Washington, D.C., is home to the most influential power brokers in the world. But how did we come to call D.C.—a place one contemporary observer called a mere swamp "producing nothing except myriads of toads and frogs (of enormous size)," a district that was strategically indefensible, captive to the politics of slavery, and a target of unbridled land speculation—our nation's capital? In Washington , acclaimed and award-winning author Fergus M. Bordewich turns his eye to the backroom deal making and shifting alliances between our Founding Fathers and in doing so pulls back the curtain on the lives of slaves who actually built the city. The answers revealed in this eye-opening book are not only surprising and exciting but also illuminate a story of unexpected triumph over a multitude of political and financial obstacles, including fraudulent real estate speculation, overextended financiers, and management more apt for a "banana republic" than an emerging world power. In this page-turning work that reveals the hidden and somewhat unsavory side of the nation's beginnings, Bordewich, once again, brings his novelist's sensibility to a little-known chapter in American history.
Fergus Bordewich Books
Fergus M. Bordewich is an author whose non-fiction works delve into pivotal moments and figures in American history. His writing often explores the intricate interplay of political power, societal shifts, and issues of race, uncovering lesser-known facets of the nation's formation. With extensive travel and a profound interest in cultural and political dynamics, Bordewich crafts vivid and insightful portraits of the past and present. His narrative style is characterized by meticulous research and a talent for rendering complex subjects accessible and compelling.
