Product Description

A biography of James Madison, fourth president of the United States, who was elected in 1809. Ketchman provides an analysis of his political theory and of the way in which he sought to apply it to the establishment of constitutional government.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145830 in Books
• Published on: 1990-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 753 pages

Review

""Madison's personality comes alive in these pages, his strengths and weaknesses of mind and character clearly outlined. His great services in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 are graphically portrayed. The analysis of his political theory, and of the way in which he sought to apply it to the establishment of of government under the Constitution, is excellent. The depiction of Jeffersonian and Madisonian foreign policy up to the outbreak of the War of 1812 is clear and succinct. This is an excellent biography." -- American Historical Review

"Utilizing the vast amount of source material made available in the last 30 years, Ketcham has captured the essential man in his times and in doing so has made him understandable for us in our own day." -- Los Angeles Times

"This single volume has provided a penetrating and highly readable biography which merits distinction as the best one-volume life of Madison yet written." -- Virginia Magazine of History and Biography

About the Author

Ralph Ketcham is Professor of American Studies, Political Science, and Public Affairs, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. His most recent publications are Presidents above Party: The First American Presidency, 1789-1829 and Individualism and Public Life: An American Dilemma.

Customer Reviews

The academic's Madison
If you are searching for a light or relaxing biography of Madison, this will not be the measured choice. This is a difficult and sometimes plodding read, so be forewarned. The excuse that Ketcham is an "academic historian" and therefore is allowed to be boring is indeed a stretch, Stephen Ambrose writes beautifully and is an academic historian as well.

This is a trustworthy, sober and lengthy treatment of Madison, written by a man who knows his subject intimately. The reader can trust the facts between the covers, but there is an integral element missing: Madison himself. There are innumerable anecdotes and descriptions of Madison, but it's buried within the minutiae and sheer length of this very heavy tome. I never got a sense of Madison as a human being, only as a political or revolutionary shadow.

Recommended only for those either obsessed with Madison or tolerant of a chilly and plodding read.

Review of James Madison: A Biography
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed other biographies and I had a hard time determining why. I think part of the reason is that I just finished "Truman" by David McCullough before reading this one. If I wrote a biography, I wouldn't want it to follow Truman. Second, I think I was turned off by the fact that Ketchum tried to fill in parts of Madison's early life by saying thing such as "we might imagine Madison looking out his window at those mountains." etc. I understand that very little information about Madison's early life is available and historians often piece together what they can, but the underlying "this isn't fact" attitude it a turn off. I feel it necessary to stress that I don't fault the author as this seems to be a matter of personal preference. In this book, Ralph Ketcham does a good job examining Madison's political beliefs, theories and writings and how they all came together as Madison helped write the Constitution. He also helps us to understand the political and personal relationships between Virginia's "aristocracy" including Madison, James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason, George Washington, etc. Finally, we see how Madison was an unsuccessful president as he was neither able to mantain control of his cabinet nor wage a successful war in the War of 1812 (yes, we did win the war...kind of...but it should have been a much easier victory, and some of the blame must be put on Madison). Interesting insights and Madison should be studied, but this book really lacked something I still can't put my finger on. So, I recommend it for fellow history buffs, especially those interested in Early American History. I don't recommend it for those looking for a fun leisurely read.

An in-depth one volume biography
This was a well written biography. It explores the public and private life of the fourth president. The book is a deep one volume work about James Madison. I particularly enjoyed the author's fascinating coverage of the events surrounding Madison's career: For example, there is a great deal to learn here about the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention not only about the role Madison played in them. Not only does the author write about historical events but he also presents interesting accounts of Madison's friendships and antagonistic political relationships. I also finished this book with a good sense about the political climate surrounding Madison's public career. Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it invites further study. The only fault I found worth mentioning was the speculativeness of the first two chapters. Instead of simply writing that we know little about Madison's early life, the author tried to fill in the missing years with his surmises.