George Washington

John Rhodehamel is the former archivist of Mount Vernon and curator of American historical manuscripts at the Huntington Library. He is the editor of George Washington: Writings and The American Revolution: Writings from the War of Independence. He lives in Newport Beach, CA.

“The only Washington biography you need. . . . Crisply written, admirably concise, and never superficial. As a brief account of Washington’s life, it is unlikely to be surpassed for many years.”—Fergus M. Bordewich, Wall Street Journal"In his new biography of Washington, John Rhodehamel eloquently describes the founding father's 'deliberate creation of the public character that gave him the moral authority to lead the quarrelsome collection of former colonies into sturdy nationhood.'"—Bret Stephens, Wall Street Journal"[George Washington] stands out for its rich prose, . . . [and] Rhodehamel’s jaunty writing makes for a highly entertaining book. . . . Washington’s story benefits from a vigorous telling. The powdered wig, the silly pants, the poker face staring out from crumpled dollar bills: All serve to separate us from our founding father. Rhodehamel’s urgency of prose restores the connection. He also showcases his experience as the former archivist of Mount Vernon by bringing manuscript sources directly to the reader."—Michael O’Donnell, New York Times Book Review"George Washington: The Wonder of the Age, by John Rhodehamel, is a masterpiece, a concise, fluidly written and well-grounded biography. Rhodehamel, who edited two highly acclaimed books for the renowned Library of America series of great American writers (one, naturally, of Washington's writings and the other of writings from the American Revolution), has executed an accurate and revealing portrait of a man who, more than any other, made possible the creation and subsequent success of the United States."—Steve Forbes, Forbes magazine"A splendid single-volume biography of Washington. Rhodehamel captures him and his accomplishments as well as anyone can. A smooth and interesting read."—Mark  Mastromarino, former editor, The Papers of George Washington, University of Virginia"The interpretation is profound, clear and well-stated, and the author is certainly an expert on George Washington, worthy of tackling the problem of writing a short biography of the long, complicated, and monumental life of the most important founder of the United States."—Douglas Bradburn, Founding Director, The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. Mount Vernon, Virginia"John Rhodehamel has written an authoritative and well-rounded biography of the great man and made him and his very different world clearly accessible to us."—Gordon Wood, Professor of History Emeritus, Brown University,  GSW"John Rhodehamel, who has written many books about George Washington, here conveys his deepest and most enduring view of the man. In strong, straightforward prose, he tells Washington’s extraordinary story, without bravura flourishes or exaggerations. It is a memorable reading experience."—Thomas Fleming, author of The Great Divide: The Conflict Between Washington and Jefferson That Defined a Nation