Historian Alexis Coe noticed that of the hundreds of biographies of George Washington, nearly all were written by men and many repeated unfounded narratives about his personal and political life. She decided to tell a more nuanced story that not only reexamines the original sources, but also looks at the women in Washington’s life, who she says are misrepresented in the historical record. We’ll talk to Coe about her new book ‘You Never Forget Your First’ and why the truth about Washington matters today.
Rebroadcast: The George Washington You Don't Know Emerges in Alexis Coe's 'You Never Forget Your First'
Historian Alexis Coe noticed one day that the dozens of biographies written about George Washington were all written by men and repeated the same myths around wooden teeth and a cherry tree wooden teeth.She decided to tell a more nuanced story that not only reexamines the original sources, but also looks at the women in his life, who are also misconceived in the historical record. The quest to uncover the real George Washington resulted in Coe's latest book, "You Never Forget Your First." We talk to Coe about the book, how she makes history interesting, and why Washington's truths matter today.
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"You Never Forget Your First," is Alexis Coe's new biography of George Washington. (Viking)
Guests:
Alexis Coe, author, "You Never Forget Your First"