Customer Reviews

Thomas Jefferson: Reputation and Legacy (Jeffersonian America)

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I must say that this is one of the best books on Jefferson I have read--and I have read plenty over the last 40 years or so. The book's unique focus in on the "reputation and legacy" of TJ--both from the standpoint of how history (or rather historians) have treated TJ, as well as his own strenuous efforts to shape how posterity would judge him. Although the author teaches at the University of Edinburgh, he is an American by birth and training (if that is pertinent). Each chapter is a gem of insight and information; the whole results in an extremely valuable resource. The author first discusses TJ's efforts to document his role in the Revolution, particularly as to his involvement in drafting the Declaration, as well as TJ's conception of history and its uses. Next, a series of fascinating chapters focus on Jefferson's papers, how Monticello (including the TJ Foundation) reflect his legacy, the significance of his Epitaph self-description, Sally Hemmings, and Slavery. As befits his position at Edinburgh, appropriate attention is devoted to the role of the Scottish Enlightenment in TJ's thinking. The final chapter addresses a much neglected topic: the foreign policy of TJ and his role in the expansion of the United States. Supporting the text are incredibly thorough notes which alone justify reading the book. The notes are as thorough a set as I have ever encountered in a book on Jefferson. A must read for those interested in this fascinating and often puzzling historical figure.