George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry

This collection of essays explores the role that the geography and diverse inhabitants of this burgeoning area played in molding Washington's life, temperament, and politics. Written by authoritative Washington scholars - including John E. Ferling, Don Higginbotham, Robert D. Mitchell, Dorothy Twohig, Bruce A. Ragsdale, J. Frederick Fausz, and Philander D. Chase - these essays present the young leader against the complex and changing backdrop of the West.

As a whole, this book offers a fine and multi-faceted analysis of the environmental factors that influenced the development of America's founder. Individually, each essay demonstrates that Washington's story and Virginia's are the same tale - no where else are "place" and "personality" so closely linked.