The Widow Washington: The Life of Mary Washington

The Widow Washington: The Life of Mary Washington

by Martha Saxton

4.4 (118)

4.4 stars from 118 reviews


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Fans of these authors will like this...

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Fans of these books will like this...

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Perfect for you if...

  • You're interested in early American history but tired of the same old founding father narratives told from the top down.
  • You care about women's lives in colonial America and want to read about someone who actually existed, not a myth.
  • You appreciate biography that challenges conventional wisdom and uses primary sources to set the record straight.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You want a fast-paced page turner about scandal and drama. This is scholarly, grounded history, not a sensational retelling.
  • You're looking for a book that flatters George Washington or treats him uncritically as a hero.
  • You prefer biography that focuses on one person's inner emotional life rather than the social and economic forces shaping their choices.

About this book

The Widow Washington is the first biography of Mary Ball Washington, George Washington's mother, drawing on archival sources. Previous biographers of George Washington have largely portrayed his mother as self-centered and crude, viewing her as an obstacle to her son. However, historical records reveal a different picture. Mary Ball was the daughter of a wealthy planter and a formerly indentured servant. Orphaned young, she grew up practicing hard work, frugality, and piety. She married Augustine Washington, an older planter, and had five children with him before his death eleven years later. As a widow with limited access to her late husband's properties, Mary worked to raise her children and secure their places in Virginia's elite society. In her later years, Mary and her wealthy son George had a contentious relationship, often disagreeing over money. Yet Mary had a significant influence on George's development. Without the wealth and freedom typical of planter-class sons, George was shaped by his mother's demanding parenting, which instilled in him moral and religious principles that guided his life. Though Mary and George shared similar traits—commanding demeanor, persistence, athleticism, frugality, and irascibility—these qualities have been better remembered in George's legacy than in hers. This biography tells Mary's long, difficult life on its own terms.

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Free$8.99$17.99May '20Jan '25Aug '25Feb '26
$0.99$17.99

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 83% off peak. Price has dropped 18 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 77 days. Typically stays discounted for 66 days.

Sales Rank

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#33,408#1,482,752#2,932,096May '19Sep '23Sep '25Jul '26

Currently around #107K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

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3.5★4.3★5.0★Oct '23Dec '23Aug '24Mar '25Dec '25RatingReviews

Currently 4.4★ from 118 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has climbed from 4.3 to 4.4. Recent readers are rating it higher.

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Free$8.99$17.99May '20Jan '25Aug '25Feb '26PredictedJul '26

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Martha Saxton

1 book on Vagrant Press

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