Founding Brothers

This book delves into the lives and interactions of the first generation of America’s founders, portraying them not as mythical heroes but as flawed individuals.

It focuses on six distinct episodes that highlight crucial issues faced by the early American republic, such as the Burr-Hamilton duel, the secret dinner that determined the site of the national capital, Washington's Farewell Address, and the renewed correspondence between Adams and Jefferson.

Ellis argues that the endurance of the American republic was largely due to the personal interactions and character of its leaders rather than purely legal or constitutional factors.