Jefferson

I'll start off my review by saying this: Jefferson is a good introductory biography of Thomas Jefferson. Having said that much, what does that mean? It means that this is neither best Jefferson biography out there nor is it the worst by any means either. Yet it is a good book nonetheless. Author Saul K. Padover makes this biography of Jefferson a nice read for the most part, though it does have some considerable flaws. It is detailed in some areas (Jefferson's early life and later life in particular). Yet the book suffers from not being very well detailed in some areas. The biggest example of this is the feuding between the Federalist and Republicans, which stands out in my mind as being a rather disappointing section. One also has to keep ion mind when this book was written because much of the more recent revelations about Jefferson are missing. In fact Sally Hemmings doesn't get a single mention as far as I can remember. Then again this is more of an introductory biography so perhaps this is not a bad thing. It might not be the best Jefferson biography but it also far from the worst. It may lack details and be out of date in terms of more recent revelations but that doesn't mean it isn't worth being read though. In fact it still makes a good introduction for the general reader. In fact if you're looking for a good place to start and are someone who hasn't read much on Thomas Jefferson, this is the place to start.

Saul K. Padover's biography on President Thomas Jefferson reaches back in time to explain Jefferson's youth and family background. Being born to "the wealthiest and most respected squire in the county" (9) young Thomas had unique opportunities for education. Not only was he educated in classics and sciences but also in the ways of wringing a living from the frontier. Padover also displays Jefferson's early political career in Virginia's House of Burgesses and later his role in the Revolution. Padover reveals Jefferson's private self was one of deep feeling and frustrated expression. This runs against the general understanding of Jefferson being a man with an artful mastery of words, being plain spoken yet eloquent with his words carrying more worth than expected. He was often tongue-tied with girls in his youth. After one of these instances admitting to his friend John Page that all he could manage was "a few broken sentences, uttered in great disorder" (18). His emotions were by modern standards, displayed melodramatically. However, a modern reader of his letters should bear in mind that this was the style of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, especially among the landed gentry of Virginia. His emotions are easiest seen in the death of his wife. He had made a promise to his dying wife Martha that he would not re-marry after her passing. This instance gives a unique view of a unique man. At this time in America, especially among the wealthy a man remarried. It was usually done out of necessity to help raise children and manage a massive household. Perhaps Martha could not die knowing that another woman would share the love of her beloved, brilliant husband. Privately he mourned her death, bearing his deep sorrow and pain inside dropping his contact with the outside world for six months (58). His inner emotions are displayed in sharp contrast to his public life. Although his feelings on public issues and figures were certainly known to the general public, as they elected him for President because of his advocacy of the common man in 1800. His ability to keep his emotions out of his public life aided his way to the Executive Mansion. His usual response to derogatory remarks printed about him in the different Federalist Papers was silence. Once arriving in the nation's executive position he had a profound impact on the office and on the country as a whole. He brought in a cabinet of men who all had the same amount of votes as he did. They all worked together to solve the nations problems and to see to the people's needs. Jefferson also kept the Executive Mansion very casual, by the day's standards. He instituted the practice of "pele mele", where no one ranking person preceded or followed in and out of a room. This tiny matter was enough to produce a minor international scandal (145). Another incident involving Jefferson's casual standard at the President's home was when British Minister Anthony Merry arrived

For those who are interested more in a chronology of Jefferson's life and less a perspective of the events of his time, this book is perfect. Somewhat preachy, probably too adulatory of Jefferson, it nevertheless strikes an excellent balance between being comprehensive yet concise.

Padover's "Jefferson" is rarely available in its unabridged form, more's the pity, though. This insightful, exposing view into the life of history's greatest American is a profound study of the human spirit, and of our own country itself. This book is more than the story of a founding father, or some famous dead guy. Jefferson did not enjoy politics, he shunned them. It did not want to be Secretary of State, not Vice-President, and he did not want to remembered for being President. Even his tombstone bears that fact. Jefferson sent the majority of his life in attempt to escape the public and reside in quiet amongst learning and living on Monticello, his Virginian paradise. This book, written by the paramount source of knowledge conerning Jefferson, illustrates and captions the life of quite an extraordinary man