The Forsaken Founder

“Scott Greenberger’s sparkling portrait of Gouverneur Morris not only pulls from relative obscurity this remarkable Renaissance man of America’s gestation but also brings to life with felicity of phrase and narrative drive those powerful events that Morris helped shape. This book is a bountiful contribution to the history of the American founding.”—Robert Merry, author of Decade of Disunion: How Massachusetts and South Carolina Led the Way to Civil War, 1849-1861



“‘We the People’: With three words Gouverneur Morris transformed residents of 13 colonies into citizens of the United States. Morris was the tragic and heroic figure who detested the Founding Fathers’ ‘Three-Fifths compromise on slavery and sought to plant the seeds of its repeal. In his exciting new biography of Morris, Scott Greenberger takes us into the room where the Constitution was made, making us feel every bead of sweat rendered by the disputes of that torrid summer of 1787. And he tells the story of one of the most colorful and misunderstood of all the larger-than-life characters who bestrode the byways of Early America. This is a book not to be missed.”—Peter S. Canellos, author of The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America’s Judicial Hero

Scott S. Greenberger is coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis and author of The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur.

Currently the executive editor of Stateline, he has been a newspaper reporter at the Austin American-Statesman and The Boston Globe. He has also written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, and GQ.

Greenberger has a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and a master’s degree in international relations from George Washington University. He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.