Includes bibliographical references (pages [859]-867) and index

Prelude: the portrait artist -- PART ONE: The frontiersman. A short-lived family -- Fortune's favorite -- Wilderness mission -- Bloodbath -- Shades of death -- The soul of an army -- A votary to love -- Darling of a grateful country -- PART TWO: The planter. The man of mode -- A certain species of property -- The prodigy -- Providence -- A world of his own -- The Asiatic prince -- A shock of electricity -- PART THREE: The general. The glorious game -- Magnificent bluff -- Land of freedom -- The heights -- All London afloat -- Disaster -- An indecisive mind -- The crossing -- The busy scenes of a camp -- Darkness visible -- Rapping a demigod over the knuckles -- A dreary kind of place -- The long retreat -- Pests of society -- The storm thickens -- The traitor -- Mutiny -- Plundering scoundrels -- The world turned upside down -- Man of moderation -- Closing the drama with applause -- Cincinnatus -- PART FOUR: The statesman. American celebrity -- Gentleman farmer -- Devil's bargain -- The ruins of the past -- A masterly hand -- A house on fire -- Rising sun -- Mounting the seat -- PART FIVE: The president. The place of execution -- Acting the presidency -- The cares of office -- Rays of genius -- The traveling presidency -- The state of the president -- Capital matters -- Southern exposure -- Running into extremes -- A tissue of machinations -- Citizen Genet -- Bring out your dead -- Hercules in the field -- Crowns and coronets -- Mad dog -- The colossus of the people -- The master of farewells -- Exiting the stage -- PART SIX:The legend. Samson and Solomon -- A mind on the stretch -- Freedom -- Homecoming

Author's Note

Prelude: The Portrait Artist

Frontiersman

A Short-Lived Family

Fortune's Favorite

Wilderness Mission

Bloodbath

Shades of Death

Soul of an Army

A Votary to Love

Darling of a Grateful Country

Planter

Man of Mode

A Certain Species of Property

Prodigy

Providence

A World of His Own

Asiatic Prince

A Shock of Electricity

General

Glorious Cause

Magnificent Bluff

Land of Freedom

Heights

All London Afloat

Disaster

An Indecisive Mind

Crossing

Busy Scenes of a Camp

Darkness Visible

Rapping a Demigod over the Knuckles

A Dreary Kind of Place

Long Retreat

Pests of Society

Storm Thickens

Traitor

Mutiny

Plundering Scoundrels

World Turned Upside Down

Man of Moderation

Closing the Drama with Applause

Cincinnatus

Statesman

American Celebrity

Gentleman Farmer

Devil's Bargain

Ruins of the Past

A Masterly Hand

A House on Fire

Rising Sun

Mounting the Seat

President

Place of Execution

Acting the Presidency

Cares of Office

Rays of Genius

Traveling Presidency

State of the President

Capital Matters

Southern Exposure

Running into Extremes

A Tissue of Machinations

Citizen Genet

Bring Out Your Dead

Hercules in the Field

Crowns and Coronets

Mad Dog

Colossus of the People

Master of Farewells

Exiting the Stage

Legend

Samson and Solomon

A Mind on the Stretch

Freedom

Homecoming

Acknowledgments

Notes

Bibliography

Books

Articles

Index

In "Washington : a Life" celebrated biographer Ron Chernow provides a richly nuanced portrait of the father of our nation, dashing forever the stereotype of a stolid, unemotional man, and revealing an astute and surprising portrait of a canny political genius who knew how to inspire people