In this lively and compelling biography Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751 1831) went on to become America"s first fulltime politician, dedicating his life to securing America"s national and international durability. Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally America"s fifth president. The country embraced Monroe"s dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of America"s first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history. Like David McCullough"s John Adams and Jon Meacham"s recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of...