Customer Reviews

The Road to Monticello: The Life and Mind of Thomas Jefferson

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JFK once held a state dinner for all American-born Nobel laureates. At one point during the festivities, he rose to offer a toast, remarking that there hadn't been so much talent gathered in the White House dining room since Thomas Jefferson ate there alone.

The laureates took the unintended slight with good grace. How could they have not? Thomas Jefferson was without doubt our most cerebral president. He may not have had the academic discipline of a Woodrow Wilson or the native wisdom of a Lincoln. But as we all know, and as Kevin Hayes documents in impressive detail in his splendid Road to Monticello, there's never been a more bookish president, nor a wider-read one, than Jefferson.

Hayes has written an old-style (I mean this as a compliment, by the way) intellectual biography. Jefferson's public career is mentioned in passing, but what Hayes is primarily concerned to do is chart the course of Jefferson's thought from his earliest to his final days by charting his reading. Who were the authors that especially impressed him? That he found especially wanting? What connections between his diverse readings did he make? What were the blindspots and lacunae in his thinking and reading? Why did he select the quotes he jotted down in his Commonplace Books? In short, what Hayes wants to do in The Road to Monticello is get a clearer picture of Jefferson the thinker from examining the books he thought about.

Jefferson's erudition is impressive. He read in six languages (including Anglo-Saxon), and was interested in Asian, Indian, and Semetic languages. And he read everything: law, politics, philosophy, geography, history, the occasional theology tome, anthropology, science, music, fiction, poetry, agronomy, cookbooks. His curiosity was boundless, and never abated as the years rolled on. He cross-referenced his readings with marginalia: his law books, for example, frequently contain scribbled references to Greek tragedians and historians. He collected books avidly, during a time when book collecting wasn't all that easy. Hayes tells us that whenever Jefferson rolled into a city, he quickly made his way to the bookshops. By the end of his life, he'd amassed one of the finest collections in the early Republic, which (characteristically) he catalogued according to a system of his own invention. (Hayes' description of it is fascinating, especially for those of us who know a little about Francis Bacon.)

But Jefferson was also an extremely secretive man, and even though Hayes provides us with an excellent account of the cerebral food that fed Jefferson's intellect, I closed the book feeling that Jefferson the man still remained more enigmatic than not. Hayes tells us what Jefferson thought about, but what made him tick remains elusive. This isn't Hayes' failure so much as Jefferson's refusal to leave no personal memoirs, no tormented self-examinations in his Commonplace Books, and very few epistolary revelations. Ultimately, then, Hayes helps us penetrate the mind of Jefferson. But the third president's soul remains unexplored, as it probably always will.

Highly recommended. A genuine treat.

It is hard to think of a better subject than Thomas Jefferson for such a fine extended literary biography as the one at hand. Here the scholar Kevin Hayes nicely and authoritatively relates how books and the love of learning formed the central core to the elusive life that was Mr. Jefferson's, one of the most important political, diplomatic, and educational figures in our nation's history.

Anyone interested in the formation of great personal and public libraries; literature and learning in early America; the personal life and travels of Thomas Jefferson and his great literary works (e.g., The Declaration of Independence) should buy and read this deeply informative and finely crafted book.

Potential readers should be aware this is not a detailed political history, nor is it one that explores Mr. Jefferson's complex attitudes and actions concerning slavery. Other books should be consulted for better descriptions of such important points as the political/economic differences between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton and the role played by Sally Hemings in Mr. Jefferson's home life.

This is a somewhat unique approach to writing an intellectual biography of Thomas Jefferson: "...to study what Thomas Jefferson read and what he wrote to show how the written word shaped his life." Given Jefferson's absolute passion for books ("I cannot live without books") as reflected in his extensive libraries, this is quite an undertaking. Not only has the author reviewed TJ's correspondence, books, and records, he also has scoured biographies, books about TJ at Monticello, and a variety of original sources (including TJ's own notations in his surviving books) to paint probably the most complete picture we will ever have of Jefferson's intellectual interests and development. It is a lengthy work, some 650 pages of text, a further 54 pages of invaluable detailed notes, and a helpful "Essay on Sources." So it takes a while to read it, but the time investment is well justified by the book's contributions.

But the book is about more than just TJ, as if that were not enough. The reader learns, for example, a great deal about the "book culture" of the colonial and early national period, as well as the general intellectual life. But Jefferson himself is the dominant focus. The author follows a chronological approach, so that those familiar with TJ's life can slot this new knowledge into their existing frameworks, while novices learn a great deal about TJ's life generally. I think the book well illustrates the connections between Jefferson's intellectual interests and his political positions and philosophical orientation. I found the extent of his foreign-language reading quite interesting, as well as his interest in just about everything that was going on, from the weather, to Indians, to archeology, to all manner of scientific research, farming and gardening, winemaking, and the list just goes on and on. The author's discussion of Jefferson's views on slavery and how his intellectual interests contributed to developing his thoughts on this topic is particularly helpful. The reader also learns much more about Jefferson the author, as all his books (yes, there are more than just the "Notes on the State of Virginia") are discussed in detail. Moreover, we gain a valuable insight into not only how TJ made some friendships, but how his inner circle interacted with one another, often on the basis of shared intellectual interests.

The book is extremely thorough, so sometimes the reader can get buried in an ocean of titles and authors--but this abundance is one reason the book is so rich in contributions. The author is an extremely prolific English professor from Oklahoma with whom I was not acquainted previously. However, to paraphrase what Gore Vidal once said re Jefferson: if you are interested in TJ, you must be with Kevin J. Hayes and this extraordinary study.

One of the most interesting biographies I've ever read. If you're looking for relational or historical details of Thomas Jefferson's life- this is not the book for you. If you have a borderline unhealthy love for books- hit that purchase button.

This book can be summarized on page 564, "The Retirement Library" where Jefferson comments to Adams that "I cannot live without books."

Hayes did an excellent job relating Jefferson's life through the spectrum of books he read- from boyhood until his deathbed. Whether you like Jefferson or not- it is easy to appreciate his thirst for knowledge. Each chapter was perfect in length. Hayes' use of the English language is refreshing- I always enjoy learning plenty of new words.

I actually cried...almost sobbed...in the chapter that his wife died. People seemed much more romantic then...Martha wrote "Time wastes too fast, every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity life follows my pen. The days and hours of it are flying over our heads like clouds of a windy day never to return- more everything presses on." And Jefferson responds, "and every time I kiss thy hand to bid adieu, every absence which follows it, are preludes to that eternal separation which we are shortly to make." ahh, what a good book.

I agree with others that the book can become daunting with regard to the numerous book titles mentioned and analyzed through what seemed, at times, numerous, never-ending pages. My first thoughts on writing a critique of the book were to say that I wished the author had spent less time on the analysis of Jefferson's literary pursuits and more time on Jefferson himself.

Having now finished the book, however, I realize how folly that comment would have been. To study Jefferson as a whole, means delving into every aspect of his life including the books: those books he felt important, and those books that shaped his thinking.

As Jefferson begins to unfold to the eyes of the reader, you come to know him as never before. No longer is he only a founding father of our country and all of the other things commonly known about him. We find that he is a true scholar and a gentleman in every sense. A person so dynamic on so many levels there are too many to count. He is simply the very best there has ever been of us.

In the end, one cannot help from falling in love with him and, in turn, loving the book that gave Jefferson to us so completely.

"The Road to Monticello" is a most enjoyable biography to read, and one that does justice to an incredible man. Enjoyable, because Jefferson's life-long dedication to study and knowledge is truly inspiring, making one realize the importance of self-study in a day and age where it has become almost abnormal to do so. Additionally, the attention to detail in this book is phenomenal. The book does not attempt to do the impossible of encompassing every aspect of Jefferson's life, but the things it does cover, are covered so well that the reader does not need to worry about filling in holes. The attention to detail also makes it a very personal account of Jefferson.

Hayes's writing is sophisticated and the book is well researched, something remarkable provided how many literary works it describes. Often, one gets the feeling that Hayes has truly made new discoveries about Jefferson not found anywhere else. It is an amazing scholarly work.

However, I have to warn people who are looking for a complete biography of Jefferson that this book is not it. I highly recommend it to those wanting to get to know Jefferson more profoundly in terms of what he studied and what mattered to him, or for those simply looking for inspiration from a great man.

Thomas Jefferson was a great intellectual and patriot. He served as Governor of Virginia, Vice-President and President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence; Notes on the State of Virginia, parliamentary manuals
and countless letters. The sage of Monticello and former president John Adams engaged in the greatest epistolary friendship in American letters. Jefferson had an inquisitive mind and retentive memory. He was a polyglot and collected thousands of books on a wide variety of topics. He was a Renaissance man living in a turbulent time.
The Road to Monticello is like nothing you have read before on our third president. Dr. Kevin J. Hayes focuses on the intellectual and reflective man of letters who was also one of our founding fathers. Jefferson was educated at home and at William and Mary College. He was an autodidatic scholar who read widely in the Greek and Roman classics, architecture and fine arts science, agriculture, history, biography, botany and foreign languages. Hayes says Jefferson had the greatest private library in the United States including hundreds of law books he donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jefferson sold most of the great Monticello Library to the Library of Congress after that institution had been burnt by British Troops on their Washington raid in 1814. He then developed a new collection at Monticello where he enjoyed a pleasant retirement on his large estate.
Jefferson enjoyed reading, walking, gardening, writing and studying foreign languages. He acquired many of his books while US Ambassador to Paris and on his travels in England and on the European continent. He loved recommending books to his family members and friends.
Jefferson was a man of the Age of Enlightenment who held unorthodox religious views. His heroes were Isaac Newton, John Locke and Francis Bacon. He popularized the phrase "the wall of separation between church and state" He wanted all Americans to be given religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Jefferson was a Republican agrarian who opposed Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist. Jefferson read newspaper with avidity and was a historian of the natural and political history of his beloved Virginia.
Dr. Hayes is an expert on early American book culture and teaches us much about printing, bookshops and the sharing of intellectual ideas during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. As a bibllophile and patriot I found this unusual biography of Thomas Jefferson enthralling and educational. Well recommended for anyone with an interest in books. Thomas Jefferson or American history!

The book is testament to the research gathering skills of Kevin J. Hayes. He is meticulous and thorough. The data gathered and presented here is exhaustive. Further, it is evidence of his dedication to this activity and to his subject. He also has fine narrative writing skills.

Unfortunately, Hayes and his editors at Oxford University Press made a critical mistake of concluding that all of this fine research material is worthy of inclusion in this book. I am sure that this decision is acceptable to that small number of readers who have a fanatical interest in all things `Jefferson' and to those who also have gobs of time to delve into the minutia of almost everything which can be uncovered about Jefferson's fondness for literature and books.

But to the rest of us, this brick of a book can be a challenge. About a fifth of a way into the book, the author uses the phrase, "let us linger," requesting the reader to do just that. This phrase is descriptive of my reaction in reading Hayes' account; heavy-eyed, I seemed to be lingering and lingering on trivia and derivatives of this trivia way too much.

This does not mean that there are not nuggets of information here. For example, Jefferson's later in life admission that he did not originate the words of the Declaration of Independence but used those statements and thoughts which were commonly understood at the time was insightful. Surely, the President's negative views on organized religion were new (at least for me). I was shocked to read about his denial of the divinity of Christ; he described Jesus as, "the great reformer of the Jewish religion." Later we are informed that he decided to edit the New Testament with scissors and paste eliminating all but what Jesus said. (I presume that he was not concerned about the warning in Revelation 22:18.) These insights are interesting to say the least.

I admire Hayes research and writing skills, but wish he had shown more sympathy for his readers. Moreover, given its length of 752 pages, more judicious editing of this exhaustive (and exhausting) account should have been considered by Oxford University Press. Then I would probably say that both the author and his editors helped me understand what made Jefferson tick.

In the end, I found it ironic that this is a book about the literary life of a Founding Father which itself desperately needs some literary editing.

This is a splendid read. The research is impressive; the book is well written and a pleasure to read. Hayes offers a fresh, fascinating perspective that has enhanced my admiration of Jefferson and my own love of books. I pre-ordered his forthcoming book on Patrick Henry before I finished this one.

Originally purchased this book as a gift for a friend who loves TJ. Same day, without knowing that I had gotten it, he purchased it too. I ended up reading the book and absolutely loved it. I became a TJ and a Hayes convert. The book flows well, is very well researched, builds a well rounded TJ, without overly emphasizing his greatness or leaving out his shortcomings, and does all this by integrating TJ's life into the bigger picture of American history.