ebooks Madison's Gift: Five Partnerships That Built America by David O. Stewart in History

Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Gifted MadisonBy VA DuckAuthor David O. Stewart has found a new treatment for one of the "Revered Six" founders that tells the story of James Madison Jr. via his associations with five of his most critical personal relationships. It looks at the founder from only a slightly adjusted vantage point - compared to the standard biography - and yet it works as something new on a known subject! If you are familiar with Madison; the accomplishments; defeats draws are all there; but Stewart is able to bring a different light to events by stressing friendships and political alliances that made Madison's contribution so critical to the Founding period. Washington; Hamilton; Jefferson; Monroe and even Mrs. Madison; Dolly; are the 'character actors' in this rendition - with Madison playing the 'staring role'.Stewart doesn't aim for the impossibly 'perfect' founder in Madison. Occasionally a blemish is allowed to show through such as Madison's dismissal of his own gift for impeccable logic in favor of an embarrassingly illogical argument against ratification of the Jay Treaty of 1795. Madison tried to argue the House had a role in treaty ratification despite the explicit words of the Constitution and despite a failed attempt (by others) at the Constitutional Convention to require treaty via statute (pg. 162). Others even less gifted - would have none of it. And even "it" may have been undertaken only as an effort to avoid having to go one-on-one with the deviously clever Hamilton in another public essays war.It is not surprising that Stewart provides an easy and well written read; his earlier books (American Emperor...; and The Summer of 1787...) established that talent. The stories of "Madison's Gift" show the development of friendships and alliances - and in the case of both Washington and Hamilton - the decline of friendship the result of partisan politics. The book; even in kindle format; also includes a number of portraits of the subjects - personalizing the read in addition to Stewart's talented style. The final three chapters free Stewart of the narrative style and he impresses with Madison observations; anecdotes factoids. Even for those readers experienced by a number of Madison biographies (Ketcham's; James Madison: A Biography is the acknowledged standard of comparison) there are some object lessons and reminders of Madison's brilliance; modesty; honesty and integrity. As a first read of Madison; the breadth of this book - that is; the scope of Madison's accomplishments - make the read a great start; solidly based in detailed research (and well cited facts) as well as thorough editing fact checking. (This last point conspicuously missing in another recent offering on Madison.)3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. One of the best treatments of the father of the ConstitutionBy J. L. Annis Jr.Madison's Gift is a truly inspired treatment of our fourth President. In it; Stewart uses Madison's relationships with five illustrious compatriots -George Washington; Alexander Hamilton; Thomas Jefferson; James Monroe and wife Dolley - to demonstrate Madison's modus operandi in matters as important and varied as crafting the compromises that facilitated the ratification of the Constutution; drafting the Federalist Papers; building the first opposition party and presiding over the War of 1812. While laudatory in depicting Madison's intelligence; conciliatory nature; and nonvindictive way of pushing his programs; Stewart does not shy away from addressing Madison's biggest flaws. Key is a chapter where he addresses Madison's quite contradictory philosophical opposition to slavery and his unwillingness to liberate his own 100 slave work force. Stewart's portrait renders an all too human father of the Constitution who reflected his times well and did better than most but sadly did not transcend those times. His means of analysis allow him to engage the reader in a far more succinct manner than others who have treated the complexities of "little Jemmy." Well worth making the time to read.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Well Written and Well DocumentedBy Alan E. JohnsonThis book proves that a historian can write for both a general and scholarly audience at the same time. The text of the work is quite well written. It expresses in plain English—not in academic jargon—many important facts and developments regarding the life and thought of James Madison. Meanwhile; the endnotes carefully document; often with reference to primary sources; the factual statements and quotations in the text.And the book does not simply recycle what others have already written about Madison. David O. Stewart carefully delineates the characters of Madison and his five partners (Alexander Hamilton; George Washington; Thomas Jefferson; James Monroe; and Dolley Madison) by using documentary sources that are not routinely employed in studies of the Founders. Stewart also avoids presenting one-dimensional portraits of these individuals. Each is shown to be a complicated person; combining good and not-so-good qualities. I found Stewart's treatment of Madison's views and actions regarding slavery to be especially insightful. Madison struggled to find a solution to that terrible problem. Although he knew that slavery was wrong; he could not find a way; either for himself or for the nation; to eliminate its practice and insidious influence.We are left; as the author undoubtedly intended us to be left; with the realization that the Founders were human beings; albeit sometimes extraordinary human beings. We might well conclude; with Hamlet; that each of these individuals "was a man [or woman]; take him for all in all: / I shall not look upon his like againe." William Shakespeare; Hamlet; 1:2:376-77; in The Norton Facsimile: The First Folio of Shakespeare; 2nd ed.; ed. Charlton Hinman and Peter W. M. Blayney (New York: W. W. Norton; 1996); 763.