Product Description

The definitive life of Jefferson in one volume, this biography relates Jefferson's private life and thought to his prominent public position and reveals the rich complexity of his development. As Peterson explores the dominant themes guiding Jefferson's career--democracy, nationality, and enlightenment--and Jefferson's powerful role in shaping America, he simultaneously tells the story of nation coming into being.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239851 in Books
• Published on: 1975
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1072 pages

Review

"Covers Jefferson's entire life with remarkable thoroughness."--New York Review of Books.
"A noble and fascinating study."--Chicago Tribune Book World.
"A masterly biography....An urbane and graceful style, marked by a sure sense of language, makes the book a pleasure to read."--Journal of Southern History
"The most comprehensive and balanced single-volumed study of Jefferson ever written."--Virginia Quarterly Review

About the Author
Merrill D. Peterson is at University of Virginia.

Customer Reviews

Definitely worth reading, very readable
For people who have recently become interested in the Founding Fathers and are interested in Thomas Jefferson, this is the book to read. I had just read Chernow's Hamilton and Ellis' Sphinx and several other recently written books on the Founding Fathers, and almost all of them had bad things to say about Jefferson. So much so that I really began to wonder how it came to be that Jefferson had gained such a great reputation. Why is his name revered???

Finally, I found a book that unabashedly took Jefferson's point of view on every single issue, which was refreshing. It balanced the lopsided information I had been receiving, though, knowing what I knew, I could also see where Peterson was possibly stretching things, such as portraying Jefferson as anti-slavery....Though at least I heard the rebuttal to Jefferson's pro-slavery leanings. Jefferson clearly couldn't have made the USA all by himself, as Hamilton could have, but Jefferson was clearly an important part of the picture.

One reservation I had going into the book is that the Jefferson papers were really just in the middle of being editted at Princeton University when the book was written in 1970. I was concerned that this edition may be lacking important information. It may have, but for an enthusiast like myself, the knowledge available in 1970, when the book was written, by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor at the University of Virginia, was good enough.

The book, in short, is still considered the gold-standard biography of Jefferson, in addition to the six volume Dumas Malone work, which is simply too long. The book is very easy to read. The most interesting sections were on Jefferson's time in the Virginia legislature and as Governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War, the leadup negotiation to and effects of the Louisiana Purchase, and the Burr conspiracy, in which the former Vice President to Jefferson tried to head up a break-away republic in the newly-purchased Louisiana purchase territory with him at the head.

The book is definitely long, just a few pages of text over 1000 pages, the longest book I had ever read, but the material is great. There's tons of quotes and source material written in the book, as one would expect from an author who had dedicated his entire life to Jefferson. There's an earlier book by Peterson, "The Image of Jefferson" which actually answers the question of how Jefferson has been portrayed throughout our history, which sounds fascinating. Jefferson's image is tarnished right now, but in prior eras, he was looked up to as a beacon of hope. I plan to read that one at some point, but, after 1000 pages of stright TJ, I need a break.

Just one other note, the second section "Philosopher of the Revolution", should really by re-read after you finish the book. You'll understand what Peterson is talking about better. You'll enjoy the book, all 1000 pages of it!

A very thorough view of a complex man
Over the last several years I've read about 40 presidential biographies, usually relying on Amazon reviewers to point me towards the best and most comprehensive works. I struggled in my choice of a Jefferson biography, but I'm glad I opted for Peterson's work. First, it is a massive 1,000 pages, and it`s not for the faint of heart. While Peterson writes well, he certainly doesn't have the breezy style of a David McCullough or a Robert Dallek. Even hardy readers will feel a bit spent with the complex content from time to time, and I'd doubt most high school readers' ability to wade through the material.

Despite these cautions, I give Peterson's book a very high rating. Peterson captured Jefferson's personality, accomplishments, and flaws. With as complex a guy as TJ, this is not easy. Peterson also describes the conflicts between Jefferson and the various Federalists as well as anyone I've read thus far. Jefferson saw this conflict as more treacherous for the US than the Revolutionary War (and his concerns are highly relevant is viewing today's politics).

The emphasis is on Jefferson and his public life, and to a somewhat lesser extent on Jefferson's private self. It was written many years prior to the DNA testing of Sally Hemmings' heirs, and while Peterson briefly discusses the accusations of a Jefferson - Hemmings relationship, he dismisses it in favor of another Jefferson relative. But Peterson does not overlook Jefferson's conflicts about slavery, manumission, liberty, etc. As with other aspects of Jefferson's life, Peterson presents a comprehensive view and he is willing to point out Jefferson's mistakes. Does Peterson's probable error regarding the Hemming's controversy diminish this biography? Well, maybe, but with a man like Jefferson, this is but one facet of a very thorough and well-reasoned look at a extremely complex man who played a major role in several of the US's most challenging eras.

Exceptional. Probably the Best One-Volume Book on Jefferson
This classic is probably the best one-volume history of Thomas Jefferson ever written. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon Wood called this book "the most comprehensive and balanced single-volumed study of Jefferson ever written." I found the writing to very detailed and to the caliber of a reference work, but probably too lengthy and meticulous for the casual reader. I believe it to be the most authoritative book on Thomas Jefferson.

I rate it a collectors item. Indeed, 18 years after it was originally published in 1970, a special collector's edition was issued bound in leather, gilded in gold, and stamped with the presidential seal. It's a classic.

What distinguishes this book is that 1) Peterson the Jefferson scholar has an unrivaled understanding of Jefferson 2) Peterson explains Jefferson's thinking especially well 3) Peterson is balanced as he covers Jefferson's life in sprawling detail, though 3) Peterson's emphasis leans more towards Jefferson's role in American history, hence the title. This thick book is about as thorough as you can get in one volume, with a few quibbles.

The sections in this book about Jefferson's formative years in Virginia are especially interesting. Then he was a young man seeking enlightenment, as well as a lawyer and planter. Peterson especially understands Jefferson the thinker.

What is liberty? What makes an aristocrat become a revolutionary? How did Jefferson come to believe that "all men are created equal" and "the unalienable Rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness?" How did Jefferson's experiences later influence the shape of the new American government and what it means to be America?

Jefferson was a young American aristocrat, a lover of books, a musician (the fiddle), a thinker, a farmer, a lawyer, an architect, and a scientist. He designed and built the splendid Monticello. His wife died young and it totally devastated him. He vowed to her that he would never remarry, which he never did.

Jefferson achieved the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which guaranteed religious liberty. He passionately valued reason and truth, and therefore he hated the corruption of power that plagued the old world. Jefferson's view of the American revolution is relevant for the ages.

Jefferson became governor of Virginia, advocated (but failed to achieve) public access to education (no surprise that he would champion education), drafted the Declaration of Independence, and then kept a low profile during the Revolutionary War.

Jefferson argued strongly in favor of a Bill of Rights, which Alexander Hamilton strongly opposed, at a time when it seemed like there would be no Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is based much on Jefferson's ideals. Read the Bill of Rights and you see Jefferson: Freedom of speech. Freedom of press. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. Jefferson also inadvertently argued for judicial review.

He became a diplomat to France and later favored the French in foreign policy. He helped the French write the Declaration of the Rights of Man. He was a celebrity in France.

George Washington appointed Jefferson the first ever Secretary of State - the most important executive position other than president. Quite a resume already!

At this time his Republicanism (not to be confused with the Republican party although not entirely different) came into conflict with those of Federalist Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson then became vice president under president John Adame, his former close friend but by now an adversary, due to a quirk in early election laws (later changed). He quit because he disagreed with the Federalists.

The story of Jefferson's first presidential election is quite fascinating.

The election campaign against his former close friend John Adams was very nasty. In a real shocker, the election ended in a tie! Jefferson's sleazy vice presidential running mate almost stabbed Jefferson in the back by vying for the presidency himself as an alternative. In the end, Jefferson agreed to keep some Federalist policies in place, and the electors made him president.

Jefferson inauguration speech to reach out to his opponents and unite America was deeply moving. (Well, the words of the speech were moving. Jefferson was a terrible speaker. At first he seemed to bomb, but once the speech was circulated in writing, it was quite historic).

As president he orchestrated the Louisiana Purchase and then launched the fascinating Lewis and Clark Expedition. Although issues such as westward expansion will always be open to some interpretation, Jefferson's first term was a triumph.

He was a superb head of state, but Jefferson worked especially hard to advance his cause of individual liberty, because of his enlightened ideas and his earlier experiences with corrupted power in the old world. His presidency caused a second revolution of Jeffesonian ideals. He also strengthened the presidency and power of the federal government, contradicting his own written views against that.

Jefferson made some mistakes in his second term as president, such as a foolish embargo. The details are all here.

After being president, Jefferson founded the University of Virginia and even designed the neo-classical campus buildings. By then the rival Federalist party had become extinct and there was briefly only one party - the party of Jefferson!

He renewed his friendship with Adams late in life. They wrote frequently to each other (Jefferson wrote thousands of letters in his lifetime) and they both died on July 4.

Jefferson was an egalitarian aristocrat of reason, liberty, ideas, and achievement. His experiences and ideas led to his becoming a revolutionary. Jefferson profoundly shaped America.