In this moving and intimate look at the final days of our most enigmatic president, Andrew Burstein sheds new light on what Thomas Jefferson actually thought about sexuality, race, gender, and politics. Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, leaving behind a series of mysteries that captured the imaginations of historical investigators-an interest rekindled by the recent revelation that he fathered a child by Sally Hemmings, a woman he legally owned-yet there is still surprisingly little known about him as a man. In Jefferson's Secrets Andrew Burstein focuses on Jefferson's last days to create an emotionally powerful portrait of the uncensored private citizen who was also a giant of a man. Drawing on sources previous biographers have glossed over or missed entirely, Burstein uncovers, first and foremost, how Jefferson confronted his own mortality; and in doing so, he reveals how he viewed his sexual choices. Delving into Jefferson's soul, Burstein lays bare the president's thoughts about his own legacy, his predictions for American democracy, and his feelings regarding women and religion. The result is a moving and surprising work of history that sets a new standard, post-DNA, for the next generation's reassessment of the most evocative and provocative of this country's founders.
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"Jefferson's post-retirement writings and what they show of the inner man" — Debbie (4 out of 5 stars)
"Jefferson's post-retirement writings and what they show of the inner man"
“Burstein…sheds new light on our most enigmatic and interesting founding father from a unique perspective…This is a deeply moving portrait of the aged Jefferson’s body, mind, and spirit that takes the measure, as Burstein says, of the full range of the founder’s imagination.”
" This book was such a chore to get through! It was boring awfully written and the interesting information passed me by because it was so scarce! It you want to learn more about Jefferson, do NOT read this book! (The first chapter was all about his bodily functions! I mean come of ewwww!) "
" Oy vay, I will never finish this book. It is pompous and boring. The history of desire? Desire and Science?? I want Jefferson in the flesh and blood. So far, this is horrible. "
" The author seemed more interested in spouting off his knowledge about philosophy and poetry, than discussing tj. "
" I wanted to like it, the back cover made it seem more like novel than textbook, but the actual writing reminded me it was actually a textbook, and not an interesting one at that "
" Like listening to your aged aunt's list of ailments. "
Andrew Burstein is the Charles P. Manship professor of history at Louisiana State University and the author, most recently of Democracy’s Muse. He has written numerous history books and biographies including Lincoln Dreamt He Died and Jefferson’s Secrets. Best known as a Jefferson scholar, Professor Burstein has taught courses at LSU for many years as well as others universities. He received an MA from the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan and a PhD in history from the University of Virginia.
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.
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