Thursday, 24 January 2019

AUTHOR FAVOURITES: TEMPEST AT DAWN by JAMES D. BEST

JAMES D. BEST is a best-selling author who writes across genres. He tells me his favourite of his own novels is TEMPEST AT DAWN, his novelization of the Constitutional Convention.

It’s 1787. Despite winning its freedom from Britain, the infant United States is on the brink of total collapse, militarily weakened, in economic turmoil, and threatened by world powers hovering like vultures. Powerful figures plot in secret to overthrow the government.

55 men meet in Philadelphia to discuss the crisis and end up creating the United States Constitution. TEMPEST AT DAWN tells their story. It also shows that, even in the first years of its existence, the issue that would rip the U.S. apart 80 years later – slavery - was already causing disquiet and division.


The Convention of 1787

Of the 7 figures historian Richard B. Morris identified as the key ‘Founding Fathers’, 4 - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JAMES MADISON and GEORGE WASHINGTON - are at the Constitutional Convention, alongside lesser-known figures as ROGER SHERMAN & CHARLES PINCKNEY.


George Washington (1732-1799)

Reviews of TEMPEST AT DAWN:

'It's a truly great read and is one of the few books I've picked up in the past year that I ended up reading more than 200 pages from in one sitting.'

'I found the story very entertaining as I watched what has been immortalized become something real.'



Benjamin Franklin (1705/1706 - 1790)

‘That was the best part of the book, for me. The actual bringing to life of several historical figures.’



Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757-1804)

‘Wonderfully written.’



James Madison (1751-1836)



'The history seems accurate enough, but what makes this book so much fun to read is the development of the character of each of the featured founding fathers.'



https://www.amazon.com/Tempest-at-Dawn-James-Best/dp/1604943440/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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