Recommend a good, one-volume biography of Thomas Jefferson.

Cafe Society
1

I’m interested in reading a bio of Thomas Jefferson - any recommendations for a good, one-volume bio? I’m not keen on a dense academic work - good, readable history.

2

How about from the man himself?

3

Interesting - I did not know that he wrote one - thanks! However, I’m interested in the political dynamic between Washington, Jefferson, Adams and Madison, and I don’t think that ol’Tom would have been the most objective source…

I’ve read “Founding Brothers”, but I’m interested in a specific focus on Jefferson.

4

Try Joseph Ellis’s “American Sphinx”.

5

Second Ellis. I recommend against Fawn Brodie’s bestselling T.J.: An Intimate Portrait (way too obsessed with his sex life) and against Hitchens’ bio (too scant and agenda driven).

6

David McCullough’s biography of Adams started out as a dual biography of Adams and Jefferson, and still has a LOT of Jefferson in it, as well as a lot of political interaction. Fair warning, he decided to make it about Adams because the further into it he got, the less he liked Jefferson, and it shows.

7

I’m just finishing up the McCullough bio, which is what made me want to try one dedicated to Jefferson. Didn’t realize that it was originally planned as duo-biography - his distaste for Jefferson certainly comes through.

8

Haven’t read this, but it’s generally regarded as the best TJ book in recent times. I’m not a fan of Jefferson, though, and doubt I’ll ever read it. You’ve already read his Founding Brothers, and that’s an excellent place to start.

Incidentally, I love the fact that Michelle Obama’s official White House portrait has Jefferson, a conflicted slaveholder with an eye for the ladies, peering over her shoulder: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/admin_official_lowres/administration-official/ao_image/First_Lady_Michelle_Obama_Official_Portrait_2009_HiRes.jpg

9

I’m not really a Jefferson fan either and I enjoyed American Sphinx. Ellison is not an iconoclast, exactly, but he’s very honest about the human frailties of his subjects. I came away feeling I understood Jefferson about as well as is possible to understand a character that is so contradictory.

10

Well, if anyone could do it, it would be Ellis.

This might be of interest. I blast Tommy Boy in post 10: Ranking the Presidents weeks 3: Thomas Jefferson - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board

11

thanks, everyone. American Sphinx it is.