Thomas Jefferson: A Life
by Willard Sterne Randall
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Book Summary Information
Author: Willard Sterne RandallEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1994-06-18
ISBN: 0060976179
Number of pages: 736
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book Reviews of Thomas Jefferson: A Life
Book Review: A Different Point of View
Summary: 4 Stars
The latest review of this biography is two years old. Maybe it's time for a new one, with a different perspective from the other very helpful reviewers.
In writing a biography of Thomas Jefferson, Randall tackled an insurmountable problem: either the book must be interminable, or it must be incomplete.
Jefferson's long, active life spanned the most interesting political era of modern times. He participated fully in that era, not as a mere observer, but often as a prime mover, from the days of the British American colonies, through the growth of the need to be independent, to the struggle for that independence, through the long and difficult period forming and stabilizing a nation unlike any other, through the growth of that nation into a continent-spanning empire.
Committed and tied to Virginia, he was an untitled aristocrat. Yet he was even more committed to the Union. He actively opposed slavery, yet owned slaves, one of whom - probably the half-sister of his deceased wife - was his unofficial and only concubine for many years (the only relationship legally allowing them to live in the same home and have children together).
One of the truly brilliant lawyers of his day, Jefferson drafted revolutionary documents, and founded them upon legal principles. He was a great political/legal theorist, who would override his own theories to benefit his country.
His interests and accomplishments were legion: designing a better plow, pushing for tax-supported public education, founding the University of Virginia, architecture, agriculture, English prosody, trade, etc., etc.
He challenged England's George III, worked closely with Franklin, Washington, Adams, Madison and Monroe, outmaneuvered and outlasted Napoleon, and on and on.
For the biographer, the bottom line is that any readable biography of Jefferson will be incomplete. One element of Randall's work worth appreciating is the very complete 32-page index. The better, more interesting biographies tend to focus on one or two aspects of Jefferson. So it may not be fair to criticize Randall for not covering all the bases. But it is fair to criticize something like his treatment of Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemmings.
Many readers will want to dig into some of Jefferson's own writings. The Declaration of Independence reveals him as one of the great stylists of the English language; so reading him is a pleasure, and always informative. For someone who wants more than Randall has provided, but does not want to get bogged down, I'd recommend The Library of America's one volume selection, "Thomas Jefferson: Writings" or a similar collection which includes "A Summary View of the Rights of British America," his brief Autobiography, and, even though parts may not interest today's reader, "Notes on the State of Virginia."
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