Plain, Honest Men

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to define and unite the loosely bonded states into the federal government we know today. The author takes the appropriate opportunity to digress into the pasts of the most prominent delegates. The largest polemic the convention faced was the issue of slavery. Narrator Michael Prichard can do little to make such a factual account exciting, but, as always, his inflections and ability with words make the story listenable and compelling. Opportunities for characterizations or individual voices don't exist, so he keeps his listeners' attention by uniting all he reads into a smooth narrative. The exhaustive information will whet the appetites of history enthusiasts. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Starred review from December 22, 2008
A day-by-day account of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia can't yield up much drama or fireworks, or even much sparkling talk, at least as recorded by a few participants, especially James Madison. But in this masterful account, Beeman (Patrick Henry
), a noted historian of the late 18th century, does his best to dramatize the writing of the American Constitution. As the convention's hot summer weeks rolled on, tensions built, agreements were reached and compromises (especially, alas, about slavery) were made. Beeman gives each decision, each vote, the weight it deserves and, in brief sketches, brings the delegates alive. The result may not be an exciting story, but, after all, it concerns the writing of the world's longest-lived written national constitution. It's also a story freighted with world-historical significance—and one as well told here as can be imagined. This account is now the most authoritative, up-to-date treatment of the Constitutional Convention since Catherine Drinker Bowen's Miracle at Philadelphia
over 40 years ago. It's unlikely to be surpassed. Illus., map.