Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different, Gordon S. Wood

The dis-oriented author is a student of history. I have, through my recent reading, been exploring the pantheon of the founding fathers. Gordon S. Woods' Revolutionary Characters is a book made up of essays about eight of these extraordinary men. I have read biographies of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin,  Hamilton and Burr. The eighth founder in Woods' list is Thomas Paine.

Woods' book provided some fascinating insight into the fathers.

I found this book interesting on several different levels. First, Woods choice of founders. When I think of the founders, my list is usually (in no particular order):

• Washington
• Franklin
• Adams
• Hamilton
• Madison
• Jefferson

I would not have included Burr in the mix. I read Nancy Isenberg's Burr biography, Fallen Founder, and I remain unconvinced. Burr had the potential but I would argue that he does not belong in this list.

The other oddity is the inclusion of Paine. I have not read a full Paine biography but his pamphlet Common Sense was circulated widely through the colonies and helped to light the fire of revolution among the people. So Paine's influence was clearly great. On the other hand, Paine was an itinerant revolutionary, a citizen of the world — not an American at all. He was probably just as influential in the French Revolution with his publication The Rights of Man. Paine didn't stay and contribute to the actual founding of the country he was already gone.

Woods' insights added to what I have learned from other sources. Woods has a lot to say about class relationships in the early days of the country.

I learned a lot reading this book, what more could you ask for?

Revolutionary Characters gets 5 of 5 dis-oriented smileys

Purchase Revolutionary Characters  from Amazon.com.