Praise for The Great Divide
"Historians often speak of the conflict between Jefferson and Hamilton. Tom Fleming rightly focuses on Jefferson and Washington, for it was in the nexus of their competing visions of the nation's destiny that the United States truly took shape. In this superb book, Fleming compellingly captures the drama of this clash of titans, showing how its outcome made the difference between national ruin and prosperity."—Edward G. Lengel, Director, Papers of George Washington and author of General George Washington, A Military Life
"George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both tall Virginians who made curcial contributions to winning American independence. But they were otherwise polar opposites, with wildly diverging visions of their fledgling nation's destiny. In The Great Divide, Thomas Fleming quarries a lifetime's study of America's turbulent Founding Era to recount a character-clash waged against the backdrop of chronic domestic discord and overshadowed by blood-soaked revolution in France. The author's robust prose leaves no doubt where his own sympathies lie, but all readers of history will relish his gripping exploration of a conflict between realism and idealism that still resonates today."—Stephen Brumwell, author of George Washington: Gentleman Warrior and winner of the George Washington Book Prize
“Prolific historian Fleming delivers a vivid, opinionated history of this conflict.... Among historians, Jefferson's star has been falling for 50 years. Fleming's frank hostility puts him at the far end of the scale, but he makes a fascinating case that Jefferson's charisma—which peaked early with the Declaration of Independence—was accompanied by fanciful political beliefs that continue to exert a malign influence on the office of the presidency.”—Kirkus Reviews
Library Journal, 3/1/15
“Lightly documented, this work is not a research volume, but its clean and snappy prose make for a readable synthesis.”
Booklist, starred review, 3/15
“Fleming looks beyond the standard history of the founding and early years of the nation to detail the contrasts in the backgrounds and personalities of these men [Washington and Jefferson]…A fascinating look at American history from the perspective of personal relationships and political ideals.”
Publishers Weekly, 3/16/15
“[An] impassioned defense of Washington's presidency, and more entertaining for its interest in the pettiness and foibles of our oft-lionized founders.”
Bookviews blog, April 2015
“Thomas Fleming is already regarded as one of our nation's preeminent historians and with good reason…[The Great Divide] is a totally fascinating insight into two men [Washington and Jefferson] and their colleagues who brought about a new nation.”
Midwest Book Review, April 2015
“An in-depth examination of the deep and severe political disagreements between two of America's most influential Founding Fathers…A fascinating study of strong-willed genius…A ‘must-have' for college and public library American History shelves.”
What Would the Founders Think?, 5/17/15
“An absorbing book that will enlighten many and shock some. Much has been written about Thomas Jefferson's clash with Alexander Hamilton, but the differences between George Washington and Jefferson have received little attention. The Great Divide rectifies that neglect and more.”
San Francisco Book Review, 5/27/15
“Fleming shows the flaws and foibles as well as the strengths of these men…A highly readable book…An enlightening read and interesting depiction of the personalities of Washington and Jefferson.”
PJ Media, 5/25/15
“A terrific and ferociously argued new book.”
Roanoke Times, 3/8/15
“The Great Divide is a great vehicle for…understanding the roots of conflicts that marked the country's beginning and persist in some form today.”
Kirkus Reviews e-newsletter, “Best Books out This Week,” 3/17
Warning Signs, 3/17/15
“[Fleming is] one of America's finest historians…[The Great Divide] is very entertaining and, over all, very astonishing. Most of the things we learned in school about [Washington and Jefferson] and their era are, generally speaking, wrong.”
Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/30/15
“Documents how differences in the two Founders' temperaments and leadership styles shaped their opposing visions for the presidency and the nation.”
LookAtBooks.com, 3/10/15
“This is an extremely interesting book that takes a novel position on the oft-studied, oft-debated politics of the Early National Era…And Fleming backs this contention up with a good deal of proof and extensive scholarship…The Great Divide is a book worth reading for any history buff or person with a casual interest in the politics of the Early Republic.”
InfoDad blog, 4/2/15
“The basic differences between the Washingtonian and Jeffersonian outlooks…are rarely explored with the depth and intensity of The Great Divide.
03/01/2015
Just listing the titles of Fleming's previous books (e.g., A Disease in the Public Mind; The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers) would take more words than are accorded this review of his latest one. Much of the author's work—both novels and the nonfiction, including his first history book, published in 1960—has explored the American Revolution. Here he focuses on the contentious relationship between George Washington (1732–99) and Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826). Fleming comes down on the side of Washington, the "master politician of his era," whose realism is contrasted with Jefferson's idealism. In their reactions to events such as the French Revolution (1789–99) and the Whiskey Rebellion (1791–94), the two differed, just as in their perceptions of the office of the presidency. Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe, and especially James Madison also figure prominently, with each described in terms of his relationships with Washington and Jefferson. In Madison's case, he eventually "abandoned the divisive ideology that emanated from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and returned to that realistic visionary, George Washington." Madison's journey, concludes Fleming, is one "that every man and woman in America can and should take—now and in the future." VERDICT Lightly documented, this work is not a research volume, but its clean and snappy prose make for a readable synthesis.—Mark Spencer, Brock Univ., St. Catharines, Ont.
★ 2015-01-28
The camaraderie among America's Founding Fathers did not survive independence in 1783. Disagreement over the role of government grew into virulent antagonism, and that acrimony persists today. Prolific historian Fleming (A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War, 2013, etc.) delivers a vivid, opinionated history of this conflict. The author clearly favors George Washington's famous practicality over Thomas Jefferson's fiery revolutionary fervor. Fleming begins with the Constitutional Convention, chaired by Washington, whose eight years of failure to persuade the Continental Congress to support his Revolutionary army convinced him that the United States needed a strong central government. In France as America's ambassador, Jefferson took no part in the debates and was lukewarm to the outcome. Described by Fleming as "that most troublesome of politicians—an ideologue," Jefferson believed that humans in their natural state—i.e., virtuous American farmers—did not require government. This utopian faith included passionate support of the French Revolution, during which he defended the Terror and mass executions. Fleming portrays Jefferson as a disloyal secretary of state to President Washington and an equally disloyal vice president to John Adams, working behind the scenes to defeat their policies and lying to their faces. As president, he downsized the government, eliminating all internal taxes and crippling the Army and Navy, which were unable to resist the increasing British depredations that led to the War of 1812. Among historians, Jefferson's star has been falling for 50 years. Fleming's frank hostility puts him at the far end of the scale, but he makes a fascinating case that Jefferson's charisma—which peaked early with the Declaration of Independence—was accompanied by fanciful political beliefs that continue to exert a malign influence on the office of the presidency.
