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James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights Audiobook
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(3.00) - 163 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Today we hold the Constitution in such high regard that we can hardly imagine how hotly contested was its adoption. Now Richard Labunski offers a dramatic account of a time when the entire American experiment hung in the balance, only to be saved by the most unlikely of heroes--the diminutive and exceedingly shy James Madison. Here is a vividly written account of not one but several major political struggles which changed the course of American history. Labunski takes us inside the sweltering converted theater in Richmond, where for three grueling weeks, the soft-spoken Madison and the charismatic Patrick Henry fought over whether Virginia should ratify the Constitution. Madison won the day by a handful of votes, mollifying Anti-Federalist fears by promising to add a bill of rights to the Constitution. To do this, Madison would have to win a seat in the First Congress, which he did by a tiny margin, allowing him to attend the First Congress and sponsor the Bill of Rights. Packed with colorful details about life in early America, this compelling and important narrative is the first serious book about Madison written in many years. It will return this under-appreciated patriot to his rightful place among the Founding Fathers and shed new light on a key turning point in our nation's history
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"Not for the faint of heart: this is a day by day, blow by blow account of the wrangling that occurred prior to, and during, the process of the ratification of the US Constitution. Very thoroughly researched "
— S (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A virtue of Labunski’s account is the generous attention he gives to Anti-Federalist luminaries like Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Richard Henry Lee—figures too often overlooked in our reverential regard for the founding. For those used to thinking of the Bill of Rights as carved in stone, it is also instructive to see just how large a role accident played in its creation.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Watch the wig powder fly as James Madison and Patrick Henry slug it out over the constitutional freedoms we take for granted today.”
— Atlantic Monthly -
“[Richard] Poe colors Labunski’s tale with an appropriate array of significant pauses, emphases and hushed mock-whispers, bringing his book to life without resorting to overworked theatrical tricks. He may be a stage veteran, but Poe’s reading is anything but stagy.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“A work interesting within its ambit, and capably carried off by Labunski.”
— Booklist -
“[Richard Poe’s] excellent phrasing provides additional clarity to an already-accessible text.”
— AudioFile
James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights Listener Reviews
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" Based on the Audio book version: the topic is interesting, but the book rambles and was just plain difficult to keep one engaged. "
— Andrea, 2/16/2014 -
" Very informative and very well written. "
— Murray, 2/6/2014 -
" Another history topic rarely touched on in school history classes. "
— Kerry, 1/3/2014 -
" Not for the faint of heart: this is a day by day, blow by blow account of the wrangling that occurred prior to, and during, the process of the ratification of the US Constitution. Very thoroughly researched "
— S, 12/30/2013 -
" Well researched, but the voluminous detail does not make for a compelling read-- I truncated my reading of the book and skipped to the final chapters. "
— doug, 12/22/2013 -
" Good research, wasn't written in a way to really get you interested in it "
— Loren, 11/30/2013 -
" Interesting insight into the creation of the Bill of Rights. We take this for granted today and assumed that is was passed with little effort. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of the US. "
— Deborah, 11/24/2013 -
" Wasn't what I was looking for. I wanted to find out more about the man and his accomplishments. This focuses too much detail on the documents he influenced. "
— Anne, 2/21/2013 -
" While informative, I'm afraid reading all about James Madison's diarrhea issues is not my idea of enlightening political information. "
— Brittany, 1/11/2013 -
" What a disappointment! After Chernow's Hamilton book, I thought reading about his contemporary would be interesting. I think it would have been if Chernow wrote it. Unfortunately, Labunski isn't as good a writer. "
— Dave, 12/28/2012 -
" Learned alot from the book but felt like reading a history textbook. Very dry in parts and a lot of repeating of facts. "
— carl, 6/6/2012 -
" A little dry, but a good slice of early U.S. history. "
— Dave, 1/1/2012 -
" This is a great book about the fight to get the Constitution ratified and the Bill of Rights adopted... It is VERY detailed. So you have to be REALLY into it. But if so, it's fantastic! "
— Bethany, 11/11/2011 -
" An adequate retelling of the story of James Madison moving a reluctant Congress to adopt a Bill of Rights to the Constitution. There isn't much new in here. "
— Michael, 7/4/2011 -
" A fascinating look at the history of the first 10 Amendments and how James Madison was instrumental in bring them into existence. "
— Del, 6/14/2011 -
" Interesting insight into the creation of the Bill of Rights. We take this for granted today and assumed that is was passed with little effort. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of the US. "
— Deborah, 5/20/2011 -
" Very interesting and well documented book. Goes through the known details about the work and years put in to get the bill of rights passed. "
— Jon, 10/21/2010 -
" While informative, I'm afraid reading all about James Madison's diarrhea issues is not my idea of enlightening political information. "
— Brittany, 4/12/2010 -
" Audio Book. Not a ?page turner? but very informative about a crucial event in American history. "
— Mark, 12/26/2009 -
" Too much repetition. I think that Madison was one of the greatest men this country has ever seen, but this book did not do him justice. Currently looking for a better one to read... "
— Mike, 12/2/2009 -
" This is a great book about the fight to get the Constitution ratified and the Bill of Rights adopted... It is VERY detailed. So you have to be REALLY into it. But if so, it's fantastic! "
— Bethany, 9/24/2009 -
" This is about the drafting of the Constitution, getting it ratified among the States, heading off a new Constitutional Convention to draft Amendments to the Constitution, and the ultimate drafting and acceptance of the Bill of Rights as we know them. The book is a little long and repetitive. "
— Mark, 11/28/2008
About Richard Poe
Richard Poe, a professional actor for more than thirty years, has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including 1776 and M. Butterfly. On television he has had recurring roles on Star Trek and Frasier. His films include Born on the Fourth of July and Presumed Innocent. Poe is a well-known and prolific audiobook performer and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards.