Mount Vernon Love Story

by Mary Higgins Clark

Hardcover, 2002

Collection

Description

In Mount Vernon Love Story -- famed suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark's long-out-of-print first novel -- the bestselling author reveals the flesh-and-blood man who became the "father of our country" in a story that is charming, insightful, and immensely entertaining. Always a lover of history, Mary Higgins Clark wrote this extensively researched biographical novel and titled it Aspire to the Heavens, after the motto of George Washington's mother. Published in 1969, the book was more recently discovered by a Washington family descendant and reissued as Mount Vernon Love Story. Dispelling the widespread belief that although George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis, he reserved his true love for Sally Carey Fairfax, his best friend's wife, Mary Higgins Clark describes the Washington marriage as one full of tenderness and passion, as a bond between two people who shared their lives -- even the bitter hardship of a winter in Valley Forge -- in every way. In this author's skilled hands, the history, the love, and the man come fully and dramatically alive.… (more)

Library's rating

Rating

½ (98 ratings; 3.7)

Awards

New York Times bestseller

User reviews

LibraryThing member mramos

This is the frist book written by Mary Higgins Clark. This book focuses on the love story of George and Martha Washington. The book takes palce in two timelines. It begins with President Washington preparing to leave public office and return to Mount Vernon with his wife Martha, who liked to be

called Patsy. And quickly jumps back to periods of Geroge Washinton's youth. Trying to give us some insight on the man and his relation ship with Martha.

A lot of research went into this book. And I learned a lot about one of the founding fathers of the USA. The book is a charming and quick read. You almost are left with the thought of yearning for a few more chapters. It made me want to look further into George Washington's life and career.

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LibraryThing member Taegan

A very cute, easy, breezy read. I enjoyed the history, but kept wondering how much was truly "known" and how much was speculation.

LibraryThing member jeffersonsambrosia

This book, I am not sure if I can find the right words. It is beautiful, a beautiful telling of the love between George Washington and his beautiful wife Martha. It is a charming romp through his memories, his life from child hood and on through. We find him remembering these things from his minds

eye as he is giving over the reigns of his government to John Adams. It’s witty, and shows some funny jests about Thomas Jefferson (my all time favorite) and John Adams. This book was simply not long enough for me, I wanted more. I wanted to have more memories from George’s point of view. A wonderful book, that is making me wish to dig out my rev war books right now.

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LibraryThing member brendanus

This is a very thin book. Mary Clark, it seems, did not really have much to work with. But it does present scraps of information about Martha that allow the reader to glimpse her character - not memorable, to say the least. Necessrily the text also allows a unique perspective about George himself,

about whom there is a great deal more information to draw upon. Essentially light reading about a lightweight personality.

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LibraryThing member cal8769

Mary Higgins Clark's first book.

I was impressed by how the historical facts were correct but the romantic side was just not there for me. I read in the biography, [The World of George Washington] by [[Richard M Ketchum]] that Washington did not keep his personal correspondence. Many historians

have pieced his personal life together through other peoples' letters. Knowing this distracted me from liking this book too much.

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LibraryThing member mahallett

because this was m.h.clarke, i thought it would be a mystery. but anyway it was quite interesting, considering chart i am not interested in g.washington.

LibraryThing member carolynsuarez

love the accurate history and the personal glimpse at George Washington.

LibraryThing member VhartPowers

An endearing story of Martha (Patsy) and George Washington.

LibraryThing member quondame

A lightweight sweet version of the George and Martha story in which it is made quite clear how much George loves Mount Vernon.

LibraryThing member moonshineandrosefire

As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, not too much is known about the private life of George and Martha Washington. In Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington, Mary Higgins Clark relies on extensive biographical and historical research to bring George

Washington and his life and marriage fully into focus for readers. Dispelling the widespread belief that although George Washington married the wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis, his one true love was his best friend's wife, Sally Carey Fairfax, Mary Higgins Clark describes the marriage between George and Martha as one full of tenderness and passion - a bond between two people who shared their lives - even the bitter hardship of a winter in Valley Forge - in every way.

For a debut novel, I really thought this book was excellent. I love reading people's biographies and become really immersed in the time periods that are portrayed. I think it was truly a harsh time for both George and Martha Washington as well as for the country as a whole. I give this book an A+!

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