... rather than offering another cradle-to-grave biography, in his First and Always historian Peter Henriques presents a series of stand-alone chapters, each exploring a particular episode or topic that illuminates Washington’s character ... relatively short and written in chatty and accessible prose ... Mr. Henriques seeks to engage those who already know something of his subject but want to learn more.
For general readers interested in Washington as an individual, Henriques’s efforts should be lauded. Despite presenting his subject as flawed, one who succeeded in gaining fame across the ages in spite of them, the author’s high admiration of Washington is palpable. His analysis and narrative style, however, fall short of Joseph Ellis’s Founding Brothers.
Less a biography than a pleasant collection of isolated essays on the first president. Although retired from his professorship at George Mason University, Henriques cannot resist writing about his favorite subject, delivering eight expert chapters that hold few surprises but sometimes turn up a gem. The author reminds readers that not only is Washington considered the father of our country and, to many, a godlike figure, but he was also beloved during his lifetime—and he relished it and acted accordingly ... Many historians devote too much space to disproving the popular myths, and Henriques is no exception. The author also emphasizes that Washington, although lacking formal education, was intelligent and often wise, which he illustrates with a long appendix of quotations. A historian cleans out his desk with commendable results.
