I just finished James Madison and the Making of America by Kevin R.C. Gutzman. As the title suggests, most of this book focuses on three of Madison's roles crucial to the establishment of this country: co-author of the Constitution, co-author of The Federalist and participant in the Virginia ratification convention. Of course, other areas of Madison's prolific life were discussed, such as his terms as Secretary of State and President. Yet, these three roles were addressed in more pages than all others combined.
The book goes into considerable detail of the Constitutional Convention and the ratification process, including a nearly motion by motion recounting of events (or in the case of The Federalist, an essay by essay summary). The detail serves the purpose of providing the reader an appreciation for the monumental difficulty of writing and subsequently ratifying the Constitution. Considerable compromise was required. It also informs one of the issues most significant to the leading minds of the day.
I learned that while Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution and fought tenaciously for its ratification, he did not altogether agree with it. In particular, he thought the legislature should have veto power over state laws, and he did not approve of the disproportionate power the Senate gave small states.
I did not gain much insight into the man himself other than that he was mental giant. Quiet and unassuming in person, he was a powerful wielder of the pen who could grasp and assimilate complicated issues. These qualities served him well in his role as Father of the Constitution. It would seem they left him somewhat during his eight-year tenure as president. However, this period of his life was not addressed in nearly the same detail as those mentioned previously.
Except a few references to some White House parties, the book was nearly devoid of any description of Madison's home life. I suppose it is stereotypically female of me to wish Gutzman had explored his relationship with the intrepid Dolley. I recall one reference in the book to her as "his beloved Dolley", but I did not get an understanding of of their connection. Such personal analysis was obviously outside the author's scope.
All in all, though, I finished the book better informed about and more appreciative of this great mind and his contribution to the making of America.
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