James Monroe, Mcgrath, Tim

A first-rate account of a remarkable life.--Jon Meacham - Fascinating. --H. W. Brands - Captivating... Highly recommended.--Nathaniel Philbrick - A luminous portrait of the most underappreciated of our Founders.--Joel Richard Paul - Excellent.--Library Journal (starred review)

Monroe lived a life defined by revolutions. From the battlefields of the War for Independence, to his ambassadorship in Paris in the days of the guillotine, to his own role in the creation of Congresss partisan divide, he was a man who embodied the restless spirit of the age. He was never one to back down from a fight, whether it be with Alexander Hamilton, with whom he nearly engaged in a duel (prevented, ironically, by Aaron Burr), or George Washington, his hero turned political opponent.

This magnificent new biography vividly re-creates the epic sweep of Monroes life: his near-death wounding at Trenton and a brutal winter at Valley Forge; his pivotal negotiations with France over the Louisiana Purchase; his deep, complex friendships with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison; his valiant leadership when the British ransacked the nations capital and burned down the Executive Mansion; and Monroes lifelong struggle to reckon with his own complicity in slavery. Elected the fifth president of the United States in 1816, this fiercest of partisans sought to bridge divisions and sow unity, calming turbulent political seas and inheriting Washingtons mantle of placing country above party. Over his two terms, Monroe transformed the nation, strengthening American power both at home and abroad.