I recently read, “His Excellency, George Washington” by Joseph J. Ellis (author of the bestseller “Founding Brothers”). Yet again, I’m amazed at how Ellis makes American history come alive through his writing style, which transitions seamlessly from factual story-telling to almost conversational language. Here, he cuts through the legends and folklore that surround our Nation’s founding father and leaves the reader completely in awe of a man whose achievements were nothing short of miraculous.

It amazes me to read about how many times Washington overcame incredible odds in which failure would likely have resulted in his death and likely the success of the revolution and the fledgling nation. From battles he surely should have lost (and been killed in) to political gambles that made him very unpopular, Washington really did seem immortal and legendary, almost too lucky to be real. Fiction couldn’t have pulled off a character like him.

After having read several books already on the American Revolution, I’m now thinking of skipping ahead a little chronologically because I’m really anxious to read “Team of Rivals” about Abraham Lincoln. After that, I intend to pick up where I’ve left off back at start of the 19th century, with John Adam and Thomas Jefferson vieing for the unenviable role of following Washington as the second President. While I have covered some of this already, I’m looking forward to reading “John Adams” (on which the HBO mini-series was based) and then a book or two on Thomas Jefferson. Of course, as an alumni of the University of Virginia, I can’t wait to learn more about our Founder, Mr. Jefferson. But until then, it’s on to the Civil War!!!