Review: Blood of Tyrants: George Washington and the Forging of the Presidency, by Logan Beirne

BLOOD OF TYRANTS: George Washington and the Forging of the Presidency

Logan Beirne

Encounter Books

April 23, 2013 Kindle Edition

438 pages print version

$27.99 US, $14.99 Kindle

ASIN B00AUZS12E

When Independence Day approached this year, I searched my backlog of TBR books and without hesitation selected BLOOD OF TYRANTS.  Skeptics may question whether another book about our first president would offer new insight.  Logan Bierne has written a dramatic and entertaining history of George Washington pulled from his research.  It is a completely enveloping read,  with lesser known anecdotes and stories about George Washington to satisfy the curious. For example, Did you know his teeth were made from hippopotamus ivory and human teeth, not from wood?  

As our country struggled to emerge as a united collection of states, Congress wanted to micromanage the war through Washington’s leadership. This approach failed miserably.  It became clear to Congress that they needed to delegate full control for the armed services to George Washington, their Commander in Chief. With this decision, the American Revolution changed direction with the outcome destined for success in the hands of George Washington.  That Congress would grant such absolute power to one individual is surprising.  Just imagine how difficult it would be to change the Commander in Chief’s job description today, in the middle of a war.  Had Washington faced our current divisive partisan politicians on Capitol Hill what results might the country have suffered?

BLOOD OF TYRANTS shows how the Presidency of the United States and the role of Commander in Chief  merged as a result of the American Revolution.  When deciding the role of America’s President, the people looked to the brilliant leadership shown by George Washington, a proven success.   According to Bierne, some believed Washington had an immortal bullet-proof  shield of protection that kept him safe.  He was known to be an active inspirational commander, brave and fearless who wanted to protect all Americans, Patriots and Loyalists for the good of the new nation.

Logan Beirne has a deliberate purpose as he presents a focused approach specifically on the role of Commander in Chief in America’s early political theater.  BLOOD OF TYRANTS will astound readers with new awareness. Without a doubt it promises to provide much discussion and reflection among readers, both students and  historians.  One of my best pick reads for 2013.

Wisteria Leigh

July 5, 2013

DISCLOSURE: I obtained a copy of this Kindle edition on Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013]. 

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