The New York Times bestselling author offers an intimate portrait of America's original first family in this groundbreaking major biography of Mary Ball Washington, George Washington's mother, filled with rich anecdotes and stories that reveal the father of our country in a fresh and original way.

George Washington's first fight for independence was from his controlling, singular mother. Mary Ball Washington was entrenched in the Old World ways of her ancestors, dismissing the American experiment even as her son led the successful rebellion against the crown. Though she raised her eldest son to become one of the world's greatest leaders, Mary also tried many times to hold him back. The constant tug of war between the two throughout the early years helped define George's character. Shirley uncovers startling details about the inner workings of the Washington family, illuminating the qualities they shared and the differences that divided them. -- adapted from jacket