Rating: 
Summary: A refreshing look at a forgotten Patriot
Review: Harry Ammon's work on James Monroe is a refreshing look at a forgotten patriot. As a Virginian, I have heard most about Washington, Henry, Jefferson, and Madison. Ammon shows Monroe as more than the little brother of the Revolutionary generation, and more than the kickstand for Madison and Jefferson he is sometimes seen as. Instead, we see a man who's philosophy of nationalism in defense of the country differed from his Virginia mentors. Ammon shows Monroe's unusual modesty for a man of his time. He formed one of the most remarkable and talented cabinet and proved to be a strong transition president from the old generation to the next. Ammon also makes a point to stay even and took points off Monroe for his lack of action on the economic crisis of 1819 and the Missouri Compromise. Great book on a great President. We must be remembered that Monroe was the only man besides GEORGE WASHINGTON to run for President unopposed.
Rating: 
Summary: Respectfully disagree
Review: I can't say that I agree with the previous reviewers. I too have been reading the biographies of each president in order, and I must say that Ammon's work is the least satisfying one I have read thus far. Unlike Flexner's work on Washington or Malone's work on Jefferson, Ammon's work gives a rather superficial portrait of Monroe the man, and his discussion of contemporary events isn't very detailed; Ammon presumes the general reader has a more detailed knowledge of 19th century history than may be warranted. Granted, after reading this book, I knew a little more about what James Monroe did (enough to answer some Trivial Pursuit questions), but I still don't feel as if I truly understood the man, his motivations, his character, his times and his impact.
Rating:
Summary: Respectfully disagree
Review: I can't say that I agree with the previous reviewers. I too have been reading the biographies of each president in order, and I must say that Ammon's work is the least satisfying one I have read thus far. Unlike Flexner's work on Washington or Malone's work on Jefferson, Ammon's work gives a rather superficial portrait of Monroe the man, and his discussion of contemporary events isn't very detailed; Ammon presumes the general reader has a more detailed knowledge of 19th century history than may be warranted. Granted, after reading this book, I knew a little more about what James Monroe did (enough to answer some Trivial Pursuit questions), but I still don't feel as if I truly understood the man, his motivations, his character, his times and his impact.
Rating: 
Summary: Beyond "the Doctrine" -- The Life of James Monroe
Review: If it were not for the "Monroe Doctrine" the fifth president of the United States would likely be as unknown to the average American as Martin Van Buren or Millard Fillmore. Yet, in this distinguished biography by Harry Ammon, first published in 1971, James Monroe emerges from the shadows of his good friends and fellow early Virginian presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, to receive due credit for his significant contribution to the formation of the American republic.Some historians have criticized James Monroe as a man of modest talent who provided the country with feckless leadership during the crucial international, economic and political crises of his times - the collapse of the Spanish empire in the Western Hemisphere, the Panic of 1819, and the Missouri Compromise of 1820, respectively. However, Ammon argues rather persuasively that these critiques are either unfair or overblown. Monroe's conduct in the White House was guided by his deeply held republican principles, which maintained that executive power was subject to strict limitations. To compare Monroe's leadership performance to that of 21st presidents is, in Ammon's opinion, supremely unjust. But even taking such thoughts into consideration, the truth is James Monroe was not a great man - and Ammon doesn't claim that he was. He notes, for instance, that the correspondence between Jefferson and Madison covered a full range of intellectual topics, from philosophy and science to government and literature, whereas letters to Monroe kept strictly to practical political concerns. Indeed, Ammon describes Monroe as a man of rather pedestrian abilities, but with a highly developed sense of republican principles and political drive who was much more instrumental in directing US policy than traditionally given credit for. If Monroe was a failure, it was in his ambitious attempt to restructure the American political system following the War of 1812. Ammon maintains that the proposed reconciliation and amalgamation of the triumphant Republicans and crippled Federalists (the so-called "Era of Good Feelings") was the primary objective of his administration, and in that endeavor Monroe failed utterly and completely. What is most striking in Ammon's narrative is Monroe's multifarious contribution to early American government: staff officer to Lord Stirling during the Revolution who was wounded in a gallant charge against the Hessians at Trenton and later suffered the privations of Valley Forge; delegate to the Constitutional Convention; United States senator; Republican minister to France during the Federalist administration of Washington; special envoy to Paris to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase; minister to England during the Jefferson administration; governor of Virginia; secretary of state during the Madison administration and then secretary of war during the War of 1812; and, finally, two-term president. His lifelong commitment to public service, which left him financially destitute upon his retirement in 1825, is worthy of the sincere gratitude of posterity. Ammon is an able historian and this biography is a credit to subject and author alike. At 573 pages, however, it is a rather dense tome and the casual reader should stay away. But for those interested in a serious review of an important character in early American history, Ammon's "James Monroe: the Quest for National Identity" is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond "the Doctrine" -- The Life of James Monroe
Review: If it were not for the "Monroe Doctrine" the fifth president of the United States would likely be as unknown to the average American as Martin Van Buren or Millard Fillmore. Yet, in this distinguished biography by Harry Ammon, first published in 1971, James Monroe emerges from the shadows of his good friends and fellow early Virginian presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, to receive due credit for his significant contribution to the formation of the American republic. Some historians have criticized James Monroe as a man of modest talent who provided the country with feckless leadership during the crucial international, economic and political crises of his times - the collapse of the Spanish empire in the Western Hemisphere, the Panic of 1819, and the Missouri Compromise of 1820, respectively. However, Ammon argues rather persuasively that these critiques are either unfair or overblown. Monroe's conduct in the White House was guided by his deeply held republican principles, which maintained that executive power was subject to strict limitations. To compare Monroe's leadership performance to that of 21st presidents is, in Ammon's opinion, supremely unjust. But even taking such thoughts into consideration, the truth is James Monroe was not a great man - and Ammon doesn't claim that he was. He notes, for instance, that the correspondence between Jefferson and Madison covered a full range of intellectual topics, from philosophy and science to government and literature, whereas letters to Monroe kept strictly to practical political concerns. Indeed, Ammon describes Monroe as a man of rather pedestrian abilities, but with a highly developed sense of republican principles and political drive who was much more instrumental in directing US policy than traditionally given credit for. If Monroe was a failure, it was in his ambitious attempt to restructure the American political system following the War of 1812. Ammon maintains that the proposed reconciliation and amalgamation of the triumphant Republicans and crippled Federalists (the so-called "Era of Good Feelings") was the primary objective of his administration, and in that endeavor Monroe failed utterly and completely. What is most striking in Ammon's narrative is Monroe's multifarious contribution to early American government: staff officer to Lord Stirling during the Revolution who was wounded in a gallant charge against the Hessians at Trenton and later suffered the privations of Valley Forge; delegate to the Constitutional Convention; United States senator; Republican minister to France during the Federalist administration of Washington; special envoy to Paris to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase; minister to England during the Jefferson administration; governor of Virginia; secretary of state during the Madison administration and then secretary of war during the War of 1812; and, finally, two-term president. His lifelong commitment to public service, which left him financially destitute upon his retirement in 1825, is worthy of the sincere gratitude of posterity. Ammon is an able historian and this biography is a credit to subject and author alike. At 573 pages, however, it is a rather dense tome and the casual reader should stay away. But for those interested in a serious review of an important character in early American history, Ammon's "James Monroe: the Quest for National Identity" is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity
Review: James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity written by Harry Ammon is a book that covers from James Monroe's birth to his passing. As the nation mourned Monroe's death, it also moved it, not because of the achievements of his administration were then valued so highly but rather because the people saw in his death the passingof one of the last heros of the revolutionary generation. Not only like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams who both died on the very same day July 4, 1826, but James Monroe died on the Fourth of July five years later, bringing the struggle for independence more sharply into focus. This book takes us from the Virginia Tidewater in Monroe's life, to his service in the revolutionary army, where he was wounded and later recovered and served in the Washington administration, the United States Senate and governer of Virginia, he served with the Madison administration as Secretary of State and War. Later being elected to the presidency of the United States. If anything can be said, this biography does justice to James Monroe as it is exhaustively researched and documented. The scholarship is perceptive and it sheads light on the politics and personalities, making this work indespensible. I found that the author narrative to be a little dry... maybe because I read it after reading David McCullough's "John Adams." But, in all fairness, the narrative needs a little "juice" to liven it up, as somnolence is a severe side effect. James Monroe was not as well known as some of the others that served as president, but his accomplishments, nervertheless, were of noteworthiness as to establishing the national identity of the United States of America.
Rating:
Summary: James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity
Review: James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity written by Harry Ammon is a book that covers from James Monroe's birth to his passing. As the nation mourned Monroe's death, it also moved it, not because of the achievements of his administration were then valued so highly but rather because the people saw in his death the passingof one of the last heros of the revolutionary generation. Not only like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams who both died on the very same day July 4, 1826, but James Monroe died on the Fourth of July five years later, bringing the struggle for independence more sharply into focus. This book takes us from the Virginia Tidewater in Monroe's life, to his service in the revolutionary army, where he was wounded and later recovered and served in the Washington administration, the United States Senate and governer of Virginia, he served with the Madison administration as Secretary of State and War. Later being elected to the presidency of the United States. If anything can be said, this biography does justice to James Monroe as it is exhaustively researched and documented. The scholarship is perceptive and it sheads light on the politics and personalities, making this work indespensible. I found that the author narrative to be a little dry... maybe because I read it after reading David McCullough's "John Adams." But, in all fairness, the narrative needs a little "juice" to liven it up, as somnolence is a severe side effect. James Monroe was not as well known as some of the others that served as president, but his accomplishments, nervertheless, were of noteworthiness as to establishing the national identity of the United States of America.
Rating:
Summary: Standard historical biography
Review: This book was tedious to read and didn't contain as much information as books like Ketcham's James Madison or McCullough's Truman. Ammon did a good job of listing the activities in which James Monroe partook but I feel he gave me little in the way of any new understanding of them. The exceptions would be Ammon's description of James Monroe's diplomatic service to France during George Washington's administration. Ammon's description provided new insight to about this time period that I had not previously understood. I also liked his portrayals of the friendships he had with his contemporaries in particular Madison, John Quincy Adams and Lafeyette. Other than that, I felt the book a little dull.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent full-life biography.
Review: This is a very thorough, very exhaustive look at the life of the sixth president of the United States, and while it may not be as easily readable as, say, David McCullough's "Truman", it is certainly less dry and slow-going than most scholarly works. If you're looking for a full-life biography of Monroe, one that truly informs you on the subject and does not simply dramatize the story of a historical figure's life, this is an excellent choice. If you're looking for light reading with a historical basis, this is definitely NOT what you're looking for.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent full-life biography.
Review: This is a very thorough, very exhaustive look at the life of the sixth president of the United States, and while it may not be as easily readable as, say, David McCullough's "Truman", it is certainly less dry and slow-going than most scholarly works. If you're looking for a full-life biography of Monroe, one that truly informs you on the subject and does not simply dramatize the story of a historical figure's life, this is an excellent choice. If you're looking for light reading with a historical basis, this is definitely NOT what you're looking for.
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