A respected authority on 18th-century literature, Max Byrd spent five years researching and creating this fast-paced historical novel. The result is an intriguing fictional portrait of an enigmatic and powerful personality. When Thomas Jefferson assumed his post as American ambassador to the court of France's Louis XVI in 1784, he faced daunting political and personal challenges. In the midst of Europe's social and political upheaval, the future president struggled to get his young country accepted as a serious trade nation. As he collaborated in Paris with compatriots John Adams and Ben Franklin to build the America of his dreams, he faced grave criticism. How could he profess individual liberty and high standards of honor when he owned slaves and courted the wife of a political acquaintance? The details of Jefferson's life in pre-revolutionary France are vivid enough to convince us that Max Byrd was there. George Guidall's narrative talent gives listeners the impression of being close enough to touch Jefferson's sleeve or look over his shoulder as he writes.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
great historical fiction,
This review is from: Jefferson: A Novel (Paperback)
I enjoyed "Jefferson", probably because it escaped the dry boredom of a history textbook. The story was frank and honest, and perhaps that was it's downfall for me, because I really didn't like the character of Thomas Jefferson. Byrd did an excellent job, though there was quite a bit more about the French sex life than I would have cared to hear about. If you're not into history, don't touch this. You will be bored, but if you're interested in Jefferson, or his era, you will really enjoy this book.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jefferson As You've Not Seen Him During His Time In Paris,
By
This review is from: Jefferson: A Novel (Paperback)
Through happenstance, I've read three of Max Byrd's novels in reverse order. The first (for me) being "Grant", then "Jackson", and finally this book, "Jefferson". At first, I felt that Byrd's books got better with each novel but toward the end of "Jefferson", I began to alter my view. It is a wonderful account of fictionalized history of Jefferson's time in Paris. They're some constants in each book. There's enough sex, including James Heming's visit to some of the brothels of Paris, to provide a lurid view for those that need such enticement and there's also the book within a book. In this book, William Short, who was Jefferson's secretary while he was this Nation's diplomat to France writes his memoirs of Jefferson. Byrd does a wonderful job with these memoirs, including a description of Patrick Henry's famous speech at St. John's church in Richmond. Furthermore, the book does an excellent job of contrasting very vocal Henry, who wrote little and seldom stayed for the "pick-and-shovel" work of committees and meetings, with Jefferson who seldom gave speeches but could put words onto paper that endure for all time...the Declaration of Independence among them. As a fan of General Lafayette I was pleased to see so much reference to this exceptional hero who is often overlooked. Byrd accurately portrays Lafayette as not overly brilliant but maintaining close ties to the American society of Paris and fueling the fires for the overthrow of the King. As with all of Byrd's work his detailed research lead to wonderful "tib-bits" of history that might otherwise reside only on dusty selves of scholar's holdings. This book is a wonderful account of Jefferson's time in Paris and deserving of a place in any library.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An entertaining and factual account of Jefferson, the man.,
This review is from: Jefferson (Paperback)
A fine, readable account of Jefferson's tenure as ambassador to France after the American Rovolution. Shows Thomas Jefferson as a man of conviction, but complete with faults, conflicts and an amorous soul. The story is told through the character of William Short, Jefferson's secretary and is the most readable and historically accurate account of Jefferson and his time I have read. Complemented with references to Franklin, Adams, Layfette and others the book is intriguing and very readable and enjoyable. Not dry or scholarly this book gives anyone interested in "Jefferson, The Man" a novel to enjoy as well as an opportunity to learn more about Jefferson and his times. Well worth the price and time invested.
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