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An Imperfect God (Abridged): George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America Audiobook
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(3.04) - 272 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A major new biography of Washington, and the first to explore his engagement with American slavery When George Washington wrote his will, he made the startling decision to set his slaves free; earlier he had said that holding slaves was his "only unavoidable subject of regret." In this groundbreaking work, Henry Wiencek explores the founding father's engagement with slavery at every stage of his life—as a Virginia planter, soldier, politician, president, and statesman. Washington was born and raised among blacks and mixed-race people; he and his wife had blood ties to the slave community. Yet as a young man he bought and sold slaves without scruple, even raffled off children to collect debts (an incident ignored by earlier biographers). Then, on the Revolutionary battlefields where he commanded both black and white troops, Washington's attitudes began to change. Wiencek's revelatory narrative, based on a meticulous examination of private papers, court records, and the voluminous Washington archives, documents for the first time the moral transformation culminating in Washington's determination to emancipate his slaves. He acted too late to keep the new republic from perpetuating slavery, but his repentance was genuine. And it was perhaps related to the possibility that a slave named West Ford was the son of George and a woman named Venus; Wiencek has new evidence that this might indeed be true. George Washington's heroic stature as Father of Our Country is not diminished in this superb, nuanced portrait: now we see Washington in full as a man of his time and ahead of his time.
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"Interesting and fairly well researched, though the author often stretches facts to make the case for his own pet beliefs (like Washington having fathered a child on the slave Venus.) Pay attention to the quoted facts, but take his interpretations with a grain of salt - or two! "
— Marla (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The process of fathoming Washington's moral evolution is not a simple one…[Wiencek] rises to the challenge.”
— New York Times -
“[An Imperfect God] succeeds in laying bare the monstrous cruelty of the slave system, showing how it stained, corrupted and victimized free and unfree alike. He chronicles not only the indignities and horrors imposed upon those in bondage, but shows how slavery destroyed opportunities for free craftsmen and how slaveowners lived anxiously under the shadow of potential slave insurrections.”
— Washington Post -
“[An] important work, sure to be of compelling interest to anyone concerned with the nation’s origins, its founders and its history of race slavery…This work of stylish scholarship and genealogical investigation makes Washington an even greater and more human figure than he has seemed before.”
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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Winner of the 2003 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History
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Winner of L.A. Times Book Prize - Winner, 2003
An Imperfect God Listener Reviews
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" Read this quite some time ago it was an interesting look at the promise between George Washington and Martha Washington to release their slaves upon his death. Looks into their treatment of their slaves and slavery overall...photos of the property as well as slave quarters. "
— Kerry, 1/18/2014 -
" Truly fascinating look at not just Washington but many of the other founders, showing these men through great were flawed, and how Washington came to find slavery "repugnant" "
— Cameron, 1/8/2014 -
" I really liked this book....I only got half way through because I had sick kids and had to return it to the library. However, it is on my list of to complete this next year. "
— Carrie, 1/2/2014 -
" An interesting account of Washington's relations with his slaves and his conflicted feelings about slavery. "
— Vance, 12/29/2013 -
" Far more detailed than any K-12 read. If you're at all interested in the topic you'll probably find this enjoyable. If not, it might get dry and long. "
— Jeramey, 12/20/2013 -
" Rick Steves meets History Detectives. Poor history, but highly readable and approachable. "
— Sam, 6/16/2013 -
" This was the most enjoyable book I've read on Washington. He seemed more real to me as his imperfections were revealed. "
— Shirley, 6/12/2013 -
" That George was even a better man than most and an exceptional Man of his Times!! "
— Mike, 9/5/2012 -
" Really interesting read. Impressively researched. "
— Liza, 8/7/2012 -
" Hey BTW George Washington owned slaves, and his use of them is more complicated than popular wisdom has led you to believe. "
— Beth, 10/25/2011 -
" Interesting and fairly well researched, though the author often stretches facts to make the case for his own pet beliefs (like Washington having fathered a child on the slave Venus.) Pay attention to the quoted facts, but take his interpretations with a grain of salt - or two! "
— Marla, 9/17/2011 -
" Rick Steves meets History Detectives. Poor history, but highly readable and approachable. "
— Sam, 2/26/2011 -
" This was the most enjoyable book I've read on Washington. He seemed more real to me as his imperfections were revealed. "
— Shirley, 1/31/2009 -
" That George was even a better man than most and an exceptional Man of his Times!! "
— Mike, 12/27/2008 -
" I really liked this book....I only got half way through because I had sick kids and had to return it to the library. However, it is on my list of to complete this next year. "
— Carrie, 11/7/2008
About Henry Wiencek
Henry Wiencek, a nationally prominent historian and writer, is the author of several books, including The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White, which won the National Book Critics’ Circle Award in 1999. He lives with his wife and son in Charlottesville, Virginia.
About Rick Adamson
Rick Adamson is an award-winning voice artist with more than twenty years’ experience in voiceovers, spoken word events, event announcing, and children’s media, as well as commercials for well-known international corporations. He has narrated numerous television and film documentaries, including Croatia, co-narrated with Martin Sheen. His audiobook narration includes more than two dozen major books, as well as dozens of early-reader titles for juveniles. He won the prestigious Audie Award in 2011 for Best Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction for In a Heartbeat, and he was among the finalists for the 2006 Audie Award for Best Personal Development/Motivational Work for Younger Next Year. He earned an AudioFile Earphones Award for the ensemble narration of Rough Water.