The Virginia Dynasty
Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation
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Narrated by:
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Nan McNamara
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By:
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Lynne Cheney
About this listen
A vivid account of leadership focusing on the first four Virginia presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe - from the best-selling historian and author of James Madison.
From a small expanse of land on the North American continent came four of the nation's first five presidents - a geographic dynasty whose members led a revolution, created a nation, and ultimately changed the world. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe were born, grew to manhood, and made their homes within a 60-mile circle east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Friends and rivals, they led in securing independence, hammering out the United States Constitution, and building a working republic. Acting together, they doubled the territory of the United States. From their disputes came American political parties and the weaponizing of newspapers, the media of the day. In this elegantly conceived and insightful new audiobook from best-selling author Lynne Cheney, the four Virginians are not marble icons, but vital figures deeply intent on building a nation where citizens could be free.
Focusing on the intersecting roles these men played as warriors, intellectuals, and statesmen, Cheney takes us back to an exhilarating time when the Enlightenment opened new vistas for humankind. But even as the Virginians advanced liberty, equality, and human possibility, they held people in slavery and were slaveholders when they died. Lives built on slavery were incompatible with a free and just society; their actions contradicted the very ideals they espoused. They managed nonetheless to pass down those ideals, and they became powerful weapons for ending slavery. They inspired Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and today undergird the freest nation on earth.
Taking full measure of strengths and failures in the personal as well as the political lives of the men at the center of this audiobook, Cheney offers a concise and original exploration of how the United States came to be.
©2020 Lynne Cheney (P)2020 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Bringing these men together as a group draws attention to how their thought and action unfolded in response to new challenges and dispels any illusion that they were a monolithic bloc. Cheney is an adept writer who makes no wrong steps.” (Library Journal)
"An accessible group portrait of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe ... Cheney selects anecdotes wisely and writes gracefully. The result is an informative introduction to four of America’s most important founding fathers." (Publishers Weekly)
"Debates over power and justice are as old - even older, really - than the Republic, and Lynne Cheney has given us a thoughtful and illuminating account of how a group of distinctive Americans, all Virginians, confronted essential questions at the beginning of our common journey.” (Jon Meacham, author of The Soul of America)
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Explore the captivating lives of the Founding Fathers. Eight captivating manuscripts in one audiobook. So if you want to learn more about the life of Founding Fathers, get this audiobook now!
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filled with inaccuracies
- By Eben on 04-13-22
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James Madison
- By: Richard Brookhiser
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Eminent historian Richard Brookhiser presents a vivid portrait of James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution” and one of America's greatest statesmen.
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OK book but not a biography
- By Joel Mayer on 08-05-12
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Washington and Hamilton
- The Alliance That Forged America
- By: Stephen F. Knott, Tony Williams
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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In the wake of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers faced a daunting task: overcome their competing visions to build a new nation, the likes of which the world had never seen. Washington and Hamilton chronicles the unlikely collaboration between two conflicting characters working together to protect their hard-won freedoms. Yet while Washington and Hamilton's different personalities often led to fruitful collaboration, their conflicting ideals also tested the boundaries of their relationship - and threatened the future of the new republic.
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Biography
- By Emily on 06-14-18
By: Stephen F. Knott, and others
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The Last King of America
- The Misunderstood Reign of George III
- By: Andrew Roberts
- Narrated by: Phillipe Stevens
- Length: 36 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Most Americans dismiss George III as a buffoon - a heartless and terrible monarch with few, if any, redeeming qualities. The best-known modern interpretation of him is Jonathan Groff's preening, spitting, and pompous take in Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway masterpiece. But this deeply unflattering characterization is rooted in the prejudiced and brilliantly persuasive opinions of 18th-century revolutionaries. After combing through hundreds of thousands of pages of never-before-published correspondence, award-winning historian Andrew Roberts has uncovered the truth.
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Fantastic .. a proud defense of George III
- By Wyatt on 11-12-21
By: Andrew Roberts
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Alexander Hamilton
- By: Ron Chernow
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 35 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power.
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An Outstanding & Riveting Book!
- By Kevin on 03-04-05
By: Ron Chernow
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Madison's Gift
- Five Partnerships That Built America
- By: David Stewart
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Short, plain, balding, neither soldier nor orator, low on charisma and high on intelligence, Madison cared more about achieving results than taking the credit. To reach his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic, he blended his talents with those of key partners. It was Madison who led the drive for the Constitutional Convention and pressed for an effective new government as his patron George Washington lent the effort legitimacy.
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Excellent history of our nation's founding
- By JJay on 02-23-15
By: David Stewart
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Inventing a Nation
- Washington, Adams, Jefferson
- By: Gore Vidal
- Narrated by: Paul Hecht, Gore Vidal
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Volumes have been written about George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but no previous work captures the intimate and vital details the way Inventing a Nation does. Vidal's consummate skill takes you into the minds and private rooms of these great men, illuminating their opinions of one another and their concerns about crafting a workable democracy.
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Reader Beware: Mixed with a political agenda
- By Robert on 09-09-04
By: Gore Vidal
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Apostles of Revolution
- Jefferson, Paine, Monroe, and the Struggle Against the Old Order in America and Europe
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
- Length: 18 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and James Monroe were in the vanguard of revolutionary ideas in the 18th century. As founding fathers, they risked their lives for American independence, but they also wanted more. Each wished for profound changes in the political and social fabric of pre-1776 America and hoped that the American Revolution would spark republican and egalitarian revolutions throughout Europe, sweeping away the old aristocratic order. Ultimately, each rejoiced at the opportunity to be a part of the French Revolution, a cause that became increasingly untenable as idealism gave way to the bloody terror.
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A bit of a challenging listen but well worth it
- By J. Parks on 09-20-21
By: John Ferling
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Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
- By: Jon Meacham
- Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Jon Meacham
- Length: 18 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In this magnificent biography, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Lion and Franklin and Winston brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power gives us Jefferson the politician and president, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era.
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A Man and Biography Relevant to Our Day
- By Darwin8u on 11-14-12
By: Jon Meacham
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The Birth of Modern Politics
- Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828
- By: Lynn Hudson Parson
- Narrated by: Milton Bagby
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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The 1828 presidential election, which pitted Major General Andrew Jackson against incumbent John Quincy Adams, has long been hailed as a watershed moment in American political history. It was the contest in which an unlettered, hot-tempered southwestern frontiersman, trumpeted by his supporters as a genuine man of the people, soundly defeated a New England "aristocrat" whose education and political resume were as impressive as any ever seen in American public life.
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a very good popular history book
- By D. Littman on 01-29-10
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A Wicked War
- Polk, Clay, Lincoln and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico
- By: Amy S. Greenberg
- Narrated by: Caroline Shaffer
- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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A Wicked War presents the definitive history of the 1846 war between the United States and Mexico - a conflict that turned America into a continental power. Amy Greenberg describes the battles between American and Mexican armies, but also delineates the political battles between Democrats and Whigs - the former led by the ruthless Polk, the latter by the charismatic Henry Clay and a young representative from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln. Greenberg brilliantly recounts this key chapter in the creation of the United States authority and narrative flair.
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Rubbish Historical Work, Lots of Fake Stuff
- By Jose on 04-28-17
By: Amy S. Greenberg
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From Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian Joseph J. Ellis, the unexpected story of why the thirteen colonies, having just fought off the imposition of a distant centralized governing power, would decide to subordinate themselves anew.
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bias is not good history
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Readable, but more hero worship than history
- By Elaine Martin on 12-22-10
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Lack of detailed descriptive support.
- By J. D. Langley on 11-20-24
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For a man who insisted that life on the public stage was not what he had in mind, Thomas Jefferson certainly spent a great deal of time in the spotlight. Historian Joseph J. Ellis sifts the facts shrewdly from the legends and the rumors, treading a path between vilification and hero worship in order to formulate a plausible portrait of the man who still today "hover[s] over the political scene like one of those dirigibles cruising above a crowded football stadium, flashing words of inspiration to both teams".
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Jefferson, As Seen By Big Government
- By FredZarguna on 06-01-23
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The Three Lives of James Madison
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Over the course of his life, James Madison changed the United States three times: First, he designed the Constitution, led the struggle for its adoption and ratification, then drafted the Bill of Rights. As an older, cannier politician, he cofounded the original Republican party, setting the course of American political partisanship. Finally, having pioneered a foreign policy based on economic sanctions, he took the United States into a high-risk conflict, becoming the first wartime president and, despite the odds, winning.
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Cogently organized, meticulously balanced
- By Diana Black Kennedy on 06-15-18
By: Noah Feldman
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James Madison
- A Life Reconsidered
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A major new biography of the fourth US president, from New York Times best-selling author Lynne Cheney. James Madison was a true genius of the early republic, the leader who did more than any other to create the nation we know today. This majestic new biography tells his story. Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution. His visionary political philosophy was a crucial factor behind the Constitution’s ratification, and his political savvy was of major importance in getting the new government underway.
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Great man, great ideas, muddling book
- By NDFletch on 06-13-15
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bias is not good history
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Readable, but more hero worship than history
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Lack of detailed descriptive support.
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Jefferson, As Seen By Big Government
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Cogently organized, meticulously balanced
- By Diana Black Kennedy on 06-15-18
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Great man, great ideas, muddling book
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What listeners say about The Virginia Dynasty
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Tally D Lykins
- 09-20-24
Very interesting
Well written and very informative. The author does a good job of researching the impact Virginia had on the beginning of our nation.
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- James
- 06-25-23
A wonderful recounting
Very well done with lots of detail and documentation. A must read for anyone with an interest in U.S history.
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- HSB3
- 10-16-21
Informative
In reading/listening to this book, it became apparent that I was not as knowledgeable as I had thought. Thank you.
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- DM
- 03-05-21
Way cool History. Virgina has a claim to fame
The accomplishments, exploits, dedication, and sacrifices these men gave to the founding of our country cannot and should not be forgotten. We need more men like this. Not perfect by any means, but given what we know happened in the French and other revolutions around the world, it is nothing short of a miracle none of these men became violent dictators bent on the destruction of others and the country. Great men!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Wayne McAllister
- 11-13-20
A Most Worthwhile Listening
Having grown up a Virginian, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms Cheney's encapsulating the history of my Commonwealth's most famous men. I found her retelling of the 1801 election most enjoyable and Madison's challenges brought on by his 1812 endeavor very illuminating.
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1 person found this helpful
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- PM
- 10-29-20
Great Play by Play of the FFs.
History nuts, play this book while painting your garage and it will go by like a cool breeze.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kenneth
- 03-28-21
Absolutely loved it
This book was enjoyable very informative. Excellent 2 thumbs up. The narrator was not dragging the read. I love history and I love to hear things that you weren’t taught in any school history book. Will definitely be getting more from this author👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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1 person found this helpful
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- Placeholder
- 01-09-21
History - Beyond the K thru 12 Details
What a great story of the “teal” founding fathers from Virginia. They dealt with success and failure just like the rest of us even though their legacy on the nation and world has been way above average!!!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jean
- 11-19-20
Captivating
A few years ago, I read Lynne Cheney’s book “James Madison: A Life Reconsidered” and was impressed by Cheney’s writing skills. Therefore, I jumped to get her new book “The Virginia Dynasty”.
The book is well written and researched. The book is not an academic history book. Cheney’s doctorate degree is in British Literature, not history. That is probably why she picked up on little-known information about Jefferson’s fascination with words and cadence. The book provides an overview of four men: Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe along with some little-known facts about each man. Cheney is a master storyteller so the book reads more like fiction than non-fiction. If you are interested in the early days of our government, you will enjoy this book.
The book is ten hours and forty minutes. Nan McNamara does an excellent job narrating the book. McNamara is an actress, voice artist and has won the Earphone Award and was Best Narrator of audiobook for 2016.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Evan
- 11-23-20
Evan's Review
Very good book. Lynn does the of comparing the first 4 out of 5 Presidents. I thought when I started the book I won't learn much from what I have read and studied over the years. One of the big points is how Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe did alot of back stabbing of George Washington. I knew about Jefferson but Madison, and Monroe I didn't.. Over the years I have really got discussed with Jefferson because he really was an ideologue until he got elected President.
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1 person found this helpful