The Founding

Library Journal

This is perhaps the best available short, popular account of the Constitutional Convention. Barbash's background as a reporter for the Washington Post serves him well, especially in his portrayal of the delegates as ``politicians'' and the Convention as an exercise in ``politics.'' He makes effective use of James Madison's published convention notes to construct dramatic first-person dialogue and enlivens his story by highlighting the impact of the small states and otherwise ``obscure characters'' on the deliberations. Though short on revelation of the delegates' motivations and lacking any new perspective, Barbash's volume is nevertheless an excellent contribution to the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries. Roy H. Tryon, Delaware State Archives, Dover