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  • American Creation

  • Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic
  • Written by: Joseph J. Ellis
  • Narrated by: John H. Mayer
  • Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
  • 3.0 out of 5 stars (1 rating)

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American Creation

Written by: Joseph J. Ellis
Narrated by: John H. Mayer
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Publisher's Summary

From the first shots fired at Lexington to the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the negotiations for the Louisiana Purchase, Joseph J. Ellis guides us through the decisive issues of the nation's founding and illuminates the emerging philosophies, shifting alliances, and personal and political foibles of our now iconic leaders: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, and Adams. He casts an incisive eye on the founders' achievements, arguing that the American Revolution was, paradoxically, an evolution, and that part of what made it so extraordinary was the gradual pace at which it occurred. He explains how the idea of a strong federal government was eventually embraced by the American people and details the emergence of the two-party system, which stands as the founders' most enduring legacy.

Ellis is equally incisive about their failures, and he makes clear how their inability to abolish slavery and to reach a just settlement with the Native Americans has played an equally important role in shaping our national character. With eloquence and insight, Ellis strips the mythic veneer of the revolutionary generation to reveal men both human and inspired, possessed of both brilliance and blindness. American Creation is an audiobook that delineates an era of flawed greatness, at a time when understanding our origins is more important than ever.

©2007 Joseph J. Ellis (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What the critics say

"A history bound for phenomenal popularity." ( Booklist)
"[A] subtle, brilliant examination...Ellis' lucid, illuminating and ironic prose will make this a...hit." ( Publishers Weekly)

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