The Inner Jefferson [Paperback]

Andrew Burstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 22, 1996

Thomas Jefferson's personal life has always been a puzzle to biographers. Even his contemporaries found him difficult to know. In Jefferson's correspondence, however, Andrew Burstein has found a key to the inner man. This penetrating and thoughtful portait confronts widespread misunderstandings about Jefferson's romantic life and provides insight into the contradictions that still surround our third president.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Burstein, an independent scholar who has taught and written extensively on early American history, has fashioned a book that should attract a wide readership. Making particular use of Jefferson's letters, Burstein attempts to reveal the inner man who few contemporaries felt they knew well. The author has a sure grasp of the material and a prudent awareness that Jefferson was a person of his times?not of ours. Jefferson possessed inconsistencies and contradictions, though Burstein goes a little overboard in finding opposites in everything he did. According to Burstein, Jefferson was rational and emotional, forthright and shy, compassionate and vengeful, ordinary and extraordinary. Nonetheless, one finishes this book with a renewed awareness of the profound sensibilities and talents of this complicated individual and a deeper understanding of the importance to him of his wide circle of close friends. Recommended for all libraries.?T.J. Schaeper, St. Bonaventure Univ., N.Y.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Andrew Burstein served as a consultant and appears as prominent commentator in Ken Burns's television biography Thomas Jefferson. He has taught Jefferson's life and legacy at the University of Virginia and Mount Holyoke College. He is currently Assistant Professor of History at the University of Northern Iowa.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: University of Virginia Press (December 22, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813917204
• ISBN-13: 978-0813917207
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,461,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Unusual Study...., December 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Inner Jefferson (Paperback)

I'm about two-thirds of the way through this book. The content is highly interesting, but it's kind of a difficult read. Definitely not the lighter, "speedy" read of an Ambrose or Vidal book. Burstein is very analytical, with somewhat of a sociologial and/or psychological perspective to this analysis of Jefferson. There is a early section on Love/Emotion (?) which is a bit laborious. However, I will continue to work my way to the end, and do feel that I've gained much insight into Jefferson's background, family life, political affiliations, intellectual interests, his love of the Parisian salon-type intercourse, and so forth.
This book is definitely NOT for the reader of lighter history.
Dry and laborious at times.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good intro into all things jeffersonian, February 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Inner Jefferson (Hardcover)

yet another broad look at jefferson, from political career, near-romantic encounters, family life, friends & correspondences. the writing is crystal clear & fast-paced. you get a snippet of tj's sharp epistolary hand. no huge controversies being discussed here altho i think there were some defenses made for the slavery issue. pick up this book. it's one of the better ones for introducing yourself to tj. good b&w photos of his favorite haunts & some skeletons in the closet.