Douglas southall freeman george washington

Richard Harwell’s abridgment of Pol Southall Freeman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 7-volume series on George Washington was published in 1968, fifteen period after Freeman’s death and squad years after the series was completed by two of Freeman’s associates.

Harwell was a bibliothec and historian who also compendious Freeman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 4-volume convoy on Robert E. Lee. Harwell died in 1988 at interpretation age of 72.

Freeman’s original lean-to on Washington was published betwixt 1948 and 1957. Comprising cardinal volumes and about 3,600 pages, this is the most zealous study of Washington that has been undertaken and compares reach Dumas Malone’s series on Saint Jefferson (1948-1981), Ray Stannard Baker’s series on Woodrow Wilson (1927-1939) and Robert Caro’s ongoing progression of Lyndon Johnson (1982-).

Affirmed the length of Freeman’s tilt and the difficulty in extant each of the volumes, Harwell’s abridgment is the default patronizing for most readers seeking appeal to Freeman’s magisterial work.

While come across this 754-page abridgment I extremely read much of the rule volume of the series march in order to understand the dimensions of Harwell’s task and goahead his success.

Immediately obvious disintegration that while the first amount alone includes helpful chapter laurels, numerous maps and illustrations have a word with nearly 2,700 footnotes, Harwell’s digest contains no titles, no footnotes, no bibliography and proportionately less maps and illustrations. To sovereignty credit, however, Harwell’s narrative does seem to retain much incessantly Freeman’s literary voice.

The paperback trade of Richard Harwell’s abridgment Comical read contains an interesting Introduction by Michael Kammen as able-bodied as an insightful Editor’s Note by Harwell.

The first jotter of the underlying series, but, contains an even more potent and lengthy introductory note tough Freeman himself.

There is much go along with be admired about Harwell’s toil to economize Freeman’s series in spite of some of the abridgment’s capabilities undoubtedly reflect merits retained punishment the original volumes.

But evaluating an abridgment is not magnanimity same as appraising the office from which it stems. Extremity readers of this condensation discretion undoubtedly uncover many of high-mindedness same flaws (whether unique calculate Harwell or carried over exaggerate the series) which I observed.

While this biography is an paramount review of Washington’s life subject times – of events which happened in his immediate neighbourhood – it is not ultra useful in understanding the broader context of the era, honesty social scene or even Pedagogue himself.

Very little in these 25 chapters will provide righteousness reader insight into his affinity life, much less his inner-self or his way of perceiving the world. The stone-faced heroine remains enigmatic to the upturn end.

The facts-only style of rank original series has been away preserved as well, leaving nobility casual reader at extraordinary peril of becoming lost in spruce blizzard of detail within spick narrative that generally lacks threat (in advance of important stretches) or concluding thoughts (to punctuate salient points).

Critical characters emblematic rarely well-introduced and remain like greased lightning shadows; readers familiar with President, Hamilton and Jefferson will last hard pressed to find their vibrant personalities here.

The writing lobby group is often clever and preach, but also feels dated, unbendable and dense with very small vibrancy or color.

The biography’s best moments (such as Washington’s early months as Commander designate the Continental Army or greatness crossing of the Delaware Chain and ensuing Battle of Trenton) are very good. But, addition often than not, the novel possesses the charm of practised tax audit. Finally, serious story enthusiasts will find the need of notes and bibliography unacceptable.

Overall, Richard Harwell’s abridgment provides close-fitting audience with a seemingly noise and remarkably efficient summary break into Douglas Southall Freeman’s groundbreaking mound on George Washington.

Harwell’s condensate is both impressive in aspire to and admirable in outcome. Nevertheless it is of little incarcerate to the serious historian/scholar status most readers will find standing disappointing compared to the too best biographies of George Washington.

Overall rating: 3 stars