A seminal biography of Thomas Jefferson and a fascinating exploration of his relationship with Sally Hemings. With a novelist’s skill and a scholar’s meticulous detail; Fawn M. Brodie portrays Thomas Jefferson as he wrestled with the great issues of his time: revolution; religion; power; race; and love―ambivalences that exerted a subtle but powerful influence on his political ideas and his presidency. Far advanced for its time; Brodie’s biography was the first to set forth a convincing case that Thomas Jefferson was the father of children by his slave Sally Hemings. In a new introduction; Annette Gordon-Reed; the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Hemingses of Monticello; explores the impact of Brodie’s groundbreaking book and explains why it is still such a powerful account of one of our greatest and most elusive presidents. 16 pages of illustrations
#141952 in Books W W Norton Company 2003-03-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x 1.70 x 5.50l; 1.27 #File Name: 0393324141640 pagesW W Norton Company
Review
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Good general overview of the sistersBy JillThe book is well written; and is a decent companion to the Letters Between Six Sisters edited by Charlotte Mosley. It isn't a terribly detailed history; however and not equally balanced as far as information about each sister. Jessica (Decca) and Diana; whom the author interviewed and; in the case of the latter also met; are given a lot more space than the others. She covers Unity's "Hitler Years" of course; but otherwise we learn very little that is new about Unity. Likewise; Deborah (Debo) and Pam get scanty coverage; and even Nancy is regulated almost to the background. Lovell also occasionally doesn't follow up on information that she presents - for example; she makes a point of saying the Diana's husband; Oswald Mosley; lost a huge amount of money on a radio venture; and recounts his failure to reenter politics after the war; she also describes; though; the Mosleys moving from one lovely home to another; redecorating "with Diana's usual flair..." but doesn't explain where the money came from to support this lifestyle. Overall; however; the book is a good general reference and sources are well documented.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A amazing story of an interesting and unusual family;By babsThis book caught one up in the lives of the Mitford sisters and their unusual political differences. Also some of their relationships with Hitler before world war 11.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. And you thought your siblings were strangeBy Virginia WoofI have always been fascinated by the Mitford family and have read several books by Jessica Mitford; whose writing I very much admire. This is one way out-there family; and The Sisters is the best book yet on the subject. It contains photos and great information not included in previous biographies.
