling shatters the myth of a selfless, nonpartisan patriarch who wielded power without ambition.in Ferling's opinion, Washington was a masterful politician who deserves to be recognized as one of the very best in US history. An outstanding book. Essential."—Choice

John was also on WOSU Open Line Open, scroll down and listen.

“Sensing that such biographers as James Flexner and Joseph Ellis have accepted the above-politics thesis, Ferling inspects the evidence of Washington’s political activities…while illustrating the substance behind Washington’s image as the indispensable man, Ferling pointedly grounds that image in the political soil from which it sprang.”–Booklist

“Ferling has done his research and offers some new insights…recommended for readers interested in taking a fresh look at Washington's political life” –Library Journal

“Never questioning Washington’s greatness, Ferling insists that seeing him as an artful self-promoter and master politician only enhances his reputation as an adept leader who knew exactly what he was doing…a fresh take on a monumental American.” –Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Almost a Miracle:

“John Ferling is a national resource, and Almost a Miracle is a splendid combination of subject with a superb historian writing at the peak of his powers.”—Michael Beschloss, author of Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989

The vignette and brushstroke fit together flawlessly. General readers and specialists alike will applaud this work. Highly recommended.”—Choice

“Arguably the best, and certainly one of the most stimulating, single-volume histories of the American Revolution. Exhaustively researched and clearly written.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Comprehensive and engaging…Grand stuff and sweeping themes.”—Jon Meacham, Washington Post Book World