I wish I was as fortunate as you were to actually know Dr. Wood instead of just knowing about him. His insights about our Founding and Early Republic eras were both entertaining and instructive.
We don't know the time or manner of our death but, good God! Being struck down walking across a grocery store parking lot seems like such an incongruous ending for such a great man.
I'm so sorry for the personal loss of your mentor and friend.
What a very touching and thoughtful tribute, Brad. He was truly a very special human being, humble and kind. And all his books are powerful, rich, wonderful.
An aside: I have been listening to Creation of the American Republic in audible format this year while driving or doing chores. I recommend that other busy people try this
It is an amazing work. To wrap one's arms around it would require reading the tome carefully. But the audio is a nice survey of its depths.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Gordon Wood and I am very sorry for your loss. He has been my favorite historian of the Founding and Early Republic since I read The Radicalism of the American Revolution when it first came out. He leaves an empty spot at the pinnacle of his discipline and I don't know that there is anyone else out there who even comes close to measuring up to him. R.I.P.
I am so profoundly saddened to learn about this great scholar and teacher’s tragic death (I actually read about the nature of his death on Michael Magoon’s Substack). I am reading currently The Radicalism of the American Revolution along with his book on Benjamin Franklin—The Americanization of ….
Your list of unanswered questions now saddens me further because I would have dearly loved to learn Professor Wood’s answers.
Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.
Brad - another fascinating glimpse into your intellectual journey. Thank you. I often wish I had been a bit more mature when you were teaching me, although your influence and “introductions” (Melville, Federalist Papers, the founding Ayn Rand, and the war of 1812, to name a few) were obviously life-altering in their preparation for openness to thinking about the most important things. Farewell to your friend and mentor - thanks for paying the important things forward…
“Mourn not the dead, but rejoice in his life and example” - Charles Sumner
Thank you for sharing these stories of a great man. May his works and memory outlive us all.
Thank you, Ibis. The Sumner quotation is wonderful and very apt.
Thanks for sharing those links. I'll look forward to reviewing them. Sorry for your loss, Brad.
I wish I was as fortunate as you were to actually know Dr. Wood instead of just knowing about him. His insights about our Founding and Early Republic eras were both entertaining and instructive.
We don't know the time or manner of our death but, good God! Being struck down walking across a grocery store parking lot seems like such an incongruous ending for such a great man.
I'm so sorry for the personal loss of your mentor and friend.
RIP
What a very touching and thoughtful tribute, Brad. He was truly a very special human being, humble and kind. And all his books are powerful, rich, wonderful.
You were wisely mentored.
(And, if I may add, it shows.)
Thank you, Juliana. Very kind of you to say so.
Thank you for sharing these memories.
An aside: I have been listening to Creation of the American Republic in audible format this year while driving or doing chores. I recommend that other busy people try this
It is an amazing work. To wrap one's arms around it would require reading the tome carefully. But the audio is a nice survey of its depths.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Gordon Wood and I am very sorry for your loss. He has been my favorite historian of the Founding and Early Republic since I read The Radicalism of the American Revolution when it first came out. He leaves an empty spot at the pinnacle of his discipline and I don't know that there is anyone else out there who even comes close to measuring up to him. R.I.P.
Thank you, Brad. What a great presence.
Brad,
I am so profoundly saddened to learn about this great scholar and teacher’s tragic death (I actually read about the nature of his death on Michael Magoon’s Substack). I am reading currently The Radicalism of the American Revolution along with his book on Benjamin Franklin—The Americanization of ….
Your list of unanswered questions now saddens me further because I would have dearly loved to learn Professor Wood’s answers.
Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.
Quite a tribute for your mentor and friend. Lucky you to have known him.
Brad - another fascinating glimpse into your intellectual journey. Thank you. I often wish I had been a bit more mature when you were teaching me, although your influence and “introductions” (Melville, Federalist Papers, the founding Ayn Rand, and the war of 1812, to name a few) were obviously life-altering in their preparation for openness to thinking about the most important things. Farewell to your friend and mentor - thanks for paying the important things forward…
An eloquent and inspirational tribute to a great scholar. Thanks for posting.
Prof. Wood wrote a tremendous amount. Brad, can you offer any guidance to readers who have not yet read any his work?
I don't recall having read his histories, but I sure am going to now.
Wood was a commie