This article was originally published in the may 2015 issue of bookpage. The quartet by joseph ellis essay 54 words bartleby. These men, with the help of robert morris and gouverneur morris, shaped the contours of. In the quartet, pulitzer prizewinning historian joseph ellis tells the unexpected story of americas second great founding and of the men. The quartet is the best kind of historyauthoritative and superbly written. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789, by joseph j. Making use of newly available correspondence and biographies of his principles, ellis reconstructs the efforts leading up to the 1787 constitutional. By the mid1780s, european pundits, writes joseph ellis, regarded the very term united states as a comical oxymoron. May 10, 2015 when and how did the united states become a nation. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The revolutionary generation won the 2001 pulitzer prize for history. Mar, 2018 his latest book, the quartet, orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789, is a chronicle of what he terms the revolution after the revolution, meaning the process by which the newly independent american republic transitioned from a loose collection of autonomous states to forming a true, stable, national government. Ellis is the pulitzer prizewinning author of founding brothers.
The first is that this period constituted a second american revolution. Joseph ellis has authored several entertaining books on the founding era of american history. George washington in his latest book, joseph ellis once again looks back to the american founding for wisdom from jefferson, adams, madison, and washington. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789, historian joseph j. His portrait of thomas jefferson, american sphinx, won the national book award. The quartet is an historical account of the debates and events leading up to, during, and immediately following the creation of the constitution of the united states of america. The quartet is four politicians that played an integral role in the creation, shaping, and implementation of the constitution and early federal government in the us. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 1783 1789 examines the united states movement from independence to nationhood following the revolutionary war. Jun 30, 2015 more than two centuries after the ratification of the constitution, the historian joseph j.
Joseph john ellis born july 18, 1943 is an american historian whose work focuses on the lives and times of the founders of the united states of america. Now this master historian turns his attention to the most exalted american hero, founding father and first president. The quartet is a historical account of the debates and events leading up to, during, and immediately following the creation of the constitution of the united states of america. Ellis is a professor of history at mount holyoke college and a nationally recognized scholar of american colonial history. His latest book, the quartet, orchestrating the second. Ellis tells the story of the period in american history from the end of the revolutionary war to the formation of our federal government which he sees as a crucial period that most of us know very little about. Jul 05, 2015 joseph ellis has authored several entertaining books on the founding era of american history. The quartet by joseph ellis was a novel to provide detail of the years following the american revolution, and how the quartet of george washington, james madison, john jay, and alexander hamilton each provided a quality in guiding america toward the right direction. It focuses is on exactly the moment when the countrys founders led the effort to replace the articles of confederation with a constitution that would establish a federal government. Ellis, awardwinning author of the founding fathers and american sphinx, and perhaps the leading historian of the american revolution, here considers that tu. From pulitzer prizewinning american historian joseph j. The quartet is four politicians that played an integral role in the creation, shaping, and implementation of the constitution.
Ellis offers insightful portraits of his main players and penetrating analyses of major issues while beautifully evoking the atmosphere of the era. The character and legacy of john adams passionate sage is elliss best book. Ellis, the unexpected story of why the thirteen colonies, havin. The character of thomas jefferson 1996, ellis explored the character and personality of jefferson, and his many contradictions. Jun 07, 2015 ellis, awardwinning author of the founding fathers and american sphinx, and perhaps the leading historian of the american revolution, here considers that tu. It focuses is on exactly the moment when the countrys founders led the effort to replace the articles of confederation with a constitution that would establish a. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. George washington, john jay, alexander hamilton, and james madison. By the mid1780s, european pundits, writes joseph ellis, regarded the very term united states as. Ellis tells the story of how a small group of leaders, disregarding popular opinion, took the american story in a new direction. How they did so is the burden of the pulitzer prizewinning historian joseph ellis the quartet, an engaging reconsideration of the arduous path to the constitution.
Sep 05, 2015 joseph ellis talked about his book, the quartet. Ellis, awardwinning author of the founding fathers and american. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789 is a nonfiction history book by joseph j. The revolutionary generation, which was awarded the pulitzer prize, and american sphinx. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 1783 1789 examines the united states movement from independence. Orchestrating the second american revolution 17831789 by joseph ellis. The quartet by joseph ellis tredyffrin township libraries. More than two centuries after the ratification of the constitution, the historian joseph j. Jul 16, 2015 now, in the month that america celebrates its 239th birthday, ellis is telling another important story from the revolutionary era. The character of thomas jefferson won a national book award 1 and founding brothers.
Ellis is an examination of both the men and the process that brought about the creation of the united states constitution. He lives in amherst, massachusetts, with his wife, ellen, his youngest son, three dogs, and a cat. Ellis, retired as ford foundation professor of history at mount holyoke college, has written many works about early american history and has. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789, about why americas newly independent states opted into a centralized government.
Ellis writes in his absorbing new book, the quartet, a. Heavily documented but so engagingly written it reads like a novel, the book traces the upbringing and early careers of the quartet. In the quartet, pulitzer prizewinning historian joseph ellis tells the unexpected story of americas second great founding and of the men most responsiblealexander hamilton, george washington, john jay, and james madison. Ellis, retired as ford foundation professor of history at mount holyoke college, has written many works about early american history and has received both the national book award and the pulitzer prize. Ellis writes in his absorbing new book, the quartet, a mystic haze has formed around that. This is an insightful book that looks closely at how the political beliefs and philosophy of four individuals shaped history in a profound way. How they did so is the burden of the pulitzer prizewinning historian joseph ellis the quartet.
Ellis book is a compelling reminder of the political virtues that created the american republic. Ellis charts the nations history from a confederation of sovereign states to a nationsized republic. The character of thomas jefferson, which won the national book award. The most lovable and most laughable, the warmest and possibly the wisest of. Ellis, the author of such works of popular history. National book award for american sphinx, a biography of thomas jefferson new york times bestseller his excellency. In the aftermath of the revolutionary war, the newly proclaimed united state. Ellis is the author of many works of american history including founding brothers. He lives in amherst, massachusetts with more about joseph j.
Read the quartet orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789 by joseph j. Ellis says he got the idea for his latest book while listening to some middle school students struggling to recite lincolns gettysburg. Ellis attributes the writing of the constitution and the blueprint for a. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789 by joseph j. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789 at the 2015 library of congress national book festival in washington, d. The quartet, by joseph ellis, details the constitutions.
This is an insightful book that looks closely at how the political beliefs and philosophy of. Ellis two stars americans needed to think continentally. Ellis dedicates the quartet to his friend and colleague pauline maier, one of the finest historians of the american revolution and the constitutions origins. Now, in the month that america celebrates its 239th birthday, ellis is telling another important story from the revolutionary era. This is the thesis of joseph elliss remarkable book, and using primary sources he builds an airtight case for it.
May 05, 2015 the quartet orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789 by joseph j. He emphasized how important privacy was to him, and how the president and statesman preferred to work behind the scenes in politics, through letters, meetings and discussions over dinners. Joseph ellis has a wellestablished reputation as master american storyteller, having authored bestselling epic tales from americas founding such as founding brothers and revolutionary summer and acclaimed biographies of revolutionary era leaders including thomas jefferson and george washington. In this book, he hones in his focus to the period of 17831789 and makes two basic arguments. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789, in which he examines why americas newly independent states decided to accept a. Book overview in the quartet, pulitzer prizewinning historian joseph ellis tells the unexpected story of americas second great founding and of the men most responsiblealexander hamilton, george washington, john jay, and james madison. Orchestrating the second american revolution, 1783 1789 examines the united states movement from independence to.
Orchestrating the second american revolution, 17831789, offers some answers. Star tribune ellis lives and breathes the founders, and he. The book tells the story of the thirteen original colonies of america and why, after having just won their independence, they decide to subjugate themselves to a new central government. Ellis penned the national book awardwinning american sphinx and the pulitzer prizewinning founding brothers, a fixture on the new york times best seller list for an entire year, and one of the most popular history books of all time. The quartet unmasks a myth and in its place presents an even more compelling truth one that lies at the heart of understanding the creation of the united states of america. In his brilliant and exciting new book, the quartet.