When Thomas Jefferson wrote his epitaph; he listed as his accomplishments his authorship of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia statute of religious freedom; and his founding of the University of Virginia. He did not mention his presidency or that he was second governor of the state of Virginia; in the most trying hours of the Revolution. Dumas Malone; author of the epic six-volume biography; wrote that the events of this time explain Jefferson's "character as a man of action in a serious emergency." Joseph Ellis; author of American Sphinx; focuses on other parts of Jefferson's life but wrote that his actions as governor "toughened him on the inside." It is this period; when Jefferson was literally tested under fire; that Michael Kranish illuminates in Flight from Monticello. Filled with vivid; precisely observed scenes; this book is a sweeping narrative of clashing armies--of spies; intrigue; desperate moments; and harrowing battles. The story opens with the first murmurs of resistance to Britain; as the colonies struggled under an onerous tax burden and colonial leaders--including Jefferson--fomented opposition to British rule. Kranish captures the tumultuous outbreak of war; the local politics behind Jefferson's actions in the Continental Congress (and his famous Declaration); and his rise to the governorship. Jefferson's life-long belief in the corrupting influence of a powerful executive led him to advocate for a weak governorship; one that lacked the necessary powers to raise an army. Thus; Virginia was woefully unprepared for the invading British troops who sailed up the James under the direction of a recently turned Benedict Arnold. Facing rag-tag resistance; the British force took the colony with very little trouble. The legislature fled the capital; and Jefferson himself narrowly eluded capture twice. Kranish describes Jefferson's many stumbles as he struggled to respond to the invasion; and along the way; the author paints an intimate portrait of Jefferson; illuminating his quiet conversations; his family turmoil; and his private hours at Monticello. "Jefferson's record was both remarkable and unsatisfactory; filled with contradictions;" writes Kranish. As a revolutionary leader who felt he was unqualified to conduct a war; Jefferson never resolved those contradictions--but; as Kranish shows; he did learn lessons during those dark hours that served him all his life. Take a look at pictures from Flight from Monticello (Click on images to enlarge) Thomas Jefferson by John Trumbull; from life; 1787-1788. Courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello. Jefferson’s diary entry for June 4; the day he fled Monticello just before the enemy arrived; says; “British horse came to Monticello.†Courtesy of the Library of Congress. View from Monticello; looking toward Charlottesville; 1827; by Jane Pitford Braddick Peticolas. Courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello. Thomas Jefferson’s sketch of the first version of Monticello. Jefferson was in the midst of building this early iteration of his mansion when the British invaded. Courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello.Fry-Jefferson Map; of Virginia and Maryland; co-drawn by Thomas Jefferson’s father; Peter Jefferson. Courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello.
#186167 in Books David Brion Davis 2008-04-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x 1.20 x 9.00l; 1.49 #File Name: 0195339444464 pagesInhuman Bondage The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Scholarly approach to slavery is very inclusiveBy StarbrightA very scholarly book with many interesting citations which kept me constantly turning to the back of the book for more information. Progress was very slow; but the density of information did not disappoint. Many details of conversations; letters; lectures and other materials generated by the major players on both sides of the slavery issue provide much needed depth of understanding of the issues missing in many other books on the subject that just gloss over the issues with generalities. Personally; I would have preferred if many of the materials in the citations had been included in the main body of the book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. My only regretBy AppleMy only regret is that I did not buy this in hard copy. The next time I read it; and I will read it again; it will be in hard copy so that I can make notes and take more time to analyze and study the information.Do not be afraid of the academic founding of this book. It is thought provoking; enlightening; challenging; and the passion of the author is evident. I have traveled a great deal around the world and the issue of poverty; especially extreme poverty; and slavery straddles a fine line. When a person; child or adult; is desperate for food; shelter; and a future it is very easy for them to be taken advantage of and placed in bondage and potentially in slavery.One of the key actions in this book is to define slavery and one definition stood out remarkably to me - "denial of a social identity". Removing a person's "social identity" denies that person human rights - such as the untouchables in India- denies them a voice in "democratic" countries - such as women who have no freedom without the presence of a male relative or the right to vote; denies them a place in society in order to obtain a job; build a home; have a family; and travel freely - as happened in the economically and politically motivated Apartheid of the United States and South Africa (that only came to a legal end in SA in 1994).Denial of Social Identity is only one aspect of the many nuances of slavery. The author also separates slavery from racism. It is possible to be racist without the presence of slavery; but slavery; or the history of a race can have an enormous impact on how they are perceived in a specific society or cultural group.The author explores these nuances and links the past with the present and on into the future. This is not just about slavery but how society can rationalize and justify its actions politically; economically; religiously; morally and ethically. It is how society can blind itself to it's own lack of humanity.I would recommend this book to high school students. It should be read; discussed; argued about.... because slavery and bondage is still part of our world; in many different forms.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great history; scholarly; and morally powerful because it is objective.By JagdishSagarThis is really one of the best books that I have read recently. It is objective; brings out the good with the bad in human nature; as it chronicles what in sum was the worst atrocity of modern times before the holocaust. Slavery has to be studied as an institution; an evil one but a complex one; not explained merely by a diatribe against the white man's racism (though that was there and can't be excused) but involving powerful economic factors as well. I am not a scholar of the subject; but have enough history to judge that if there are errors in this book; they would have to be errors of detail to be nitpicked over by academics; it is very complete and wholly persuasive on the broad picture; including the argument that ultimately slavery was abolished in the face of the economic interests of the countries involved; on the momentum of a moral movement initiated by genuinely altruistic persons.
