When they declared independence in Philadelphia in 1776; they changed the course of Western history. But the patriots—landowners; merchants; and professional men who hailed from towns; cities; and plantations scattered along the eastern seaboard—had private lives too; quite apart from the public deeds we know so well. In this breathtaking volume; historian Hugh Howard and photographer Roger Straus examine the everyday lives of the Founding Fathers. Houses of the Founding Fathers takes us on an eye-opening tour of forty stately eighteenth-century houses. We see the mansions of such legendary figures as Jefferson; Washington; Adams; and Hamilton; along with the homes of many other signers of the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. At sites from Maine to Georgia; with stops in each of the thirteen colonies; the grand story of the Revolution emerges from unique and individual domestic perspectives. Houses overlooking the sea; in busy townscapes; or atop mountains reveal these patriots’ tastes in architecture; furniture; and horticulture. There are tales of friends and enemies; murderous relatives; reluctant revolutionaries; adoring wives; and runaway servants. The founding families are brought to life in the rituals of birth and death; the food they ate; the archaic medical practices they endured; their household arrangements; and the way their slaves lived. Houses of the Founding Fathers offers a penetrating look at the private lives of the men whose ideas ignited an insurrection against England—and who helped create the modern world.
#1172545 in Books Potomac Books Inc. 2006-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.08 x 6.30 x 9.20l; 1.26 #File Name: 1574889575336 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Dorothy Fall's book is a beautiful tribute to a great scholarBy Dr. Jo AnnBernard Fall was my professor at Howard in Spring 1959. Knowing him has impacted my life ever since. Dorothy Fall's book is a beautiful tribute to a great scholar; writer and human being. When I read of his death in Time magazine in 1967 I was devastated that we had lost such a incredible man; and at a time when our country so badly needed to hear his truths and wisdom. His like is needed even more in the days since November 2016.Jo Ann Mitchell Young; Ph.D.18 of 18 people found the following review helpful. A Great ManBy Uriah PiddleI took a break from coding; wandered over to the internet and googled 'Bernard Fall'. I ended up at a website that asked for reminiscenses from any people who might have known the great scholar-journalist-soldier. I had never met Bernard Fall but always felt a kinship so I sent an e-mail and the next day received a reply from Dorothy Fall; his widow. She told me about her book and now I have read it.Mrs. Fall's account of Bernard's falling out with his professor brought home to me a truth that I have learned in life: once harsh words are spoken; something breaks inside that can never be repaired. Yes; you can reconcile but the trust -- the true friendship -- that was there is gone never to be regained. I have seen this too many times. Never humiliate or let your angry words cross the line that separates communication -- however heated -- and personal attack. If you do; your friend will become your acquaintance. If it is your spouse; your child; your mother or father; brother or sister; you will acquire a sadness and a regret that stays with you until you die.Except for my father and elderly relatives; I have never lost a loved one and the prospect has always been my greatest fear. But Mrs. Fall lost her dear one in such an abrupt way and at such a young age. The greatness of the man never diminishes but his fame does diminish with time. I can't imagine what it is like to live with the memory of such a man after over 40 years. I am grateful that she wrote this book to help keep his memory alive and I hope that it will point some young people in the direction of his books and thus carry his legacy to future generations.To the extent that Bernard Fall's major works can be described as scholarly in nature; they are of an extremely engaging and accessible type. If they can be called journalism; they are a rare form of scholarly journalism. I know his books are read widely in the military. I wonder if his works and his methods are studied much in journalism schools. They should be. The point here is that his observations were delivered not as simple reportage or advocacy but as the result of careful and thorough research. Would that all reporters today took that approach. Would that the men in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations had given him the time that he deserved. Some had a bunker mentality born of the realities of the cold war. They correctly saw that many on the anti-war left were not just against the war but were ideologically in sync with communism and hoped for an American defeat for its own sake. Their error was that they could not see that Fall was not one of them. He could have helped so much. Others were just arrogant.Another aspect of Fall's writing is his acceptance of the nature of war. Read 'Hell In A Very Small Place' and reflect on the affection that the French soldiers had for their 'quad 50's'. Fall understood that affection and related it to the reader unalloyed by moral reservations. Up until the end of the seige; French voluteers jumped into the valley and likely death. Again; Fall understood what motivated these men and this understanding comes through in his writing. Had he been in the service at the time; I am sure that he would have been among those who jumped.So why would a 61-year-old programmer end up googling Bernard Fall? I was a history major but went to study in Thailand in '66 while under the influence of the finest teacher I have ever met; political science professor Ralph Fretty. I bought Fall's books from a bookstore in Bangkok and read them all in my spare time. Professor Fretty taught me what true scholarship is and I immediately perceived that in Fall's writings. When I read the affectionate accounts of Fall's former students that Dorothy Fall included in her book; everything clicked. I hold Bernard Fall's memory dearly because he is; for me; a Mr. Chips. Like professor Fretty; he taught me the true meaning of scholarship. When the teacher is of such greatness; the devotion never dies.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The expert on Viet Nam who found it so hard to be believed.By batalongI read Bernard Fall's three books back in the seventies; after I had been to Vietnam; and wished I had had the benefits of his knowledge and understanding of the country when I could have put it to better use. His comment that this was a war that could not be lost militarily and could not be won politically is a frightening description of the situation in which the United States found itself in the late sixties and early seventies and in which it is also fighting today. This biography is written with love; accuracy; and; where necessary; it is appropriately critical. I recommend it to all who were involved in the French and American phases of what has turned out to be a totally unnecessary war.
