Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Plain, Honest Men by Richard Beeman - Available

Plain, Honest Men

The Making of the American Constitution

by Richard Beeman
Michael Prichard
Audiobook
1 of 2 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 2 copies available
The Constitutional Convention affected nothing less than a revolution in the nature of the American government. Led by James Madison, a small cohort of delegates devised a plan that would radically alter the balance of power between state and national governments, and then sprung that idea on a largely unsuspecting convention. The success of this bold and brilliant strategy was, however, far from assured, and the ultimate outcome of the delegates' labors—the creation of a frame of government that would enable the fragile American union to flourish—turned out to be very different from that which Madison had originally envisioned. In fact, there was very little agreement among the framers about the nature of the government they had just created.


Audiences will come to appreciate the challenges that the Founding Fathers faced in creating a form of government that, while imperfect in many respects, nevertheless approaches, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, "so near to perfection as it does."

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 21, 2009

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781400129850
      • File size: 556435 KB
      • Duration: 19:19:14

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to define and unite the loosely bonded states into the federal government we know today. The author takes the appropriate opportunity to digress into the pasts of the most prominent delegates. The largest polemic the convention faced was the issue of slavery. Narrator Michael Prichard can do little to make such a factual account exciting, but, as always, his inflections and ability with words make the story listenable and compelling. Opportunities for characterizations or individual voices don't exist, so he keeps his listeners' attention by uniting all he reads into a smooth narrative. The exhaustive information will whet the appetites of history enthusiasts. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from December 22, 2008
      A day-by-day account of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia can't yield up much drama or fireworks, or even much sparkling talk, at least as recorded by a few participants, especially James Madison. But in this masterful account, Beeman (Patrick Henry
      ), a noted historian of the late 18th century, does his best to dramatize the writing of the American Constitution. As the convention's hot summer weeks rolled on, tensions built, agreements were reached and compromises (especially, alas, about slavery) were made. Beeman gives each decision, each vote, the weight it deserves and, in brief sketches, brings the delegates alive. The result may not be an exciting story, but, after all, it concerns the writing of the world's longest-lived written national constitution. It's also a story freighted with world-historical significance—and one as well told here as can be imagined. This account is now the most authoritative, up-to-date treatment of the Constitutional Convention since Catherine Drinker Bowen's Miracle at Philadelphia
      over 40 years ago. It's unlikely to be surpassed. Illus., map.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading