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Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy

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Richard N. Cote, the author of this biography of Aaron Burr's daughter certainly did meticulous research. Add to that his skill as a storyteller, and this fascinating woman's short and sad life becomes real. It's not just her story, however, that comes alive. It is the story of the early days of America. The author traces her roots back to the 13 colonies, adding to the background of this family and its place in history. Living during those times meant living with medical problems and risking death from a wide variety of causes. For example, two of Aaron Burr's relatives died as a result of smallpox vaccinations.

Aaron Burr, a vice president of the United States under Thomas Jefferson, is known primarily for his duel with Alexander Hamilton. After that he fell into disfavor and had grandiose dreams of invading Mexico and making himself emperor. He later spent time in exile and finally returned to the United States to live to a ripe old age.

Burr had grand plans for his daughter Theodosia, his only child born in 1783. Unlike the women in her generation, he had her educated as boys were then. By the time she was 11, she was studying classical literature and speaking French. That's around the time her mother died and she took on the responsibility of running her father's New York home. She was only 18 when she married Joseph Alston, a South Carolina planter. Soon afterwards her son was born. The birth, however, was a difficult one and for the rest of her life, she was in constant pain.

The book centers on the relationship between Aaron Burr and his daughter. They were extremely close and their letters reveal that he even would write to her about his amorous adventures. After her marriage, they visited often, usually for months at a time. Transportation was difficult in those days. It took weeks to travel from South Carolina to New York. Even a sea voyage between these two places took five or six days. It was on one of those trips, when Theodosia was only 29 years old, sickly and mourning the recent death of her 10-year-old son from a fever, that she was lost at sea. It was a tragedy whose mystery still haunts history. There are rumors of pirates and her having to walk a plank. But nothing was ever proved.

I loved this book, looked forward to picking it up each night. It brought me to an age very different from the world we live in today. It was just as complex though, given the context of the times. There were intrigues and war and disease. And there was love and pain and loss. I also felt I got to know both Aaron Burr and Theodosia as more than just historical figures. And my understanding of American history sure was enriched. I thank Mr. Cote for writing this book and making a major contribution by preserving this story. Highly recommended.

I entirely disagree with the reader below me. (Everyone owned slaves back then, except for, notably, Alexander Hamilton, who hated slavery, and yes, he wasn't the only one. But still, the focus of the book was Theodosia, not Aaron.)

I came across Theodosia while I was watching the PBS Home Video "The Duel" (which I recommend if you are interested in Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, the duel itself, or politics in that time period). I wanted to know more about her and purchased this book. I'm glad I did! This biography seems more like a novel because of the incredible, fast-paced journey it leads you on into the past. I especially liked the last few chapters, when the author explored Theodosia's possible fates and the "mystery of the Nag's Head portrait." This whole book never had a boring moment, so if you are interested in this great yet unknown woman or her infamous father, read this book ASAP!

Well researched, well written, this book is a great read. Mr. Côté has given us the fascinating story of Aaron Burr's daughter. Multi-lingual, sophisticated and beautiful, Theodosia interacted with some of the greatest personalities of her time. The author refers to her as a prodigy, but she might well also be considered to be a true super woman, molded by an education based on the then-radical concepts of Mary Wollstonecraft. Her father conspired with a foreign power to carve her an empire out of Mexico and part of the young United States. Instead, his plans were crushed.

Even after her mysterious disappearance at sea, Theodosia's mystique lives on, as can be seen by anyone who as ever read a collection of Carolina ghost stories, or taken a tour in Georgetown or Charleston. She is surrounded by a mist of local legends. However, the author has given us a chance to see the real Theodosia, extracted from the nefarious shadow of her infamous father. He gives us, not a legend, nor a dry history, but a portrait of a real woman, with real emotions and concerns. Yet again, his approach is analytical, and where there are unanswered questions or conflicting data, he carefully examines the possible arguments to aid the reader in drawing his or her own conclusions.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes biographies of fascinating people, but also to reading groups (a discussion guide is available). It is also a book for anyone who loves art or a great mystery (The portrait that surfaced after her death is just one example). It is an engaging read that will leave you dreaming about what might have been, lost in admiration for its subject, and trying to unravel its mysteries long after you finish the last page.

What an in depth and at times riveting account of Theodosia, the beautiful and very gifted daughter of Vice President and scheming traitor, Aaron Burr. This is a story that has been told before but never brilliantly as in Mr. Cote's sweeping tale. The author brings to life the romantic and tragic heroine, Theodosia, so vividly that the reader truly feels her joys and pain. From her privileged upbringing by a father who was a brilliant but flawed man to her marriage into South Carolina's wealthiest family and eventually to her mysterious death at age 28, this is a story that carries us through the ballrooms and political intrigue of the 18th and early 19th Century. Theodosia, the most well educated woman of her time, was destined by her ambitious father to be empress of Mexico in a scheme both treasonous and ultimately ruinous. Theodosia vanished at sea in 1812 leaving behind a haunting portrait that washed up on a North Carolina beach and a story so intriguing that it lingers in the heart and mind long after the book is finished.

There is little doubt that Vice President Aaron Burr was the single, most important person in the world to this young, and impressionable young woman: and why not? He was, after all, her father, the person most likely to offer her his best nurturing protection, validate her worth, and interpret the world as he would like her to see it, educating her for what he perceived it to be, in its complexity as well as its simplicity. As his most unconditional admirer, she apparently did the same for him, and as his trusted confidant, the author spectacularly preserves and presents their special relationship of father and daughter with reasonable success despite the number of rumors, accusations, and hype that usually accompanies infamous figures in history, allowing us to appreciate the complexities of political environments, personal relations, and complex events in a very readable and eloquent fashion, in today's conjecture of thought and reason as best he can from a 200 year old antique history. An insightful account of a very colorful period of American history. While certain presumptions may well be far fetched, certainly the inquiry is a valuable contribution to what can only be called one of the very few accounts of the importance of females in the lives of historical figures.

As a journalist, scholar, lawyer, and Burrata-watcher, I heartily recommend this book. Côté's biography of Burr's eldest and most famous daughter, Theodosia, is an excellent work, well-documented, well-written, engaging, easy to read, and full of interesting tidbits, complete with basic background information on Burr as well as lesser known facts of Southern plantation life, adding a new element to the picture of one of the most interesting women in American history.

Having said that, I have two complaints, which are not so much against Côté's work as against the tiresome and inaccurate traditional picture of Burr which Côté to some degree reiterates.

My first complaint is about Côté's treatment of the Burr [theory]. Although Côté cites Walter F. McCaleb's "Burr Conspiracy" in his bibliography, he does not reference it at all in his footnotes in the chapter on the [theory]. In fact, given Côté's rendition of Burr in that episode and generally, either he did not read McCaleb or he ignored it. I consider Côté's scholarship generally excellent, but I view this omission as a major deficiency since I think of McCaleb's book as not only THE seminal work on the [theory] but the best understanding of Burr's character to be found anywhere. Unfortunately, few scholars read McCaleb.

My second complaint is that Côté did not go further in-depth into Theodosia's character or relationship with her father. This may seem fussy, but it is clear to me that Côté has some unique insights to offer and I simply wish he offered more of them. In my opinion, the most insightful part of the book was Côté's discussion of "emotional incest." I wish Côté had drawn this theme and woven it a bit more into his earlier and later elaborations of Theodosia.

Despite my complaints, I believe that Côté succeeds in constructing a picture of Theodosia from the tiny clues of her life that is careful, revealing, and -- because Côté keeps so close to primary sources, including newly unearthed information about her life in South Carolina -- certainly accurate. Other interesting and important chapters are the ones on the various stories of Theodosia's final voyage and fate, her literary legacy, and the mystery of the Nag's Head portrait.

The book stands as a monument to Theodosia's life, an excellent resource for future historians, novelists, and screenwriters.

I first heard about Theodosia Burr while visiting Charleston, SC, earlier this year. The tour guide mentioned she was Aaron Burr's daughter, a woman educated like a man and raised to be future Empress of Mexico, who disappeared at sea and was rumored to be stolen away by pirates. I was fascinated and determined to learn more. When I looked up Theodosia on Amazon, Richard N. Cote's book came up. I bought it immediately.

I was not disappointed. The biography "Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy" by Richard N. Cote was a fun ride through history. While the book could use more editing, the story itself was intriguing. A Revolutionary War hero and infamous duelist, Aaron Burr raised his only child to be female version of himself: a sophisticated, intelligent, free-thinking prodigy who socialized with French nobility, Native American Chiefs, and quite a few famous Americans, including President George Washington and Dolly Madison.

What I discovered reading this, however, was that Theodosia herself did not interest me as much as her father. In fact, something about her turned me off. I found myself skimming sections about her to learn more about her charismatic father, Aaron Burr, whose mercurial career in politics and wild scheme to conquer Mexico made for a much more interesting story.

All in all, "Theodosia" was a great book in terms of history. I learned quite a bit about our Founding Fathers and what life was like after the War in the newly formed US. I also enjoyed satisfying my curiosity about Theodosia's education and death, as it is an interesting footnote in history. But more importantly to me, I was pleased to learn so much about Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the US. He is the true hero of this book.

I really enjoyed Richard N. Côté's biography Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy. Through his use of her letters and other historical documents, Côté has forged a compelling story of Theodosia's life; one that both entertains and educates the reader. It pushes you to question the motives of Theodosia's father, Aaron Burr, who educated his daughter according to the principles of the radical English feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft. He keeps you turning the page for more as you follow Theodosia's intricate and amazing life. For me, who lives in South Carolina, where Theodosia struggled through the last twelve years of her life, it was especially interesting to read about the life of a female intellectual in a time period that was actively opposed to female education. Theodosia proves to be a role model for all women who are looking to succeed in education and knowledge and teaches us that anything is possible despite severe obstacles. Chapter 9, "The Voyage of the Patriot," was of particular interest to me, as it demonstrated what an extraordinary woman Theodosia was. Although frail from recurring health problems and disheartened by both the death of her only son and her father's four-year exile in Europe, Theodosia did not lose hope. She decided to transcend her serious health problems and chose to fulfill her role in life, uphold the values her father had worked so hard to instill in her, and continue on with strength and courage. This is truly a portrait of a noble woman who, despite the many trials she encountered through life, always managed to rise to the occasion.

I have recently published a paper on Theodosia Burr Alston in a medical journal, concerning her medical history and mysterious death. In the process I read numerous articles and books.
Cote's scholarly biography, in my opinion, stands out as the best book written about this fascinating individual and her family. I especially enjoyed reading Cote's theories of Theo's disappearance and the mystery of the Nag's Head portrait. Overall, the book is easy to read and provides a panoramic view of this period in American history.

I didn't think it was possible for one biography to be a mystery,a thriller, a romance and an accurate account of the history of the day. I didn't until I read Dick Cote's "Theodosia Burr Alston:Portrait of a Prodigy". I have been reviewing books for over 15 years on my television show, and this book is truly a gem.

Boo Sheppard, Producer/Host
Time Warner