
Travels with George
In Search of Washington and His Legacy
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Narrated by:
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Nathaniel Philbrick
New York Times Best Seller
“Travels with George...is quintessential Philbrick - a lively, courageous, and masterful achievement.” (The Boston Globe)
Does George Washington still matter? Best-selling author Nathaniel Philbrick argues for Washington’s unique contribution to the forging of America by retracing his journey as a new president through all 13 former colonies, which were now an unsure nation. Travels with George marks a new first-person voice for Philbrick, weaving history and personal reflection into a single narrative.
When George Washington became president in 1789, the United States of America was still a loose and quarrelsome confederation and a tentative political experiment. Washington undertook a tour of the ex-colonies to talk to ordinary citizens about his new government, and to imbue in them the idea of being one thing - Americans.
In the fall of 2018, Nathaniel Philbrick embarked on his own journey into what Washington called “the infant woody country” to see for himself what America had become in the 229 years since. Writing in a thoughtful first person about his own adventures with his wife, Melissa, and their dog, Dora, Philbrick follows Washington’s presidential excursions: from Mount Vernon to the new capital in New York; a monthlong tour of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island; a venture onto Long Island and eventually across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The narrative moves smoothly between the eighteenth and twenty-first centuries as we see the country through both Washington’s and Philbrick’s eyes.
Written at a moment when America’s founding figures are under increasing scrutiny, Travels with George grapples bluntly and honestly with Washington’s legacy as a man of the people, a reluctant president, and a plantation owner who held people in slavery. At historic houses and landmarks, Philbrick reports on the reinterpretations at work as he meets reenactors, tour guides, and other keepers of history’s flame. He paints a picture of 18th-century America as divided and fraught as it is today, and he comes to understand how Washington compelled, enticed, stood up to, and listened to the many different people he met along the way - and how his all-consuming belief in the union helped to forge a nation.
©2021 Nathaniel Philbrick (P)2021 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Both a lighthearted travelogue and a timely exploration of Washington’s historical legacy." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Philbrick’s book addresses weighty matters but is nevertheless an enjoyable read, a fitting if unusual capstone to a trilogy on the revolution. At times, the book seems like a valedictory. The author’s many readers hope not." (The Guardian)
“In Travels With George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy, his 13th book, Nathaniel Philbrick brings his proven gift as a narrator to this on-the-road part of Washington’s life.” (The Washington Post)
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Also, the author does a pretty good job as narrator.
Delightful history
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An absolutely brilliant book that is very easy to read.
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Evan's Review
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As an 11th generation American, living in Massachusetts, surrounded by the history of our republic; I wish we had a centrist, compromising leader like President Washington today. Someone to Lead us back to the unity our Republic needs.
God Bless America.
Fantastic
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excellent narrative
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I get it…
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A great read !
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The history he presents in our own backyards is a masterpiece.
What a ride!!
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An interesting trip
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The book is not just a historical retelling; it's a thoughtful exploration of Washington's character and legacy. Philbrick challenges traditional portrayals of Washington as a stoic and emotionless figure, revealing a man who was deeply human, complex, and flawed. Through his travels, Philbrick brings Washington to life, allowing readers to connect with him on a deeper level.
Travels with George is a must-read for anyone interested in American history or in gaining a better understanding of one of the nation's most iconic figures. Philbrick's engaging writing style and insightful analysis make this book both informative and enjoyable.
Agree with negative reviews but still enjoyed it
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