Thomas Jefferson and James Madison have been called the two greatest philosopher statesmen of the American Enlightenment. For the first fifty years of the new nation's existence; they formed a personal and political partnership; jointly working out the ideology of democracy and the practice of representative government. The collaboration began in 1776; when Jefferson and Madison met as members of the Virginia House of Delegates; and ended fifty years later; when Jefferson died. They exchanged nearly 1;250 letters; running the gamut from short notes ("Will you come and sit an hour before dinner to-day?" Jefferson scribbled to Madison in 1791) to Madison's remarkable seventeen-page letter on the results of the Constitutional Convention. Whether every letter was a faultless work of art may be debated. But their correspondence reveals; in precision and complex detail; what Jefferson called "freshness of fact." Since neither Jefferson nor Madison kept a diary; their innermost thoughts went directly into their letters; deeply revealing the loyalties and genius of both men. These volumes present for the first time all of the letters; annotated and in chronological order; organized into chapters by year. In addition to the general introduction to the correspondence; introductory essays to each chapter establish context and identify persons and events for the general reader. James Morton Smith is Director Emeritus of The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum and a past director of the Wisconsin State Historical Society. In addition to his many books; he was the general editor of the Bicentennial Series; The States and the Nation; published by Norton.
#190373 in Books Moses Paul 2009-09-29 2009-09-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 1.10 x 6.70l; 1.18 #File Name: 038552370X320 pagesThe Saint and the Sultan The Crusades Islam and Francis of Assisi s Mission of Peace
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Shades of Pope Francis; S.J.By ChucklesActually already this book on KINDLE but want to do more intensive research. Saint Francis of Assisi was a childhood favorite. I was intrigued by the fact that Francis talked to the birds; truth is they were talking to him. Francis was the son of a very wealthy merchant who suited up; went off to war; was captured and spent a year or more in jail. Eventually freed and founded Franciscan order; decided to visit middle east to put an end to crusades. Befriended with and by al-Adil; Sultan Malik who gifted Saint Francis with protected travel throughout the middle east. The reason for purchasing the book is to study the impact of the equality of these two men. It is rumored that Saint Francis planned to implant some Muslim prayer practice into the Franciscan order and possibly the Sultan may have considered becoming a Roman Catholic... Saint Francis was an embarrassment to the church because he was not a handsome man and he dressed in mole garments; unless he gave them to someone more needy! Very interesting reading historically and religiously as well!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Inspiring and worthwhile read for our times.By Sandra LaurillaIt was quite a different life that was that of St. Francis than I had thought. This book was recommended to me by a United Methodist minister that I had worked for for many years in the past and knew of my keen appreciation of St. Francis as the patron of our new Pope (my being a Roman Catholic). I was not disappointed in the book as it was a wonderful one in which this Francis worked with the Sultan in the ways of peace in times of such cruelty and war...much like our times today. Very much a good read and inspiring.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This book contains a lot of gruesome details and "assumptions" ...By Lynn E.This book contains a lot of gruesome details and "assumptions" about events and actions that may or may not have taken place. It's more of a fictitious account than non-fiction. I have gained more understanding about what is happening in the world today; though; which was the reason I bought this book.
