Thomas Jefferson,: An Intimate History

This book is described by author Fawn Brodie as being written after studying Jefferson's corresponce. So, of course it is not a typical biography as everyone reads different things into what they have read. It is as if we are learning about what makes him tick and why he did the things he did, from the letters. You end up thinking of him as a complex intelligent man and not only as a President and writer of the Declaration of Independence. Don't let the unfavorable reviews keep you from the enjoyment and one of the best books I have read (over and over).

Over the years, I have read much on the Sphinx. But this book was the first that actually believed he was human and not a god and took great pains to put a human face to the man. Given that he guarded his legacy and shaped it during his lifetime, we will never know the real man. But at least someone is trying to show us that he was human and had all the strengths and weakness of a man. For that, and only that, this book is invaluable. For those who only take interest in him because of the Hemmings controversy, you are missing out on so much. The political intrigue alone is worth reading this book.

Dr. Brodie's biography on Thomas Jefferson is a wondrous piece of work, balancing both the personal and public lives of this remarkable man: Writer of the Declaration of Independence, author of "Notes on the State of Virginia" and the "Constitution for Virginia", minister to France, war Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State under Washignton, Vice-President under John Adams, two term President of the United States, aquisition of the Louisiana Purchase, founder of the University of Virginia, horticulturist, architect and so much more. He spoke his mind and he spoke it for the people: "The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government." Without a doubt, Jefferson's private life was controversial and Brodie brings this to light. Although his personal life story reads like a soap opera, we see how both the personal and public worlds, at times, influence each other. Brodie unfolds his relationships with such women as Betsey Walker, Maria Cosway and the slave Sally Hemings, along with delving into his enemies and friends in public circles. A lengthy but fascinating read and thanks to Dr. Brodie's tenacious research efforts, the reader gains a deep understanding into the life of this extaordinary man.

American History, Thomas Jefferson, being my greater passions, I was fascinated by this book. The depth of Ms. Brodie's research is obvious, & her conclusions are thought provoking. Being also well-trained in the area of human behavior & pyschology, I would agree STRONGLY with the probable assumptions she makes about the pysche of Mr. Jefferson. What is historical fact concerning Mr. Jefferson concerning his earler years, his relationship w/ his mother, the death of his father, & his relationship to the women in his life, noticeably his wife & daughters, lends strong credence to the theories Ms. Brodie brings forth. A person w/ great insight into human behavior can always make strong probable cases. Ms.Brodie has done this admirably. I admire Mr. Jefferson more than any other man in American history, yet I also love the truth, and the key word is HUMAN. Mr. Jefferson would have the same quirks & idyosyncrasies as any other human, which when one realizes this about the greats of time, should endear them even more, that the bottom line is we are ALL human. Mention Sally Hemmings at the Monticello visitor center, & watch the fur fly. It seems as though some people want to elevate others to God-like status, & not allow themselves to admit to the humanism of the ones they admire. I'm looking forward to read Ms. Brodie's account of the life of Joseph Smith, which I will do soon.