The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution (Exhibit Companion Series)

The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution is the first book to simultaneously explore in depth the lives and contributions of two globally significant figures of the late eighteenth century: George III (1738-1820), king of Great Britain, and George Washington (1732-1799), first president of the United States. Serving as the official companion publication to the Library of Congress exhibit, the book reexamines the life of George Washington and paints a fuller picture of King George III. In considering these men, The Two Georges contextualizes, compares, and contrasts their experiences in youth, as family men, as men of the Enlightenment, as adversaries in war, as king and president, and as figures of national myth and memory. Short essays from scholars open each chapter and examine the commonalities and differences between the two Georges as well as the forces and circumstances that informed their lives and leadership. Complementing these essays are features on specific areas of overlap and contrast, such as their military backgrounds, food preferences, and love of science, agriculture, and books; short biographies of their parents, wives, and extended families; and a variety of historic documents, maps, prints, and artwork in the Library of Congress’s collections and from around the world. These supplemental pieces underscore the myriad changes the two Georges participated in and witnessed during an age of revolution.