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Dear Reader:
This post is a vehicle for sharing some discrete observations, as follows:
A Comment About What Just Happened
I probably speak for many in expressing relief that the election season is finally over (at least until the 2028 campaign commences, which will probably be any day), but the electoral Sturm und Drang reminded me—as per the subject matter context that sets the tone for these posts—of George Washington’s greatest legacy, one for which we owe him an incalculable debt of gratitude as it created the template for democratic (small “d”) governance at the apex of America’s republican (small “r”) structure. That is the fact that he refused to regard himself as the indispensable custodian of the Revolutionary movement and thereby passed on the opportunity to use that as an excuse for maintaining an iron grip on the governance of a new nation. Unlike Oliver Cromwell after the English Revolution in the previous century and a litany of revolutionary figures in the centuries to come (see Napoleon, Lenin, Mao, and Castro), the Continental Army’s commander in chief by his actions made the ethos of the American Revolution incompatible with the assumption of dictatorial power. And he demonstrated his recognition of the fact that his place in history would be enhanced by voluntarily yielding power rather than seeking to magnify it.
BTW, the above tidbit was culled from my current book project.
Well, enough sermonizing.
Reading suggestion
From time to time, I’m pleased to recommend a work that I’ve encountered based on one or more factors, including but not limited to, its narrative style, subject matter, insights, perspective, and scholarly value. I’ve had to delve into a plethora of volumes in the course of researching my current project, and one that I especially enjoyed is Richard Bell’s new book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. If you’re interested in the history of early America and looking to enhance your understanding of the global context in which our struggle for independence occurred, this is more than deserving of your consideration. (Not for nothing did it win the 2026 George Washington Prize.)
Finally . . .
As mentioned in prior posts, I’m compiling a list of reviewer comments about my next book, General Washington and the Calculus of Victory, on this website here. They are not on the book’s Amazon page at this point because I haven’t yet submitted them to the publisher, Brookline Books (an imprint of Casemate Publishers). I’ll do so after turning in the manuscript, which I expect to happen sometime in February. The book is scheduled for release in the U.K. in August 2027 and the U.S. in October.
I received an encouraging response this week from one of the people who reviewed the manuscript, Jason Bohm, a retired general in the U.S. Marine Corps and author of the award-winning Washington’s Marines: The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution, 1775-1777. His message (not to be confused with his burb) reads as follows:
Thank you again for sharing your great work about a truly exceptional leader, one the likes of which we could use more of today. I enjoyed the read and can’t wait to see it out in hard copy! It is often cited that Washington lost more battles than he won, but you expertly explain that although true, there are far greater considerations that define a leader and result in winning wars. America has learned this lesson from both sides of that coin, but it all started with Washington. Thank you for sharing and trusting me with your work.
Happy holidays!
Best regards,
dp