James Thomas Flexner was an American historian and biographer renowned for his meticulously researched works, particularly his four-volume biography of George Washington. This monumental project earned him both a National Book Award in Biography and a special Pulitzer Prize, cementing his reputation as a leading authority on Washington's life and legacy. His scholarly approach and engaging narrative style made his historical works accessible to both academic and general audiences.
A cum laude graduate of Harvard University, Flexner began his career as a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune from 1929 to 1931. He later served briefly as an executive secretary for the New York City Department of Health before dedicating himself entirely to writing. Flexner's works often explored pivotal figures and moments in American history, blending rigorous scholarship with vivid storytelling. His contributions to historical literature remain influential, offering nuanced perspectives on the nation's founding era.
George Washington Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Forge of Experience, 1732-1775
1965
2
American Revolution, 1775-1783
1968
3
New Nation, 1783-1793
1970
4
Anguish and Farewell, 1793-1799
1972
History of American Painting Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
First Flowers of Our Wilderness
1947
2
That Wilder Image
1962
3
The Light of Distant Skies 1760-1835
1969
Non-Fiction Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Steamboats Come True
1944
2
Gilbert Stuart: A Great Life in Brief
1955
3
The World of Winslow Homer: 1836-1910
1966
4
Washington: The Indispensable Man
1974
5
The Face of Liberty
1974
6
The Traitor and the Spy
1975
7
The Young Hamilton: A Biography
1978
8
States Dyckman, American Loyalist
1980
9
America's Old Masters
1980
10
Asher B. Durand
1983
11
An American Saga
1984
12
The Hudson River and the Highlands: The Photographs of Robert Glenn Ketchum (With: Richard M. Ketchum)