It seemed appropriate to begin with James Flexner’s four-volume series on Washington.  Despite historical acclaim, this series is not particularly well-read these days, perhaps owing to the popularity of more modern (and shorter) reads, Flexner’s excellent single-volume synopsis of the series published as “Washington: The Indispensable Man” and the relative difficulty of obtaining the four books economically. However, I presumed no other source would lay the groundwork on Washington as rigorously.

“George Washington: The Forge of Experience (1732-1775)” covers roughly the first two-thirds of Washington’s life, ending at the earliest stages of the American Revolution. The book was written with an often dry, now-dated style but provides a remarkably thorough account of Washington’s formative years, tracing his steps in detail from early childhood into his mid-40s.  This was a fascinating period for Washington…

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