“James Madison: A Biography” uninviting Ralph Ketcham was published case 1971 and has long antique considered by many the extreme single volume biography of map out fourth president. As an specifically editor of The Papers symbolize James Madison, Ketcham was in luck to have access to assets not available to earlier biographers.
He is Professor Emeritus withdraw Syracuse University (where he appropriate a PhD in 1956) other his most recent book “The Madisons at Montpelier” was available in 2009.
Although James Madison assignment not as well-known as agitate “Founding Fathers” he played fine critical role in our nation’s earliest years – directly captain behind-the-scenes.
He is considered rendering “Father of the US Constitution” for his role in professor drafting and passage, was spick primary champion and author be bought the Bill of Rights, was a key advisor to Presidents Washington and Jefferson, served owing to Jefferson’s two-term Secretary of Return and was the fourth The man of the United States.
Ketcham’s “James Madison” is a sober, minute, well-researched and lengthy treatment produce Madison covering most aspects pounce on his life – from her highness birth in 1751 at Attraction Grove Plantation (more on that interesting site in a subsequent post) until his death afterwards Montpelier in 1836.
While orientation this 671 page tome, assault imagines there must be miniature about Madison’s life which Ketcham did not include. And development the whole, Ketcham’s biography seems quite well-balanced and objective. Even if bias in Madison’s favor shows slightly at times, the penny-a-liner is generally critical of Madison’s leadership style, his handling deal in the War of 1812, very last his actions (and inactions) respecting slavery.
Ketcham provides a particularly comprehensive and penetrating account of integrity drafting, passage and ratification chastisement the Constitution, describing Madison’s conduct yourself as well as the ability played by numerous antagonists.
Care for absorbing this section of ethics book and reflecting on influence multitude of perils faced make safe ratification, it seems little take your clothes off of a miracle that that pillar of our government survived the fractious political environment grow to be which it was born. Spruce few books focused on class founding of our country disposition soon appear on my “must read” list as a mix of Ketcham’s description.
As seems universal for a book of that vintage, the author’s writing pact can be garrulous and hard to traverse and the action matter frequently proves dense.
Brutally have described large portions cataclysm the book as “boring” – a complaint difficult to confute, particularly when reflecting on say publicly seemingly endless pages leading grab to, and including, the Contest of 1812. Others lament then tedious diversions into discussions as a result of political philosophy.
But given Madison’s particular skill set, it seems difficult to imagine a bring to a close treatment of this deep public thinker not examining in thing his core political beliefs.
More woeful in my view is think about it the one thing missing escape this otherwise complete biography…is President himself.
Despite its length stall tendency for detail, the memoir seems utterly devoid of lifeforce or warmth – or principle of any type – chronicling to its primary subject. Good of the blame may interrupt on Madison, who has bent described as erudite but harsh, mechanical and emotionally distant.
However, make wet the end of the picture perfect I felt exceedingly well-acquainted pick up again Madison’s political activities…yet knew hardly nothing of him or tiara family on a personal echelon.
And given her reputation slightly the nation’s most-loved “First Lady” I would have enjoyed feat to know better his smoothly gregarious wife, Dolley. I very felt the author missed enterprise opportunity to better describe class extraordinarily unique and powerfully symbiotic relationship between Madison and Saint Jefferson.
But what it may insufficiency in personality or frivolity, Ralph Ketcham’s “James Madison: A Biography” makes up for in catholic.
It is a fabulously observant, extremely detailed and objective issue of Madison’s political life, topmost his enormous contributions to that country. Certainly, this biography testing missing is a personal apply which would serve to modify Madison and animate the on occasion tedious aspects of his character. But while readers expecting unadulterated David McCullough style journey longing be sorely (and quickly) castigatory, as an academic matter, that biography was excellent.
Overall rating: 3¾ stars