Product Description

Thomas Jefferson designed his own tombstone, describing himself simply as "Author of the Declaration of Independence and of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia." It is in this simple epitaph that R.B. Bernstein finds the key to this enigmatic Founder--not as a great political figure, but as leader of "a revolution of ideas that would make the world over again." In Thomas Jefferson, Bernstein offers the definitive short biography of this revered American--the first concise life in six decades. Bernstein deftly synthesizes the massive scholarship on his subject into a swift, insightful, evenhanded account. Here are all of Jefferson's triumphs, contradictions, and failings, from his luxurious (and debt-burdened) life as a Virginia gentleman to his passionate belief in democracy, from his tortured defense of slavery to his relationship with Sally Hemings. Jefferson was indeed multifaceted--an architect, inventor, writer, diplomat, propagandist, planter, party leader--and Bernstein explores all these roles even as he illuminates Jefferson's central place in the American enlightenment, that "revolution of ideas" that did so much to create the nation we know today. Together with the less well-remembered points in Jefferson's thinking--the nature of the Union, his vision of who was entitled to citizenship, his dread of debt (both personal and national)--they form the heart of this lively biography. In this marvel of compression and comprehension, we see Jefferson more clearly than in the massive studies of earlier generations. More important, we see, in Jefferson's visionary ideas, the birth of the nation's grand sense of purpose.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83940 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 253 pages

About the Author
R. B. Bernstein is Adjunct Professor of Law at the New York Law School and director of online operations at Heights Books, Inc. The author or editor of eighteen books on American constitutional history, including Are We to Be a Nation? and Amending America (both nominees for the Pulitzer, Bancroft, and Parkman Prizes), he lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Customer Reviews

The Enigma that was Thomas Jefferson
This book is certainly well worth the time spent reading it. The directness of the writing is most impressive; I especially admired the author's ability to encapsulate in succinct descriptions such complex issues as the Federalists verses the Republicans and the insoluble, but disturbing, attitude that Jefferson had towards slavery and the status of African Americans - you can sense how shocked the author must have been when discovering these distasteful facts about the writer of the Declaration of Independence. All the research concerning the Hemings speculation is rehearsed admirably.
The author is fair to Jefferson, reflecting the 'warts and all' approach to his subject, leaving us with an impression of a real fallible human being who was also a great man.
This is a fine short biography, which, by nature has to omit much, but gives the impression of depth, leaving readers to find out more detail about a certain topic for themselves.
One very important aspect, especially to those who are not too acquainted with this period of American history, is the brilliantly clear way the author describes such well known events as The Boston Tea Party, Shays's Rebellion or the despised Stamp Act - often historians assume everyone knows about these.
The acute intelligence of Jefferson shines through the pages, along with his essential pragmatism - one lawyer appraising another perhaps. The portraits of his contemporaries, especially Madison and Adams are well drawn, and, for a change so is Aaron Burr, who is very fairly treated.
I am a great admirer of this excellent book.

An excellent biography of America's third President
A good account of the life of Thomas Jefferson, including the phases of how America has viewed its third President since his death. The book tackles the inconsistencies in 'Jeffersonian Democracy', such as slavery. If you want a short and comprehensive biography of Jefferson this is it!

A great introduction
Both the best and worst thing about this biography is that it's short (under 200 pages when the index, bibliography and notes section are deducted). In the sense that it's not an overwhelming scholarly tome, it's the perfect introduction to Thomas Jefferson. It skips breathlessly through his life from young adulthood to a somewhat lonely old age, assuming no prior knowledge, and not getting bogged down in details. It's like a TV mini series version of his life, focussing on the key events and the key characters in Jefferson's life, but not really delving into anything in any great detail, or offering much in the way of assessment (or indeed reassessment).

For the most part, those attracted to this book because of a passing interest in Jefferson will not notice where things have been left out, even when these things could in themselves have an entire book to themselves. The presidential election of 1804, for example, is summed up in a single sentence saying Jefferson won re-election easily. That's quite the understatement, given he won it by a 50% margin over his rival, and the biggest share of the vote of any presidential candidate in US political history!

Similarly, the book doesn't really touch much on Jefferson's contradictory nature, glossing over with little reference to the fact that the man who drafted (though others tinkered with the wording, much to his chagrin) the line "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal", owned plenty of slaves himself.

So whilst it's a good read, consider it an appetiser. Familiarise yourself with the Jefferson timeline through this quick read, then move on to American Sphinx by Joseph Ellis, which assumes some prior knowledge, doesn't pretend to cover absolutely everything, but is a great deal more comprehensive in terms of trying to get inside the head and seeing Jefferson's story from there.