Young Washington: How Wilderness and War Shaped America's Founding Father - Biography & History Book for American Revolution Enthusiasts, Perfect for History Classrooms & Book Clubs

Historian and adventure writer Peter Stark of "Astoria" examines the most legendary figures in American history George Washington. Within his book "Young Washington: How Wilderness and War Forged America's Founding Father" readers have a chance to get to know what a twenty-something Washington was like before he earned accolades far and wide as a soldier and commander of the Revolutionary War and by wars end becomes the first president of the what would become the United States of America. If readers may think they have read more than they need to know about Washington, Stark provides more to the legend by stepping back to how he became the leader that he became and not as much to the myths that came after. And for this reader, there is always the curiosity that springs through when finding out what may have inspired the author to retell of a history of one of the most legendary figures of the past. Stark happened to be completing research for another book and his trip took him to the back-country of Pennsylvania that looked like it would have been during Washington's times. The natural landscape appeared untouched, similar to 18th century Ohio Valley with its forests and rugged mountains and with that in place began the retelling of Washington's past.One of the most interesting elements about this biography about the life of a young Washington that will take him on a five-year journey of his paths where he sought his destiny that could only be told in novel form. However, this is not a work of historical fiction it reads somewhat in a similar vein; Stark includes at the beginning of the book a who's who of important individuals of close confidantes and friends and relatives that were a part of Washington's experience "Cast of Characters" from General Edward Braddock to his most revered Mary Washington. Indeed, most readers that have done extensive or enough reading and studying of the life of Washington may rather directly foresee the first chapter than to read these concise descriptions. And at the end of the book there are similar pages that reveal "Fate of the Characters". It is an interesting format of non-fiction that no one will question of the fine detail and chronology of events of Washington's beginnings in Colonial Virginia and the Atlantic Coast to the wilderness of the Ohio Valley, which he will become the "master of two worlds". Stark provides the historical background within over 25 pages that explains the major colonial settlements of coastal America that began to become self-reliant and less of British and French influence but not without rivalry and imminent challenges with Indian communities. Books and historians have researched and written of this part of Washington's life but the unique aspect of this book is the first five years before Washington departs Virginia and treks over the Shenandoah and the Appalachian mountains to Indian territory from about 1748-1752 and up to 1758, and his involvement in the French and Indian War. One will see that Washington so-called worked his way up from the Virginia Plantation at Ferry Farm along the Rappahanock River to his survey work west of; it was during this period he paid his dues and earned enough and invested in land despite the family name had yet to measure to prominence of the Byrds, Lees, and Randolphs of the 17th and 18th centuries."Young Washington" is a fascinating book that history aficionados of this part of history may find interesting with Stark's vivid retelling of the journey of George Washington. And if that is not enough, there is plenty of room to delve much deeper into the life of Washington with the additional bibliography and notes and the exceptional maps that may entice the reader. Or one may also, venture to the various institutions and libraries and historical sites where Stark pursued his research of the book.