best biography of james monroe

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The Best Books To Learn About President James Monroe

(You can view the rest of our presidential Best Book lists by going to our Best US President Books page, or for a more in-depth look at how we found and ranked the books you can visit our Best Book About Every United States President article.)

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The Best Book About James Monroe (Appears on 6 Lists)

The last founding father: james monroe and a nation’s call to greatness by harlow giles unger.

Best Presidential Bios
Library of Congress
Presidents USA
The Tailored Man
The Washington Post

In this compelling biography, award-winning author Harlow Giles Unger reveals the epic story of James Monroe (1758–1831)—the last of America’s Founding Fathers—who transformed a small, fragile nation beset by enemies into a powerful empire stretching “from sea to shining sea.” Like David McCullough’sJohn Adams and Jon Meacham’s American Lion, The Last Founding Father is both a superb read and stellar scholarship—action-filled history in the grand tradition.

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#2 Book (Appears on 5 Lists)

James monroe: the quest for national identity by harry ammon.

At Times Dull
Mandi Lindner

A biography of James Monroe who became the fifth president of the United States in 1816. Ammon recreates his remarkable career, through his service in the revolutionary army, the Confederation Congress, to his exertions in James Madison’s cabinet and his subsequent presidency.

#3 Book (Appears on 3 Lists)

James monroe by gary hart.

James Monroe (The American Presidents #5) by Gary Hart, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

All The Presidents Books

James Monroe is remembered today primarily for two things: for being the last of the “Virginia Dynasty”—following George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison—and for issuing the Monroe Doctrine, his statement of principles in 1823 that the western hemisphere was to be considered closed to European intervention. But Gary Hart sees Monroe as a president ahead of his time, whose priorities and accomplishments in establishing America’s “national security” have a great deal in common with chief executives of our own time.

#4-5 (Appear on 2 Lists Each)

The monroe doctrine, 1823-1826 by dexter perkins.

The Presidency of James Monroe by Noble E. Cunningham Jr.

The Presidency of James Monroe (American Presidency Series) by Noble E. Cunningham Jr.

Filled with new insights and fresh interpretations, this is the richest study yet published on the presidency of James Monroe, the last Revolutionary War hero to ascend to that august office.

#6-10 (Appear on 1 List Each)

Founding rivals: madison vs. monroe, the bill of rights, and the election that saved a nation by chris derose.

In 1789, James Madison and James Monroe ran against each other for Congress—the only time that two future presidents have contested a congressional seat.

James Monroe by W.P. Cresson

Jefferson and Monroe: Constant Friendship and Respect by Noble E. Cunningham

Jefferson and Monroe- Constant Friendship and Respect Cunningham, Noble E

From the moment Governor Thomas Jefferson handpicked a young soldier named James Monroe to serve as an aide during the Revolutionary War, a vital friendship and political alliance was born. Both men served as governor of Virginia, minister to France, secretary of state, and president for two terms. Their lives overlapped even more clearly through shared friendships with individuals such as James Madison; shared interests, such as the creation of the University of Virginia; and shared missions, including the completion of the Louisiana Purchase.

The Era of Good Feelings by George Dangerfield

Here is history as delightful as it is profound. Exploring the period between Jeffersonian democracy and Jacksonian democracy, George Dangerfield describes the personalities and experiences, American and European, which furthered the political transition “from the great dictum that central government is best when it governs least to the great dictum that central government must sometimes intervene strongly on behalf of the weak and the oppressed and the exploited.” The book, winner of the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes, throws new and fresh light on an important formative period in American history.

The Writings of James Monroe by James Monroe

The Political Writings of James Monroe by James Monroe, James P. Lucier

The Best James Monroe Book Lists Consulted

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My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies

Review of “James Monroe: A Life” by Tim McGrath

10 Sunday May 2020

Posted by Steve in President #05 - J Monroe

≈ 14 Comments

American history , biographies , book reviews , James Monroe , New Release , presidential biographies , Tim McGrath , US Presidents

At first glance, James Monroe seems an unlikely subject for McGrath – whose specialty is early American naval affairs. Nevertheless this biography appears well researched, contains copious footnotes and proves quite thorough. And with 586 pages of text (and nearly 140 pages of bibliography and footnotes) it is the longest of the three biographies of Monroe I’ve read.

With a limited selection of books covering Monroe’s life – and the need for an insightful, engaging and indisputably definitive biography of James Monroe – I had high hopes this would be my clear favorite. But while it proves commendable in many respects, it does not break away from the pack.

McGrath views Monroe as an under-valued figure whose political evolution from sectarian (during his early career) to bipartisan statesman (while president) was extraordinarily uncommon. This inclusive approach to politics, combined with a keen sense of judgment, allowed Monroe to revitalize his young but beleaguered nation as president. To McGrath’s credit, while he is clearly a fan of Monroe his advocacy is generally subtle.

In many ways, McGrath’s biography of James Monroe reads like two different books: one covering the first part of his life (childhood, aborted college career, Revolutionary War service, law studies and early career) and one focusing on his later, more noteworthy efforts (as a US senator, governor, diplomat and president). The former is relatively dense, dull, disjointed and disappointing while the latter proves far more engaging, insightful and enjoyable.

The early narrative is often strangely detached from Monroe; the reader observes his actions but never feels any sense of intimacy with his character and there is never a sense of seeing the world through Monroe’s eyes. In the same spirit, there is relatively little connectivity with the broader arc of history. While the text provides the detail behind numerous important historical events there is little connection to the broader context or the “big picture.”

The early pace is also remarkably uneven. In some scenes the narrative slows dramatically to reveal much about a particular event while in other moments time passes with a remarkable frenzy. For instance, in just one paragraph Monroe concludes his law studies, is admitted to the bar, seeks election to the Virginia General Assembly, campaigns…and wins. The net effect of these bursts of history mixed among moments of deliberate focus can be dizzying.

Readers unfamiliar with Monroe may also find portions of the narrative somewhat difficult to follow. Chapters tend not to telegraph where Monroe’s life will take him or to highlight critical upcoming moments or themes. And there is rarely a concluding paragraph (or even sentence) to ensure the reader absorbed the chapter’s most important essence. Finally, this part of the biography is excellent at observing what happened but rarely explains why .

But where the first half of this biography is often frustrating, a notable (and refreshing) transition occurs as the narrative tackles Monroe’s senatorial career and his service as a diplomat in France. And by the time the War of 1812 brings British troops to American soil the narrative is nearly perfectly paced and far more satisfying. As a result, the best moments from this portion of the book tend to shine more brightly.

Among the highlights are excellent coverage of Gabriel’s slave rebellion, the British invasion of Washington DC and the run-up to Monroe’s presidency – including a good review of the presidential campaign. Readers are also treated to a surprisingly captivating summary of President Monroe’s four-month tour of the northeast in 1817. Finally, McGrath offers a particularly interesting description of efforts to rebuild the White House after it burned, a penetrating chapter on slavery (within the context of Monroe’s time) and appropriate attention to Monroe’s wife, daughters and his other important relationships.

Overall, Tim McGrath’s new biography of James Monroe provides good, but inconsistent, treatment of the life of the last Founding Father to serve as president. Readers hoping to understand Monroe’s formative years and early career may find the young Monroe (and his era) elusive, but those seeking to embrace his presidency are likely to walk away far more satisfied. But one thing is certain: the modern definitive biography of James Monroe still remains to be published.

Overall rating: 3¾ stars

14 thoughts on “Review of “James Monroe: A Life” by Tim McGrath”

May 10, 2020 at 6:49 am

Thanks for the review. I was thinking of buying this one- I think I will wait and order it through the library. Monroe is one of the earlier presidents that I know the least about.

May 10, 2020 at 6:52 am

It is certainly unfortunate (for biographers as well as readers like us) that Monroe burned all his letters to and from his wife after she died. Without them I fear he will always be one of the early presidents about whom we know the least. So far I’ve found that biographies of him just can’t quite capture the essence of his personality/persona.

May 10, 2020 at 7:04 am

You are I am sure aware of the C-Span 1999 series where they visited a presidential site- covering each president and did a program on all of them? I saw most of them back then but they are still on the C-Span site and I’ve been re-watching them in order [ I am up to Grant} a great series if you haven’t seen them. In the Monroe program- he does come off as being hard to know. Love your series of reviews on the presidents- I’ve always had a big interest in the subject.

May 12, 2020 at 8:31 pm

Wow 586 pages? Pretty much the size of Harry Ammon’s doorstop, I slogged through a year and a half ago. Monroe is just not that interesting.

May 18, 2020 at 12:19 pm

I wonder if you’ve become a tougher grader after making your first pass through all the presidents! I agree with the majority of your reviews of books I’ve read, and frequently consult your reviews of books I have not yet read, but I have to disagree with you on this one. I don’t feel like I have been reading or commenting here long enough to have earned the right to gently chide you, but I just finished this book and thought it was terrific.

Granted, I have not read Ammon or Unger (yet?) but from your reviews of them and many others I’ve read, to give McGrath’s book a rating equal to both a somewhat dry and dated 50-year-old work and a somewhat superficial, fawning book written by someone who doesn’t seem to spend a lot of time on the bios he churns out, seems a little unfair.

I had some minor issues with McGrath’s style, but ultimately I think it’s a rare treat to have a talented and thorough writer tackle a lesser-known president. That McGrath has no formal background as a historian or previous presidential biographies to his name makes this work even more impressive to me.

As a biographical subject, Monroe may not be the most captivating and complex character, but he certainly was involved in some momentous and interesting events. When so many other presidential bios get bogged down at the beginning in genealogical histories and long descriptions of their subjects’ formative years, education, career aspirations and eventual emergence onto the political scene, Monroe is already fighting alongside George Washington in some of the key battles of the Revolutionary War in this book’s first chapter! So I’m liable to give McGrath a pass in skimming over some of the details, like Monroe concluding his law studies and being elected to the Virginia General Assembly, because maybe those details aren’t necessary or just aren’t interesting enough to be in a book that’s lengthy enough as it is, at least as compared to what is included.

I do agree that the chapters could use more summarizing, concluding paragraphs or sentences – he has a somewhat irksome (to me) habit of ending every chapter with a tease of something to come. That helps propel the story forward but doesn’t provide any opportunity to reflect upon what you’ve just read. But overall, I think he does a good job foreshadowing events and making callbacks to previous events as the story progresses.

It seems unlikely that a Chernow or McCullough will ever write the definitive biography of James Monroe. So this, to me, seems like the closest thing to a definitive modern Monroe bio that we’re ever going to get. I’d be happy to be proven wrong! And ask me again after I read Ammon and Unger, someday. But I found McGrath’s book to be a thoroughly enjoyable, informative read and, despite some flaws, would wholeheartedly recommend it.

May 19, 2020 at 6:50 am

I can’t say thanks enough for your extremely thoughtful note.

I while I cannot be sure whether I’ve become a “tougher grader,” I’ve long believed (hoped?) that my grading system is such that if I re-read a book there is a *much* greater than 50% chance it would receive the same rating and nearly a 100% chance it would receive a grade within 1/4 star of my original rating. But who knows…

In my own opinion, the ratings are far far less meaningful than my commentary (or your, or anyone else’s for that matter) since two different books can receive the same rating but can have very different strengths and weaknesses…and different people may judge weigh different factors very differently.

Subjectively, I hoped this would be The Definitive Biography of Monroe. And what I felt I received was a really good biography of his presidency and a lackluster review of his early life.

I do agree with your observation relating to McGrath’s lack of formal background making his work all the more impressive, and I also agree that it’s unlikely a well-known presidential biographer will attempt to tackle Monroe. Unless a new cache of documents is unearthed (and, presumably, a great deal more insight into his early life and/or his relationship with his wife) I just don’t know what the payoff would be for a Chernow or McCullough. And I don’t see Monroe’s reputation being significantly “re-defined” as was arguably the case after publication of certain biographies of Eisenhower and Truman.

In any event, I’ll wait anxiously to see what you think after you read Ammon and Unger. I ended up with the exact same ratings for those books as McGrath’s but for different reasons…!

May 19, 2020 at 11:57 am

Thanks Steve, and thanks for taking my comments in the nicest possible way! I have read a lot of presidential biographies (and many more since discovering your site) but had never read a Monroe bio before. So maybe I’m not as aware of what might be missing from this book, since much of what is in the book was all new to me.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from your site, it’s that there’s rarely one perfect biography of any given subject. So now I’m actually eager to check out Ammon and Unger to see how they compare. I have a few other things on the reading list first (I dropped everything to read McGrath as soon it came out, though I didn’t finish as fast as you did!), but hopefully will get to the other Monroe books soon!

December 6, 2020 at 5:54 am

I don’t know if you were *really* anxiously waiting to hear what I thought about the other Monroe bios, but since you asked…! I finally went and read Unger and hated it. Hated it! Found it shoddy, superficial and sophistical. It was one of only a handful of books that actually made me angry while I read it.

So… yeah. I guess my feelings about McGrath’s book stand. I think I have too much James Monroe PTSD to read Ammon any time soon, so I’m going to move on and might have to come back to him someday!

December 6, 2020 at 7:08 am

Actually, one of my missions over the past several years has been to pray for – or uncover – a great biography of James Monroe. I don’t actually know that it’s possible since so much of his personal correspondence was burned…and I’m not certain he was actually that fascinating a fellow (when your neighbors are Madison, Jefferson and Washington you have some competition) but I’m glad to hear your feedback on Unger’s. I recall enjoying the read but being very disappointed in the history.

As an fyi, James Monroe’s Highland hosted McGrath on a livestream video a couple nights ago (which I found surprisingly enlightening) where he discussed Monroe, the research for his book and answered several questions. Playback is probably available on their FB page if you want to embrace that ptsd 🙂

December 7, 2020 at 4:49 am

Thanks for the heads up on the McGrath interview – I watched and was glad to see you got a question in! I thought the most interesting part was how he described coming up with the idea to write about Monroe in the first place, in a conversation with his editor. “You should write a presidential biography next.” “Ok, which president?” “I dunno, Truman?” “Nah. Monroe?” “Monroe, sure, why not?” Done!

December 7, 2020 at 6:04 am

I’m always interested to hear how a biographer chooses his or her subject(s) – to me, part of the magic in writing a great biography is knowing which subject to pursue – but that answer was a new one for me!

June 4, 2020 at 3:45 pm

Thank you so much, love your site and reviews!

June 4, 2020 at 4:23 pm

Thank you – I love the positive feedback! 🙂

August 22, 2020 at 1:52 pm

I am in the middle of this volume now, so I may change my mind by the time I finish, but I am finding this book to be WAY too hagiographical. McGrath seems so enamored with Monroe that every single thing Monroe does is viewed in the most favorable, altruistic and selfless light possible, while his opponents (mostly Federalists and specifically Hamilton) are viewed through the harshest possible lenses. Even Monroe’s obvious mistakes and more underhanded (per the consensus of other historians I have read) maneuvers are largely excused and justified by McGrath.

Nothing tends to irk me more in a biography than strong unacknowledged bias (of course, most biographers are, or tend to become, fans of their subjects, but this is much worse than that, in my opinion). I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt myself, so I have no problem with McGrath doing that with Monroe, but it seems to go way beyond that in my opinion. I see examples of this bias on nearly every page. And I don’t recall another presidential bio that caused me to have a similar reaction (and I am not a particularly partisan person–today or regarding Monroe’s times, so I don’t think this reflects my own biases shining through.

McGrath’s bio is doubtless well-written and entertaining, but the persistent imbalance I perceive is kind of ruining it for me. Curious if anyone else has had a similar reaction to it?