Book Review(s): George Washington’s Secret Six and Mount Vernon Love Story
As an avid reader, it’s no surprise that I’ve picked up history books about my favorite time period, and especially my favorite Founding Father, George Washington. Two books, George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger and Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark were given to me by my grandmother, who passed down her love of history to me.
George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
George Washington’s Secret Six focuses on the Long Island spy ring of the American Revolution. Washington knew that he could not outman the British in the war, so he had to outsmart them. To do this, he needed a reliable, savvy spy ring and agents more effective than the ill-fated Nathan Hale. The Patriots lost New York City early in the fighting and Washington felt that the Revolution could not be won without it. Thus, a spy ring to help recapture New York City was crucial to the Patriot cause. After spending time with Washington during the brutal Valley Forge winter of 1777-78, Benjamin Tallmadge stepped up as an unlikely character to establish the crucial spy network on Long Island. Tallmadge’s first recruit was Abraham Woodhull (known as Culper Sr.). The ring then extended to Caleb Brewster, Austin Roe, Robert Townsend, an unnamed man, and an unnamed woman. Townsend (also known as Culper Jr.) was the most critical piece of the Culper spy ring due to his location in the heart of New York City and his access to British troops. He would help expose a British counterfeiting scheme alongside extensive British Army plots.
Kilmeade and Yaeger’s book lays out this lesser-known story of the American Revolution in chronological order starting with the loss of New York. It concludes with life after the spy ring for the surviving members in the new America - a country they helped create without receiving recognition. In larger chapters, there are subheadings that allow for a change of perspective as we see each member of the spy ring’s involvement at the specific moment of the Revolution.
Despite my love of history, I find that history books often have a tendency to be dry, especially because I read fiction most of the time, however, George Washington’s Secret Six captured my attention throughout. Although based upon real conversations, I particularly enjoyed Kilmeade and Yaeger’s use of fictional dialogue to make the book flow better than a cut and dry history. At just over 200 pages, the book is the perfect length to understand a piece of history not commonly taught or widely known without overexplaining. Occasionally, the book could have better illuminated parts of the spy network, but on the whole it is perfect for an everyday reader who is interested in the topic. Personally, as a fan of the AMC show Turn: Washington’s Spies, the book captured my attention because I already had a connection to the people involved. George Washington’s Secret Six is a bit shorter than Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose (the book upon which Turn is more specifically based), yet it still provides the reader and watcher of Turn a good historical background on the show and the spy ring itself.
Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark
Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark is a historical fiction about the love and life of George and Martha Washington. Though historical fiction, Clark alerts the reader at the beginning of the book that all the events, dates, scenes, and people are verified by historical research. The novel begins in 1797 on the day of John Adams’ inauguration with Washington and Martha discussing the end of his time as President of the United States. The next chapter is set in 1745 with Washington talking to his mother in a scene which shows Washington’s initial love for Mount Vernon - owned at the time by his brother Lawrence. The book continues alternating between 1797 and previous moments of George’s life until the winter of 1775. The final chapter sees George and Martha at last arrive home to their precious Mount Vernon after a multitude of years away. The novel distinctly captures the human side of George Washington. Everyone knows Washington as the incredible military commander of the American Revolution and as the first President of the United States, but Clark looks underneath all the reverence and titles, to show us a different man; a man who longed for his wife during the harsh winters of battle, who spent hours visiting and dancing with friends, and who was anxious to return home to Mount Vernon and a life of simplicity. The love between George and Martha alongside the love for Martha’s children and grandchildren captured my heart. The fictional dialogue and interactions of George, Martha, and others help the book flow beautifully, allows the reader to become emotionally connected to the relationship between the nation’s first couple. At just over 220 pages, the book is a quick, enjoyable read for both history people and romance fans.
Although the couple did not have children together, they are pictured here with Martha’s children from her first marriage — children whom George would raise as his own.
Both George Washington’s Secret Six and Mount Vernon Love Story are well-done, fast reads for both history and common readers alike. The dynamic flow of the books captures the reader’s attention (and especially their hearts in Mount Vernon Love Story). I highly recommend them to any reader who wants to look more into the specifics of the American Revolution or the love between George and Martha. While the books are not a historical deep dive into the nation’s first President, they are well-paced reads with enticing dialogue and plot lines.
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