Founding Brothers is a non-fiction novel about the political figures of the American Revolution, focusing primarily on Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, John Adams, George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson and on the roots of the American Revolution and interactions between political figures. The author, Joseph J. Ellis, is the author of numerous books on American history and studied at the College of William and Mary and Yale University. Joseph J. Ellis's main points throughout the book are not only to describe the historical perspective and success of the founding fathers but also the personal emotions, joys, regrets, family tragedies and, finally, the final judgments that express about each other and about the Revolution. “I wanted to write a modest-sized account of American history without stumbling over the corpses of my many scholarly predecessors, I hoped to humanize and accessible that generation of political leaders routinely deified and capitalized as Founding Fathers” (ix). The novel's chapter concerns the battle between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton and is the only chapter that is not in chronological order. Joseph J. Ellis does this to get the reader's attention. In detail Ellis describes the setting and atmosphere between these two key players in American history. Although the true events of the duel can never be recovered, Joseph J. Ellis depicts both sides of the conflict. The result is Hamilton's death and Burr's political and social exile. Although Burr's version was most likely correct, Hamilton's story was commonly chosen as the truth "The overwhelming popular consensus was that Burr killed Hamilton in cold blood" (26). The second chapter of the novel dates back to the 18th century, before... .. middle of paper ...... sent via epistolary correspondence initiated by Adams which would last until their deaths. They resolved all their conflicts and dilemmas through these letters. Over time the two returned to respect each other and maintained positive communication until the fiftieth anniversary of American independence in 1826, where Jefferson and Adams respectively died. By concluding the book with this chapter Ellis once again demonstrates one of his main points about the final judgments that the Founding Fathers make about each other. “You and I should not die before we have explained ourselves to each other.”(223) I absolutely agree with Joseph J. Ellis's main points and conclusion. Throughout the novel he demonstrated the historical successes and downfalls of the new nation and the wide variety of emotions and conflicts expressed among the founding fathers..