GEORGE WASHINGTON: Father of Our Country

Third in Adler's series of ""First Biographies"": a brief, heavily illustrated text that covers Washington's birth, early education, and careers as surveyor, soldier, and gentleman farmer--as well as his roles as commander-in, chief of the Revolutionary forces, president of the Constitutional Convention, and first President of the US. His relationship with his family is touched on. Despite a few quotes, moderately amusing anecdotes, and some concrete details of his daily life, Washington never emerges consistently here. Adler sticks to the facts --he doesn't invent thoughts or dialogue--but he doesn't manage to connect the facts into a coherent whole. Like Garrick's illustrations, his portrait is accurate and the face is conscientiously drawn; but the pictures are stiff and never come to life. Acceptable, but not especially inviting or exciting.