The New York Sun

Join
Arts+

Becoming American in Fact and Fiction

Reading David O. Stewart marks a return to first principles and to how this country was made.

Via Wikimedia Commons
Portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Via Wikimedia Commons
CARL ROLLYSON
CARL ROLLYSON

David O. Stewart’s “George Washington: The Political Rise of America’s Founding Father” is now in paperback (Dutton, 576 pages) and worth considering again as an astute account of how our first president established himself as a national figure by his early 20s while learning to curb his rash and impolitic tendencies.

Have an account? Log In

To continue reading, please select:

Limited Access

Enter your email to read for FREE

Get 1 FREE article

Continue with
or
Unlimited Access

Join the Sun for a PENNY A DAY

$0.01/day for 60 days

Cancel anytime

100% ad free experience

Unlimited article and commenting access

Full annual dues ($120) billed after 60 days

View all membership options
By continuing you agree to our
Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
CARL ROLLYSON
CARL ROLLYSON

Mr. Rollyson is the author of The Life of William Faulkner and The Last Days of Sylvia Plath. He has published fourteen biographies and has written about biography for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington, Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The New Criterion, and other publications.

Advertisement
The New York Sun

Sections

NationalForeignPoliticsArts+EconomyEducationJusticeOpinionWatchCrossword

More

MembershipBecome a FounderAdvertiseEventsNewslettersShopSubmissionsContactLegalAbout

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use