Riding with George

“Riding with George: Sportsmanship & Chivalry in the Making of America’s First President” by Philip G. Smucker. ISBN 978-1-61373-605-0. Copyright 2017. Hardcover with 362 pages including index.

Long before George Washington was a president or general, he was a sportsman. Born in 1732, he had a physique and aspirations that were tailor-made for his time; one in which displays of physical prowess were essential for recognition in society. At six feet two inches and with a penchant for rambunctious horse riding, what he lacked in formal schooling he made up for in physical strength, skill, and ambition. Virginia colonial society rewarded men who were socially adept, strong, graceful, and fair at play. Washington’s memorable performances on the hunting field and on the battlefield helped crystallize his contribution to our modern ideas about athleticism and chivalry, even as they also highlight the intimate ties between sports and war. Washington’s actions, taken individually and seen by others as the core of his being, helped a young nation bridge the old to the new and the aristocrat to the republican.

A Mount Vernon bookplate, signed by the author, is included with your purchase.