A first–ever close–up of the all–too–human soul behind the stern presidential portraits–his loves, his passions, his genius Leaving the well–known public man to other biographers, historian Harlow Giles Unger reveals the little–known private Washington, who laughed, loved, and lived life to the full. He adored women, children, hunting, gambling, fine wines, and luxury. His social graces left ladies swooning as he spun them around the ballroom; his funny tales sent children convulsing with giggles as he bounced them on his knee. More than Franklin, more than Jefferson, Washington was a genius scientist, inventor, architect, scholar, and entrepreneur. Drawing on letters, diaries, and neglected primary sources, The Unexpected George Washington reveals a passionate lover, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Harlow Giles Unger (New York, NY) is the author of the award–winning Lafayette (0–471–39432–7), John Hancock (0–471–33209–7), Noah Webster (0–471–18455–1), and, most recently, The French War Against America (0–471–71037–7).