The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson [Hardcover]

William Howard Adams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 1997

In 1784 Thomas Jefferson moved to the city of Paris, where he spent the next five years as minister for the new United States of America. These were formative years for France, for the United States, and for Jefferson's cultural and intellectual development. This book recreates the atmosphere and personalities of pre-revolutionary Paris, and reveals the impact they had on one of America's first transatlantic citizens. The text discusses how the provincial Virginian became a cosmopolitan connoisseur in the intellectual, political, scientific and artistic circles of the city. It describes Jefferson's relationships with such people as Lafayette, Condorcet, Lavoisier, Baron Grimm, La Rochefoucauld, John and Abigail Adams, Gouverneur Morris, and J.L. David, as well as his involvement with the English painter, Maria Cosway. His alleged affair with his slave Sally Hemings is also examined in the context of all available evidence. The principal focus of the book is on Jefferson's role as the pre-eminent envoy in Europe after the departure of Franklin, his participation in the cultural and political life of the city, and his private intrigues to help his friends bring the Bourbon monarchy to heel. Finally, the author of the Declaration of Independence is placed in the middle of his second revolution and the book chronicles the events leading up to the upheaval of 1788-1789.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Thomas Jefferson spent five years in Paris, from 1784 to 1789, serving as the representative of a struggling new nation. In this entertaining, scholarly chronicle of those years, we're treated to an account of how the nights spent among the Paris intellectuals influenced Jefferson's thought, and we get a vivid taste of the social whirl in that great European city. William Howard Adams, a leading Jefferson scholar for 25 years, quotes extensively from Jefferson's letters and other writings, and does a commendable job of describing the scenes in which Jefferson would have found himself.

From Library Journal

In the wake of the recent flood of books on Jefferson, Adams (International Ctr. for Jefferson Studies) presents no findings that will surprise specialists; rather, he offers a judicious, balanced overview based on thorough grounding in primary sources as well as the latest books on Jefferson. Adams is at his best in giving vivid thumbnail sketches of personalities like the Marquis de Lafayette and in his expert descriptions of Paris buildings and neighborhoods. In contrast to the astringent tone of some recent works, both those for and against Jefferson (e.g., Conor Cruise O'Brien's The Long Affair, LJ 10/15/96), Adams's touch is light. He clearly admires Jefferson while avoiding hagiography, demonstrating that Jefferson's five years in France (1784-89) helped to obliterate the last traces of provincialism in the Virginian and further implanted in him the ideals of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. Highly recommended for all libraries.?Thomas J. Schaeper, St. Bonaventure Univ., N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 364 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1ST edition (October 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300069030
• ISBN-13: 978-0300069037
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BOOK BY A JEFFERSON SCHOLAR, December 1, 2011

By 

Kay's Husband (Virginia, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson (Hardcover)

This 1997 book is an excellent one with which to continue or begin a study of Thomas Jefferson's admiration of France. This book is also interesting as an insight in to prerevolutionary France. As is shown the country and the city had great impact on our first minister, Thomas Jefferson.

This book contains not only 'critical scholarship' but many photographs that allow the reader to easily seize upon the culture and atmosphere of this by gone era. This was an important time for the fledgling United States of America as well as the country of France. Both recaptured in this readable book.

Here are "the wines, the women, the architecture" that helped influence our 3rd president in the 5 years he spent there as our first minister to Paris. Just a great read.

0 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Books (3) on Thomas Jefferson, September 23, 2005

By 

Patricia Trusselle "Pat Trusselle" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson (Hardcover)

Each of these books were in very good condition as stated in the ordering info. Each was packed so that the book was well protected. The "Apple Pie ;An american story was also in very good condition and the package was protective. many thanks to each dealer. Pat Trusselle