Joseph J. Ellis Books
Joseph J. Ellis is an American historian and professor emeritus at Mount Holyoke College, best known for his works on the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Known for: Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
Books by Joseph J. Ellis
Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
In this Pulitzer Prize–winning work, historian Joseph J. Ellis explores the intertwined lives and political relationships of the key figures who shaped the early United States. Through a series of interconnected narratives, Ellis examines how the Founding Fathers—such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Aaron Burr—navigated the challenges of nation-building, personal rivalries, and ideological divisions in the aftermath of the American Revolution.
Read SummaryKey Insights from Joseph J. Ellis
The Duel
The book opens with the fateful confrontation between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in July 1804—a duel that Ellis treats as both a literal and symbolic event. As I present it, this moment dramatizes not just personal hatred but the collapse of civility in the young republic’s political culture....
From Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
The Dinner
The next story takes us to a quiet evening in 1790 when three men—Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton—met over dinner at Jefferson’s residence in New York. On its surface, they negotiated policy; at its heart, they forged the first great political compromise in American history. ...
From Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
About Joseph J. Ellis
Joseph J. Ellis is an American historian and professor emeritus at Mount Holyoke College, best known for his works on the Founding Fathers of the United States. He won the Pulitzer Prize for History for 'Founding Brothers' and the National Book Award for 'American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jef...
Read more
Joseph J. Ellis is an American historian and professor emeritus at Mount Holyoke College, best known for his works on the Founding Fathers of the United States. He won the Pulitzer Prize for History for 'Founding Brothers' and the National Book Award for 'American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jef...
Joseph J. Ellis is an American historian and professor emeritus at Mount Holyoke College, best known for his works on the Founding Fathers of the United States. He won the Pulitzer Prize for History for 'Founding Brothers' and the National Book Award for 'American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson.' His scholarship focuses on the early American republic and the personal dynamics among its leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Joseph J. Ellis is an American historian and professor emeritus at Mount Holyoke College, best known for his works on the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Read Joseph J. Ellis's books in 15 minutes
Get AI-powered summaries with key insights from 1 book by Joseph J. Ellis.