Inventing a Nation
Washington, Adams, Jefferson
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Narrated by:
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Paul Hecht
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Gore Vidal
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By:
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Gore Vidal
About this listen
Volumes have been written about George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but no previous work captures the intimate and vital details the way Inventing a Nation does. Vidal's consummate skill takes you into the minds and private rooms of these great men, illuminating their opinions of one another and their concerns about crafting a workable democracy.
Inventing a Nation is a remarkably vivid portrait of three American icons, men whose revolutionary ideas had a profound and lasting impact on the nation they helped create.
©2003 Gore Vidal (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
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Washington's Farewell
- The Founding Father's Warning to Future Generations
- By: John Avlon
- Narrated by: John Avlon
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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George Washington's Farewell Address was a prophetic letter from a "parting friend" to his fellow citizens about the forces he feared could destroy our democracy: hyper-partisanship, excessive debt, and foreign wars. Once celebrated as civic scripture, more widely reprinted than the Declaration of Independence, the Farewell Address is now almost forgotten. Its message remains starkly relevant. In Washington's Farewell, John Avlon offers a stunning portrait of our first president and his battle to save America from self-destruction.
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Very well written and performed
- By Michael Reading on 03-02-17
By: John Avlon
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For Liberty and Glory
- Washington, Lafayette, and Their Revolutions
- By: James R. Gaines
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 21 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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On April 18, 1775, a riot over the price of flour broke out in the French city of Dijon. That night, across the Atlantic, Paul Revere mounted the fastest horse he could find and kicked it into a gallop. So began what have been called the "sister revolutions" of France and America. In a single, thrilling narrative, this audiobook tells the story of those revolutions and shows just how deeply intertwined they actually were.
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Excellent presentation
- By Hal on 08-20-12
By: James R. Gaines
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Apostles of Revolution
- Jefferson, Paine, Monroe, and the Struggle Against the Old Order in America and Europe
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
- Length: 18 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and James Monroe were in the vanguard of revolutionary ideas in the 18th century. As founding fathers, they risked their lives for American independence, but they also wanted more. Each wished for profound changes in the political and social fabric of pre-1776 America and hoped that the American Revolution would spark republican and egalitarian revolutions throughout Europe, sweeping away the old aristocratic order. Ultimately, each rejoiced at the opportunity to be a part of the French Revolution, a cause that became increasingly untenable as idealism gave way to the bloody terror.
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A bit of a challenging listen but well worth it
- By J. Parks on 09-20-21
By: John Ferling
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Thomas Paine
- Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations
- By: Craig Nelson
- Narrated by: Paul Hecht
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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John Adams told Thomas Jefferson that “history is to ascribe the American Revolution to Thomas Paine.” Thomas Edison called him “the equal of Washington in making American liberty possible.” He was a founder of both the United States and the French Revolution. He invented the phrase, “The United States of America.” He rose from abject poverty in working-class England to the highest levels of the era’s intellectual elite. And yet, by the end of his life, Thomas Paine was almost universally reviled.
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This man should be a household name!
- By Darlene Davis on 11-21-11
By: Craig Nelson
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Thomas Jefferson
- By: R. B. Bernstein
- Narrated by: Phil Holland
- Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Thomas Jefferson designed his own tombstone, describing himself simply as "Author of the Declaration of Independence and of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia". It is in this simple epitaph that R. B. Bernstein finds the key to this enigmatic Founder - not as a great political figure, but as leader of "a revolution of ideas that would make the world over again". In Thomas Jefferson, Bernstein offers the definitive short biography of this revered American - the first concise life in six decades. Bernstein deftly synthesizes the massive scholarship on his subject into a swift, insightful, evenhanded account.
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In-Depth and Interesting
- By Sarahi Nieves on 04-24-19
By: R. B. Bernstein
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Madison's Gift
- Five Partnerships That Built America
- By: David Stewart
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Short, plain, balding, neither soldier nor orator, low on charisma and high on intelligence, Madison cared more about achieving results than taking the credit. To reach his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic, he blended his talents with those of key partners. It was Madison who led the drive for the Constitutional Convention and pressed for an effective new government as his patron George Washington lent the effort legitimacy.
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Excellent history of our nation's founding
- By JJay on 02-23-15
By: David Stewart
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Washington's Circle
- The Creation of the President
- By: David S. Heidler, Jeanne T. Heidler
- Narrated by: David Drummond
- Length: 18 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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In Washington's Circle, David and Jeanne Heidler introduce not just the president but the group of extraordinary men who advised him. The familiar names are here, like the often irked and occasionally irksome John Adams, the scheming Alexander Hamilton, and the prodigiously talented James "Jemmy" Madison, but so are the lesser known Edmund Randolph, John Jay, and Gouverneur Morris. Washington's choices of whom to listen to, for better and sometimes worse, were as consequential as the advice his cabinet gave.
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Very Enlightening
- By Morgan on 06-04-18
By: David S. Heidler, and others
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The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin
- By: Gordon S. Wood
- Narrated by: Peter Johnson
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Central to America's idea of itself is the character of Benjamin Franklin. We all know him, or think we do: In recent works and in our inherited conventional wisdom, he remains fixed in place as a genial polymath and self-improver who was so very American that he is known by us all as the first American.
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I have good news and bad news
- By Ernie on 07-22-04
By: Gordon S. Wood
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Written Out of History
- The Forgotten Founders Who Fought Big Government
- By: Mike Lee
- Narrated by: Kimberly Farr
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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In the earliest days of our nation, a handful of unsung heroes - including women, slaves, and an Iroquois chief - made crucial contributions to our republic. They pioneered the ideas that led to the Bill of Rights, the separation of powers, and the abolition of slavery. Yet their faces haven't been printed on our currency or carved into any cliffs. Instead they were marginalized, silenced, or forgotten - sometimes by an accident of history, sometimes by design.
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Interesting American History- not the usual stuff
- By Marie on 06-19-17
By: Mike Lee
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Gore Vidal Shits on Everything
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An entertaining anthology & a superb narration
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This explosively entertaining memoir abounds in gossip, satire, historical apercus, and trenchant observations. Vidal’s compelling narrative weaves back and forth in time, providing a whole view of the author’s celebrated life, from his birth in 1925 to today, and features a cast of memorable characters - including the Kennedy family, Marlon Brando, Anais Nin, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
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Award-winning author John Ferling is a leading authority on the American Revolution. His entertaining and enlightening histories have greatly improved our understanding of early America and the Founding Fathers. Now Ferling opens a window to the past and explores the contentious presidential election of 1800.
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Outstanding work of interpretive history
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The Last Empire
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The Last Empire is a collection of provocative, witty, and eloquent essays by Gore Vidal about all things USA. In more than two dozen essays, Vidal brings his keen intellect, experience, and razor-edged wit to bear on an astonishing range of subjects, offering incisive observations about terrorism, civil liberties, the CIA, Al Gore, and the Clintons—interwoven with a rich tapestry of personal anecdote, critical insight, and historical detail.
By: Gore Vidal
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In the aftermath of World War II, a funeral home mortician by the name of John Cave has a revelation about the nature of death: Death is peace; death is nothing to be feared. This simple concept will evolve into an atheistic religion known as Cavism, which will displace Christianity as the dominant western faith. But Cavism has a dark past, and even more ominous future.
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Enterprise
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America’s most decorated warship of World War II, Enterprise was constantly engaged against the Japanese Empire, earning the title “the fightingest ship” in the navy. Her career was eventful, vital, and short. Commissioned in 1938, her bombers sank a submarine just ten days after the Pearl Harbor attack, claiming the first Japanese vessel lost in the war.
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Great Bio of a Truly Remarkable Ship
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His Excellency
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Acclaimed author Joseph J. Ellis penned the National Book Award-winning American Sphinx and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Founding Brothers, a fixture on The New York Times best seller list for an entire year, and one of the most popular history books of all time. Now this master historian turns his attention to the most exalted American hero, Founding Father and first President George Washington.
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Ellis is a known liar
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What listeners say about Inventing a Nation
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jorge L Ziranda
- 04-27-24
I enjoyed how Mr Vidal laid the timeline out.
I learned a lot about the three figures in the book. It was easy to follow from where he starts a little after the revolution in 1780s til their timely passing. The last hour really felt like a movie scene. I really enjoyed it and do plan on listening to listening to another work of Mr Vidal.
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Overall
- Lisa
- 12-19-06
Eeeeh
This is a great treatise on exactly what it is titled -- the inventing of our nation, how the founders put together the democratic republic that exisits today, even if it isn't exactly what many of them intended. It's not really the author's fault that I am lukewarm. I probably should know more about American history than I do to enjoy this audiobook. He does jump around a lot... one minute he is talking about the Hamilton/Burr duel and the next telling us what Hamilton is doing. I'm like, wait I thought Hamilton was dead! In his defense, the whole "US invade Canada in response to 9/11" thing is really quoting some modern-day pundit and comparing that silly notion to an attack on Canada that took place in 1795. (Some people are so sensitive!) If you're really into history and can understand some of his more oblique references, I'm sure you will love this book. As for me, it is back to "U.S. History for Dummies!"
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Leslie Grey
- 12-20-04
Being with Gore Vidal
I love Gore Vidal and American history. Listening to him discuss various aspects of our history, official and unofficial, with little asides and gossip, is an absolute pleasure. One reviewer called it a "pontification", and I agree -- but am so pleased to just curl up and listen to such a brilliant mind pontificate! Its a joy. But the work IS complex so be prepared to give it your full attention.
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10 people found this helpful
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- W
- 11-23-20
Vidal at his finest
An accessible introduction to the early Republic. This read will be much richer if you have taken an introductory American History course.
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- Dale Joyner
- 01-14-17
Missed
He will be m.......is already missed. I would have loved to hear his comments on the suit & haircut about to take the oath of office in a few days.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- HCM
- 06-10-06
Can't tell if opinion or fact
The book is interesting, but beware. As the author moves off subject and into events of the last 50 years it becomes apparent the author is giving opinion more than facts. For example he states the US had as much right to invade Canada after 9/11 as we did Afghanistan. It is okay with me if he wants to have this opinion, but he makes statements to support his belief without mentioning other side of the issue (he gives an unbalanced view of current history). These comments seem out of place and fairly slanted. It makes you wonder what part of the historical events is his opinion or fact.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- Greg Lacey
- 06-29-05
Inventing a Nation
The recent attraction for knowledge of our country?s founding fathers has given rise to numerous volumes dedicated to their lives, both public and private. Yet Gore Vidal?s Inventing a Nation clearly delivers a wide assortment of information regarding both spectrums of life while simultaneously reinforcing or denouncing legends of these men. This text is unmatched by any towards that era and can be enjoyed by more than simply historians. It receives my highest rating.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall
- x
- 10-07-09
Brilliantly irreverent
Had history of American politics been taught like this in school at any level, I would have certainly heeded Pericles admonition to Sophicles about civic duty (as discussed in the book).
Really brilliant. I am a Gore Vidal fan for life and will read all his books.
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3 people found this helpful
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- M. J. Walsh
- 01-16-21
An entertainig tutorial tour
This book is more like a collection of entertaining, waspisjly opinionated tutorials about the early years of American nationhood than conventional history. As such it works well. Vidal is not about detail here. He is about rendering witty judgements and, to an extent, wielding a broard brush to lament the loss of the ideas and passionate debates on matters of substance that were ever present during the terms of the first three presidents. Not to mention the plots and manipulations of the mercurial conservative Alexander Hamilton. An ideal introduction to further study of the time when the constitution's ink seemed provisional.
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- Anthony Freyberg
- 03-30-05
America According to Gore.
Despite the usual polemical tangents into areas of questionable relevance,(they don't last very long)- this is a highly interesting and entertaining exegesis. There's much to be learned from Gore Vidal and that's why I read him. Who knew what hypergamous meant? When he's content to just tell the story, the death of Washington for instance, there are few better. The Vidal style continues to influence the new generation of historical biographers and that's all to the good. His charming, personal anecdote about President Kennedy at the end of the book is a jem in itself.
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6 people found this helpful