"George Washington's" Last Duel E-Book

Thomas Nelson Page

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

In "George Washington's Last Duel," Thomas Nelson Page masterfully weaves historical narrative and imaginative fiction to explore the complexities surrounding America's foundational figures. Set against the backdrop of the Revolutionary War, Page's prose artfully captures the tensions of the era, utilizing a rich, lyrical style infused with vivid imagery and authentic period details. The novel reflects on themes of honor, sacrifice, and the duality of man, particularly as it relates to Washington's legacy, ultimately questioning the nature of heroism in a time of intense conflict and moral ambiguity. Thomas Nelson Page, a prominent Southern writer and editor, emerged from a post-Civil War America striving to reconcile its past. His deep-seated respect for Southern tradition and American history profoundly influenced his writing. Page's upbringing in Virginia, a state closely associated with Washington, undoubtedly informed his fascination with the leader's life, inspiring him to delve into the intersection of myth and reality that defines Washington's narrative in the collective American consciousness. Readers who appreciate historical fiction that probes the depths of character and examines the moral dilemmas of its protagonists will find "George Washington's Last Duel" an enlightening journey. This novel not only enriches our understanding of a pivotal figure in American history but also invites reflection on the continuing relevance of these themes today. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Leseprobe

Thomas Nelson Page

"George Washington's" Last Duel

Enriched edition. 1891

In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience.

Introduction, Studies and Commentaries by Ryan Holloway

Edited and published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4057664567567

Table of Contents

Introduction

Synopsis

Historical Context

"George Washington's" Last Duel

Analysis

Reflection

Memorable Quotes

Notes

Introduction

Table of Contents

Honor meets responsibility in a moment when private pride confronts public duty, and the measure of true courage is tested beyond the flash of steel.

George Washington’s Last Duel by Thomas Nelson Page is a historical short story that looks back to the American founding era through the lens of a distinctly late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century literary sensibility. Page, a Virginia-born author known for historical and regional fiction, wrote widely during this period for national audiences, and the piece aligns with his interest in statesmen, manners, and the moral drama of the past. The setting evokes the world associated with Washington—formal codes, social hierarchies, and emerging republican ideals—rendered with the stately tone and period atmosphere characteristic of Page’s historical sketches.

Without revealing its resolution, the story’s premise turns on the specter of a duel: a challenge that summons the rituals of honor even as it tests the boundaries of law and leadership. Washington’s presence frames the confrontation and focuses the narrative on what kind of conduct befits both a gentleman and a founder of a new nation. The tension derives not from battlefield spectacle but from the choices people make under the gaze of duty and reputation. Readers encounter a carefully staged moral dilemma in which decorum, courage, and restraint are weighed against the combustible expectations of the age.

Page’s voice is measured and ceremonious, attentive to the cadences of eighteenth-century decorum yet accessible to modern readers. The narrative unfolds with deliberate pacing, emphasizing conversation, bearing, and implication rather than sheer action. Period detail—forms of address, social protocols, and the choreography of formal encounters—serves as both texture and argument, revealing how a culture of honor orders behavior. The mood is respectful, reflective, and quietly suspenseful. Rather than dramatizing violence, the story dwells on the rhetoric of principle and the subtle power of example, allowing the moral stakes to surface through restraint, implication, and the gravity of character.

At its core, the work probes the clash between inherited custom and the demands of a self-governing republic. It considers how authority is exercised: by command, by persuasion, or by personal example. The duel functions as a cultural test case for questions about masculinity, dignity, and the line between private affront and public consequence. Washington is presented not merely as an icon, but as a figure through whom the narrative examines prudence, temperance, and the discipline required to hold a fragile political project together. The story thus treats courage as a moral calculus—often expressed in restraint—rather than as mere willingness to risk harm.

These concerns remain resonant. The narrative speaks to contemporary debates about conflict resolution, the seductions of performative bravado, and the relationship between personal brand and civic responsibility. It invites readers to ask when honor is authentic conviction and when it becomes spectacle that imperils the common good. It also interrogates how myths of founding figures can inspire ethical conduct while risking simplification. By exploring the tension between custom and reform, the piece raises enduring questions about leadership, accountability, and the norms that sustain public trust in any era.

Readers drawn to historical fiction and character-driven moral drama will find a compact, contemplative experience. The story offers the satisfactions of atmosphere and psychological nuance rather than surprise twists, rewarding close attention to tone and implication. Its interest lies in how a crisis is framed and diffused—or transformed—by presence, language, and choice. As an introduction to Page’s broader engagement with history and manners, it demonstrates how narrative can illuminate civic ideals without sermonizing. It leaves the reader reflecting on the costs and consequences of competing codes, and on the quiet forms of courage that uphold a republic.

Synopsis

Table of Contents

Thomas Nelson Page’s George Washington’s Last Duel presents a focused historical narrative of a little-known episode from the American Revolution in which Washington’s name and reputation stood at the center of a formal challenge under the code of honor. Drawing on contemporary letters and recollections, Page reconstructs the circumstances that led to the encounter, the principles at stake, and the measured conduct of the participants. The account balances context with incident, aiming to clarify how military duty, personal loyalty, and public reputation intersected in wartime. The book’s scope remains concise, emphasizing verifiable moments and the prevailing ethos rather than dramatic embellishment or conjecture.

Page begins by outlining the culture of honor that framed elite conduct in the late eighteenth century. Dueling, while discouraged by law and official policy, persisted as a socially recognized means to address slights among gentlemen, particularly military officers. Within this world, reputation could influence command, morale, and public trust. Washington himself advocated discipline and decorum, opposing private quarrels that threatened the army’s cohesion. Yet the conventions of the era meant that words spoken or printed about a man’s character could escalate quickly. This tension between civic duty and personal honor forms the book’s foundational context for understanding what followed.

The narrative shifts to the summer of 1778, when the British evacuated Philadelphia and the Continental Army shadowed their march across New Jersey. The Battle of Monmouth emerges as the pivotal military backdrop. There, a disputed advance and subsequent retreat under General Charles Lee drew immediate criticism. Washington’s forceful intervention on the field and the day’s contested outcome left lingering questions about judgment, command, and credit. Page summarizes these events succinctly, presenting the tactical facts without assigning blame, to show how battlefield ambiguity sharpened personal sensitivities and set the stage for a conflict centered not on strategy but on reputation.

In the aftermath of Monmouth, tempers and opinions hardened. Lee, feeling aggrieved by public sentiment and official actions, wrote pointed letters challenging the fairness of criticism and the leadership of his commander. A court-martial followed, resulting in his suspension and further inflaming debate. Washington remained restrained, adhering to formal processes and concentrating on the larger war. Around him, aides and officers who revered his character read Lee’s words as affronts to their chief. Page details this progression from military disagreement to public controversy, showing how printed language and private remarks, in that time, could be treated as provocations warranting formal redress.

Amid this climate, the figure who issued the challenge comes forward: a young officer close to Washington, committed to defending his general’s honor within accepted conventions. Page sketches his background, his ties to the commander’s household, and the revived code duello that governed the coming encounter. The procedures unfold methodically: an exchange of messages, selection of a discreet location, agreement on weapons and distance, and appointment of seconds to ensure fairness and restraint. The emphasis remains on process and propriety, illustrating how even in personal conflict the participants sought to preserve decorum and avoid unnecessary escalation.