From the bestselling author of "Founding Brothers" and "His Excellency" comes a work that explores why the last quarter of the 18th century the most politically creative period in American history.

For a man who insisted that life on the public stage was not what he had in mind, Thomas Jefferson certainly spent a great deal of time in the spotlight-and not only during his active political career.

Here are six fascinating, well-researched chapters involving such icons as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.

Recently, Washington's papers were catalogued at the University of Virginia. Joseph J. Ellis had primary access to the 90-volume papers, allowing him to paint a thorough and fascinating portrait.

John Adams spent nearly the last third of his life in retirement grappling with contradictory views of his place in history and fearing his reputation would not fare well in the generations after his death.

Perhaps the most politically explosive time in American history occurred during the nation's founding...