I have read and enjoyed all of Stanley Weintraub's "Christmas War Books" (more than once!). They are not deep and detailed military histories, but they are of interesting subjects and make nice holiday reading for military history buffs (like myself) or by those who just want to get some insight about the subject.

"Washington's Christmas Farewell" begins in late 1783 in New York City, where Washington is with the last of his army waiting for the final departure of the remaining British Army (and those Royalists who plan on leaving with them) so he can can leave and be home in Mt Vernon by Christmas, for the first time in many years.

Weintraub writes of the many receptions held for Washington on his long journey down to Virginia, of his very moving and tearful farewell to his generals and staff who had been with him for so many years, and of his final resignation of his military commission to Congress in Annapolis, MD. The book ends with Washington on Christmas Eve, going into his house. Washington was a private man and left no written record of his first Christmas with Martha Washington and his family after so many years (which seems appropriate to me).

The author makes you realize how much the American public loved and revered Washington, and how respected he was abroad (even more than Ben Franklin) - many foreign military and political leaders expressing surprise that he planned on retiring and returning to his private life rather than taking authoritarian power, as they assumed he would. But that was not what Washington would do, showing to the world that the United States would be governed by the people, not the military. Thankfully for us. He remained a figure of respect abroad even in later years, so much so that in 1799 when he died, Napoleon declared a 10 day state of mourning with his army.

There is a quote by Washington in the book, which I think many politicians and the American public today should pay attention to, especially those who claim to regard him with admiration. It reads "The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges..." Would that more agreed with the Father of our Country. ( )

Christmas

I was drawn to this book because it concentrates on a pivotal time in American history, and on one of my favorite characters in that history. The book illumines Washington's lionization at the conclusion of the War - he was already being called "The Father of his Country." Within these accolades, there is only the most tenuous and tentative indication that there will be a unified republic in the future. Perhaps that's as it should be.

The author tries in passing to give a flavor of the Christmas holiday of the time, but this seems an afterthought, added perhaps at the behest of an editor. The strongest feature of the story is the description of Mr. Washington's progress from Newburgh, New York, where the army is dissolved, to his Mt. Vernon home. People all along the way hail him and honor him, with the clamor rising and rising as he progresses.

This book relates the War's financial cost, and includes a gallery of the individuals who footed the bill for independence. I appreciated these things, but found myself looking for some germ that would indicate that a great, powerful nation was being born. It's not here.

This is a book whose only ambition is to relate Washington's physical journey home after the Revolution. It's specialized and specific, and unless you're directly interested in that three-month period in U.S. history, you might want to spend your time on something more generally appealing. ( )