- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: OUP USA; First Thus edition (5 Jun 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 019514368X
- ISBN-13: 978-0195143683
- Product Dimensions: 24.1 x 16.2 x 2 cm
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
666,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #17 in Books > Biography > Political > United States > Jefferson, Thomas
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Product Description
Product Description
In this new concise biography Thomas Jefferson historian R.B. Bernstein finds the key to this enigmatic Founder not as a great political figure, but as leader of a "revolution of ideas that would make the world over again". Bernstein examines Jefferson's strengths and weaknesses, his achievements and failures, his triumphs, contradictions, and failings. Thomas Jefferson details his luxurious (and debt-burdened) life as a Virginia gentleman to his passionate belief in democracy, from his tortured defense of slavery to his relationship with Sally Hemings. An architect, inventor, writer, diplomat, propagandist, planter, party leader Jefferson was multifaceted, and Bernstein explores these roles even as he illuminates Jefferson's central place in American enlightenment the "revolution of ideas" that did so much to create the nation we are today. Bernstein also examines the less-remembered points in Jefferson's thinking the nature of the Union, his vision of who was entitled to citizenship, his dread of debt (both personal and national). Thomas Jefferson is the latest title in the Oxford Portraits series, which offers informative and insightful biographies of people whose lives shaped their times and continue to influence ours. Each volume in the series is heavily based on primary documents, including writings by and about each subject. Every Oxford Portrait is illustrated with a wealth of photographs, original letters, manuscripts, and memorabilia that frame the personality and achievements of its subject against the backdrop of history. Every volume in the series can be incorporated into the American history curriculum at the middle and high school levels.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Thomas Jefferson told his children and grandchildren that his earliest memory was of a trusted slave carrying him, at the age of two, on a pillow when his family moved from his birthplace, the Shadwell plantation, to the Tuckahoe plantation, along the James River above Richmond, Virginia. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Thomas Jefferson told his children and grandchildren that his earliest memory was of a trusted slave carrying him, at the age of two, on a pillow when his family moved from his birthplace, the Shadwell plantation, to the Tuckahoe plantation, along the James River above Richmond, Virginia. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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1 review
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Great High School Introduction
11 Feb 2006
Format:Hardcover
Having read and thoroughly enjoying Bernstein's earlier biography of Thomas Jefferson, I decided to give THOMAS JEFFERSON: THE REVOLUTION OF IDEAS, a look. Like his earlier work, this is a wonderful introduction to Jefferson, however this book is geared towards the school age reader.
Much of the text is identical to the earlier biography. The most significant difference is the addition of dozens of illustrations, from portraits of Jefferson's friends, family, and foes, and political cartoons.
My single knock on Bernstein's book is the same knock I had on his previous work. Bernstein adamantly portrays Jefferson as a "strict separationist", which in and of itself is accurate. However he fails to recognize that what constituted a "strict separationist" 200 years ago is much different than the definition given in today's climate of political correctness gone awry. Bernstein seems genuinely perplexed that Jefferson "sent Christian missionaries to establish schools in western territories to educate Native Americans - and convert them to Christianity." As with extremists today, Bernstein fails to understand that Jefferson's actions did not violate the First Amendment in that "Congress made no law respecting the establishment of religion."
I could spend all day writing about how mixed up people are about what the First Amendment means and how it was intended by our framers, but that strays from the subject at hand. All in all, this is a great introduction for school children and should capture their interest and perhaps, lead them into more indepth study of one of our greatest leaders.
Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com
Much of the text is identical to the earlier biography. The most significant difference is the addition of dozens of illustrations, from portraits of Jefferson's friends, family, and foes, and political cartoons.
My single knock on Bernstein's book is the same knock I had on his previous work. Bernstein adamantly portrays Jefferson as a "strict separationist", which in and of itself is accurate. However he fails to recognize that what constituted a "strict separationist" 200 years ago is much different than the definition given in today's climate of political correctness gone awry. Bernstein seems genuinely perplexed that Jefferson "sent Christian missionaries to establish schools in western territories to educate Native Americans - and convert them to Christianity." As with extremists today, Bernstein fails to understand that Jefferson's actions did not violate the First Amendment in that "Congress made no law respecting the establishment of religion."
I could spend all day writing about how mixed up people are about what the First Amendment means and how it was intended by our framers, but that strays from the subject at hand. All in all, this is a great introduction for school children and should capture their interest and perhaps, lead them into more indepth study of one of our greatest leaders.
Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com
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