Washington’s Circle: The Creation of the President by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler covers a large number of weighty topics and sheds light on many of the key players in the early government of the United States. Those looking for a glorious recounting of Washington’s triumphs during the Revolutionary War should look elsewhere.
The book is a fascinating study of varying personalities and political perspectives. It shows how Washington and others were influenced by their past experiences, but also molded by those with whom they interacted on a daily basis. The authors carefully avoid portraying George Washington as a perfect man who performed impeccably as the first president of the United States of America.
The descriptive language is sometimes humorous, but also serious in depicting the human frailties. One of the great descriptions of the book indicates a person was “a man who resembled a monkey and painted like one.” The book not only gave insight into the political views of the day, but also the health hazards prevalent during the late 1700s-early 1800s.
One negative aspect of the book is the section on Benedict Arnold. In the introduction, the authors specifically indicate they will not be addressing Revolutionary War exploits, but will instead focus on those items occurring during Washington’s Presidency. They stick to their promise by limiting past events to a paragraph or two. Then, in the chapter including Arnold, the writers spend several pages describing Arnold’s past.
Although reviewer time was not taken to verify the facts of the piece, there are many notes and references pointing interested readers to the sources of the information. The authors took time to research and address many interesting facets of post-revolutionary America and readers will certainly learn at least one thing they did not know previously.
Review of an Advance Reader Copy.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Random House
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 11 religious exclamations; 2 derogatory names.
Violence/Gore: Report of person ordering dogs to be hung; report of rocks being thrown and brick bats being used during a riot; people were killed by muskets during war; report of dismembered body parts being seen; report of bloody footprints in the snow; report of a surgery discussing use of a scalpel, but not blood; a few mentions of old medical practice of bleeding patients; character is concerned about another character contemplating suicide; report of a character’s head on a pike and the rest of the body being drug across the ground; reference to a man accidentally shooting off his own two fingers; report of a character being hatcheted and his brains squished in a person’s hands; a few mentions of beheadings with the guillotine; report of a home burned by arsonists; report of a child killing baby birds.
Sex/Nudity: Prostitutes, brothels and ladies of the night mentioned; references to illegitimate children; discussions of marital infidelity and sexual dalliances; report of a naked body, non-sexual; characters have mistresses; a person wanted more than money and another obliged, an obvious sexual implication.
Mature Subject Matter:
War, slavery, marital infidelity, terminal illnesses, death of children, spouses.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Report of one character having a complexion of a drinker; parties with lots of alcohol; adult characters consume rum and whiskey; many characters referred to as alcoholic or having drinking problems; people get tipsy at a dinner party.
