George Washington, Volume 7

First in Peace

By: Douglas Southall Freeman

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

In Volume Seven, we come to the dramatic conclusion of George Washington's magnificent life. Reluctantly taking up the burdens of a second presidential term, Washington deferred a return to his beloved Mount Vernon in order to complete the crucial tasks of stabilizing the republic.

With factionalism growing at home and European powers proceeding toward an alarming conflict, Washington attempted to navigate a perilous path of strict neutrality and firm control of federal power. It was a thankless task made even more difficult by resignations from his cabinet and open hostility between Federalist and Republican partisans. Washington was mercilessly pilloried in the press. In the end, the President prevailed over every obstacle and navigated the ship of state to the calm waters of neutrality.

With the nation now free to concentrate on building infrastructure and acquiring profitable trading alliances, Washington left office and returned to Mount Vernon. But affairs remained unsettled under Adams, and Washington kept a close eye on events.

The final volume in this Pulitzer prize-winning series was not written by Douglas Southall Freeman, who had died in 1953, but by his assistants, J. A. Carroll and M. W. Ashworth.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©1957 Charles Scribners Sons (P)2020 Audio Connoisseur

Critic reviews

"Freeman's treatment of Washington as a Commander in Chief is virtually definitive" (The New York Times Book Review)

"For the popular, novelized biography, full of glib insights into the inner man, Freeman has nothing but contempt. His dogged intent is to portray Washington day by day and year by year, through each new experience, as if nothing were known and nothing were certain about his future." (Time Magazine)

To know him is to love him

After reading the final 6 volumes in this series this year, I truly feel as if I know the man and I am the better for it.

Remarkable.

Though Dr. Freeman died before this book could be written and thereby finish his remarkable 10 years of research, it’s nonetheless nearly impossible to distinguish the writing of this volume from those he wrote himself. His aides knew him well.

It’s cliché I know but it’s true that I could listen to Charlton Griffin read a McDonald’s menu board and enjoy it thoroughly. He’s been added to my list of preferred narrators and I’ll be looking for other titles.

In fact, I’m starting Dr. Freeman’s Robert E. Lee biography as soon as I submit this review. It’s also narrated by Griffin and I’m so looking forward to it.

Minor quibble alert. Of the seven volumes of this biography that I’ve just finished listening to, this is the only one that has a couple of editing errors.

One is an instance where the word ‘Washington’ was cut to “Wash”.

The other was a first for me in all the books I’ve listened to. I heard the narrator turn a page. I know they’re reading from pages but I’d never heard that before. Strangely, it made me feel somehow more connected to the narrator. I can’t say why.

Listen to this series in order and you’ll be grateful you did. It’s an amazing piece of literature so superbly written and performed that the hours just fly by.