I just started reading the memoirs. As many have noted his writing is very clear & concise. I'm enjoying it a lot.
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I just started reading the memoirs. As many have noted his writing is very clear & concise. I'm enjoying it a lot.
I think Chernow's prose is solid but not spectacular. Easy to read, good syntax, just not much flair or sense of elegance or the poetic. But he's incredibly sharp in discerning character and motives, even-handed, and at least gives the impression of being thoroughly in charge of his sources and subject matter. Detailed almost to a fault (probably too much for some) but you could never argue he glosses over anything of even partial importance. That's all you could ask for in a good historian and biographer.
So far I've only read Hamilton but need to delve into his Grant bio sooner rather than later. Washington interests me less. Hugely important figure of course, but has always struck me as somewhat boring and my visit to the lovely Mount Vernon only reinforced that impression. Being essentially decent and capable makes for a great leader and person but potentially dull reading. Maybe I am wrong about that but there it is.
It's a very cluttered field but I'd be curious to see Chernow tackle Lincoln. If anyone could provide a fresh insight there or at least something very detailed and perceptive, it's him.
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Washington is by far my favorite founder. Hamilton is second. And by the way I was Hamilton before Hamilton was cool.
If Washington appears boring and opaque to history, this was deliberate on his part.
As a primer, you might check Richard Brookhiser's slim but illuminating treatise,
and "His Excellency" by Joe Ellis,
Chernow's biography
reveals Washington in his contradictions, passions, fastidious nature, political genius, and sterling character.
He was the greatest of men. Were that we had him now.
"If he can do that (decline a third term and peacefully transfer power to his successor), "he shall be the greatest man of the age." -- King George III.
He did. And he was.
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A little nervous as I fly the Red Eye east
I should be going to St Louis but the unexpected storm of Tuesday night has caused damage to the family cottage in Hampton and I was told that I was needed back.
Flooding was always a concern and insurance was impossible to get because of both the ocean and marshes that surround the property.
When the cottage was winterized in the late 80s it was raised for possible flooding issues.
It finally happened.
I should be going to St Louis but the unexpected storm of Tuesday night has caused damage to the family cottage in Hampton and I was told that I was needed back.
Flooding was always a concern and insurance was impossible to get because of both the ocean and marshes that surround the property.
When the cottage was winterized in the late 80s it was raised for possible flooding issues.
It finally happened.
'Boring' can sound like a criticism but it's not meant to be. Washington was surely a great man and easily the most thoroughly decent and principled of the founders (which admittedly isn't saying much because most of them were assholes of one kind or another) and he set a great example as a leader that has been too seldom followed.
But I guess this is where the difference lies between history and biography. Reading about the history of the man and his time is very interesting and rewarding, but do I want to read a character study focused primarily on him as an individual? Yeah probably at some point, but it's not a high priority. For bios I tend to be drawn to people who were great but flawed, or touched by obvious genius or something else that made them quite unique. While I'm sure Washington had his negative qualities and quirks and different facets like all people, and he was clearly a clever enough fellow who achieved great things, there's nothing I've observed as being especially remarkable or fascinating that draws me to him as a subject.
Having said that I will readily conceded that I may be surprised, and I will definitely take up your recommendations at some point. Until you do sufficient reading for yourself, you never really know!
smithformeragent
Moderator
@Aussie Bruin
You can see why it is impossible to buy insurance.
The thinking has always been as long as the 1939 seawall holds the marshes on the other side should be OK - Tuesday night the worst-case scenario happened.
Indeed. It otherwise looks like a lovely spot. But as someone who also lives on the coast (not quite that close though!) the potential power of the sea is very familiar. Sometimes there is just no holding it back.
You couldn't get Federal flood insurance????? I am very surprised, the entire point of the Federal program is to provide flood coverage since under no circumstances is it covered by regular property insurance.
EverettMike
FIRE DON SWEENEY INTO THE SUN
We are totally in lockstep on all of this. I too am a Hamilton hipster. He was my favorite since I was in high school, a long time before he got his own musical. But I've always ranked Washington first.
I f***ing hate Thomas Jefferson, though, and would probably put both Sam and John Adams as third and fourth.
Morris Wanchuk
.......
Did you every see the John Adams mini series on HBO? The actor who plays Jefferson is the same guy who plays Stannis on Game of Thrones. From there on I just call him Stannis Jefferson.
EverettMike
FIRE DON SWEENEY INTO THE SUN
I've seen it roughly 800 times.
Morris Wanchuk
.......
Love it! I need to re-watch Turn, that was probably my favorite historical series
ODAAT
Registered User
-20 with the wind chill here on Van Island, very rare weather, our dog walker cancelled citing too dangerous to her and the pooches to take them on their pack walk, I shall work from home and give our girl little short walks today, stay warm friends
Good luck Kevin. Hope it’s not too bad.
EverettMike
FIRE DON SWEENEY INTO THE SUN
You read The Revolutionary?
It had me ready to storm other states demanding they recognize Samuel Adams as our greatest American ever.
Bruinaura
Resident Cookie Monster
- Mar 29, 2014
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Okay, you win lol. We're supposed to get really cold weather here next week but it's "only" going down to 2 degrees.
Today it's wind gusts up to 55 mph here. So all the trees the December tornado loosened up will all be falling over.
Morris Wanchuk
.......
I have been looking into getting Portuguese citizenship through my grandfather. Found a super nice "consultant" in RI who helps you though the process and translates documents/submits them. One thing I need to do is pass a language test. They are offered twice a year in Boston, Newark, SF, and Washington. I checked every day at 7am for an opening, nothing. Last week it opened at 8am and Boston was booked by 10am so I missed out for 2024.
We were going to Portugal anyways in April so I checked there and there was a test open in Lisbon. I was hoping to take the test after my trip but I think it's worth a shot to take it there since I was not going to take it in 2024 anyways without traveling to DC or Toronto. I get the results in June so I can submit my package (assuming I pass). Should take 2ish years. Once I get citizenship, I can work anywhere in the EU and pass it down to my kids.
Never thought I would be looking for "outs" form the USA but given the current climate it is good to keep our options open, even if it is just for the kids. I would much rather them live in Western Europe than the west coast. They would get more vacation to come visit.
We were going to Portugal anyways in April so I checked there and there was a test open in Lisbon. I was hoping to take the test after my trip but I think it's worth a shot to take it there since I was not going to take it in 2024 anyways without traveling to DC or Toronto. I get the results in June so I can submit my package (assuming I pass). Should take 2ish years. Once I get citizenship, I can work anywhere in the EU and pass it down to my kids.
Never thought I would be looking for "outs" form the USA but given the current climate it is good to keep our options open, even if it is just for the kids. I would much rather them live in Western Europe than the west coast. They would get more vacation to come visit.
I’m dating a Portuguese gal. Parents grew up in Peniche. I bought her an ancestry test and was really hoping for something wild, but it pretty much had her pegged as fresh off the boat.
I’ve picked up just a few words and phrases from listening to her family, when in doubt I just take the SH sound, drop the H and just pretend it’s Spanish. A lot of it is close.
I won’t spell these right…
Espera
Vamoj
Quackish - spelled that wrong on purpose
Moyu
Mala
Masa
Je sabe
Aye courish - again spelled way wrong
Bom dia
Obrigada
avo and vu
Tia/tio which for some reason has a to prefix sometimes. Haven’t figured that one out yet
Beijing/BJBJ
A friend of mine applied for & received Portuguese citizenship through his grandfather. He bought a house and fully intends to retire there when the time comes.
9+ inches of snow coming in with 35mph+ winds...and I'm making sure the bird seed is well stocked....
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