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Washington Burning: How a Frenchman's Vision for Our Nation's Capital Survived Congress, the Founding Fathers, and the Invading British Army
Washington Burning How a Frenchman's Vision for Our Nation's Capital Survived Congress the Founding Fathers and the Invading British Army Author:Les Standiford Washington Burning transports us in time to the very founding of our nation and its capital. We learn that the Washington we know might never have come to be had it not been for the destruction of the young city by British troops in 1814, or for Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the eccentric, passionate, difficult architect who fell... more » in love with his adopted country.
L'Enfant's sweeping vision of a grand Federal City inspired President George Washington, but earned the enmity of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who hated the idea of an imperial city. So was the capital born of feuding personalities, and located on the banks of the Potomac only after great political struggle.
Master storyteller Les Standiford has once again written a compelling, quintessentially American story of hubris and achievement.« less