American Silhouettes
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Rhetorical Identities of the Founders
Albert Furtwangler
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Format: PaperPrice: $20.00
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Franklin, John Adams, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, John Marshall—all are familiar yet curiously distant American heroes, blurred by the similarities of their background and culture. In this engrossing book Albert Furtwangler looks at these men in turn, examining either a document or a telling incident in their lives in order to explore what was distinctive and unique about them as individuals.
"Leaves the reader much better sensitized to the mind, prose, and political effect of Franklin and John Adams and their most eminent contemporaries up through John Marshall."—American Literature
"Furtwangler undertakes the novel task of asking how a handful of famous framers defined their public images through language. . . . A fresh, stimulating monograph."—Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer
"An engaging and readable book with an original slant. . . . Furtwangler's rhetorical analysis recaptures the vitality of [the Founders] lives and writings."—Tom Scanlan, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
"The achievement of the book lies in Furtwangler's respect for the Founders' self-design: his sympathy for the pain of political crisis and his judgement that personae can originate in the discovery of personal conviction."—Mitchell Breitwieser, Eighteenth-Century Studies
"An important and original project that is both sophisticated in its approach and consistently interesting and revealing in its analyses."—Jay Fliegelman
"In a year filled with books tied to the bicentennial of the constitution, this individualistic study carves a special place for itself."—Booklist
"Furtwangler undertakes the novel task of asking how a handful of famous framers defined their public images through language. . . . A fresh, stimulating monograph."—Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Elegant essays that seek to capture a "likeness" of a handful of Founding Fathers—Franklin, Adams, Washington, Jefferson, John Marshall—as this is revealed in particular verbal statements."—American Studies International
"Silhouettes is refreshing and entertaining and deserves a high spot on any list of new titles appearing this year related to the Constitution."—Academic Library Book Review
"An engaging and readable book with an original slant. . . . Furtwangler's rhetorical analysis recaptures the vitality of their lives and writings."—Tom Scanlan, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
"A fine example of a . . . 'discipline,' it leaves the reader much better sensitized to the mind, prose, and political effect of Franklin and John Adams and their most eminent contemporaries up through John Marshall."—American Literature
"Furtwangler is able to render the founders more lifelike."—Melvin Yazawa, Journal of the Early Republic
"American Silhouettes serves as further confirmation of what we already believe: that the Founding Fathers were the most impressive group of statesmen-politicians the modern world has known."—J.W. Cooke, History: Reviews of New Books
"The achievement of the book lies in Furtwangler's respect for the Founders' self-design: his sympathy for the pain of political crisis and his judgement that personae can originate in the discovery of personal conviction."—Mitchell Breitwieser, Eighteenth-Century Studies
"An interesting and provocative book."—George W. Pilcher, Journal of American History
"Furtwangler's analyses are elegant, his scholarship is impeccable."—Christopher Looby, Early American Literature
"An interesting and provocative book."—George W. Pilcher, Journal of American History
"A sprightly, consistently interesting volume. . . . Offer[s] fresh insights, and does so with considerable charm. Furtwangler's portraits are affectionate, and the general tone is celebratory."—Jean Matthews, Queen's Quarterly
"Incisive, critical essays. . . . Well worth the consultation of scholars. Not only is it eminently readable, but it also brings a fresh perspective to familiar figures based on a sensitive consideration of their prose and political framework."—Alan D. Watson, History: Reviews of New Books
"An intriguing study of the rhetorical identities and personal political styles of the most eminent leaders of the American revolution. . . . A series of compelling vignettes. . . . Deft, insightful studies of character and context these chapters certainly are. In their reading, even the experienced historian finds fresh insights into these overly familiar characters."—John Howe, American Historical Review
ISBN: 9780300045017
Publication Date: September 10, 1989
Publication Date: September 10, 1989
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