Jefferson

Architect of American Liberty

By: John B. Boles

Narrated by: Michael Johnson

Length: 24 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

From an eminent scholar of the American South, the first full-scale biography of Thomas Jefferson since 1970. Not since Merrill Peterson's Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation has a scholar attempted to write a comprehensive biography of the most complex Founding Father. In Jefferson, John B. Boles plumbs every facet of Thomas Jefferson's life, all while situating him amid the sweeping upheaval of his times. We meet Jefferson the politician and political thinker - as well as Jefferson the architect, scientist, bibliophile, paleontologist, musician, and gourmet. We witness him drafting of the Declaration of Independence, negotiating the Louisiana Purchase, and inventing a politics that emphasized the states over the federal government - a political philosophy that shapes our national life to this day.

Boles offers new insight into Jefferson's actions and thinking on race. His Jefferson is not a hypocrite, but a tragic figure - a man who could not hold simultaneously to his views on abolition, democracy, and patriarchal responsibility. Yet despite his flaws, Jefferson's ideas would outlive him and make him into nothing less than the architect of American liberty.

©2017 John B. Boles (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"In a narrative as majestic as its subject, Boles takes a fresh, nuanced look at one of the America's most enigmatic founding fathers...Boles, an accomplished scholar well versed in the source material, deftly paints a picture of the world as Jefferson knew it, taking care not to mix up understanding with excusing, especially with the Virginian's relationship with Sally Hemings. This is a gem of a biography." ( Publishers Weekly)

"A fully fleshed biography of Thomas Jefferson that emphasizes his creative paradoxes and accomplishments...A stately, knowledgeable study." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"John Boles's Jefferson is learned, fluent, sensitive, and magnificently detailed. It gives due attention to the intellectual currents and social circumstances that made Jefferson who he was, and its careful engagement with the complexities of slavery is convincingly integrated into the whole. Professor Boles has earned an eminent place for himself in the ever-active field of Jefferson studies." (Andrew Burstein, author of Jefferson's Secrets and coauthor of Madison and Jefferson)

Excellent book in combination with Hamilton

Wonderful narrative. Very little mention of Jefferson's relationship (or lack thereof) with Washington after his resignation.

Great read

I truly felt emotional while reading this book. Jefferson was a great president who was torn between morality and timing. This book portrays him in a fair light, praising his greatness while acknowledging his flaws.

Great Listen

Very good biography of Jefferson. Author does a nice job of providing the facts on Jefferson while also grappling with the obvious contradictions within his life and and adding some personal commentary from time to time.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Being a conservative that loves American history I find it very difficult to find books about the founding fathers that are not written by far left authors that write garbage they claim is history and fact. This book is very fair! Boles tells the entire story, When it comes to slavery Boles makes it very clear as to where Jefferson was on that topic and provides context as to why Jefferson may have done the things he did. Jefferson was an amazing man that played a huge role in the revolutionary war and the early years of this great country. I will be buying a physical copy to keep on the book shelf. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Solid Bio

Surprisingly good one volume biography of Jefferson. Not compulsively readable like McCullough on Adams or Chernow on Hamilton but does nice job of covering a very eventful life at a reasonable length.

Narrator is good enough.

high expectations

Perhaps my expectations of this book were too high as was my expectation of perfection of this, one of the great founding fathers. it was heartbreakingly disappointing to discover that on the issue of slavery my idol's feet were of clay, as are mine on many subjects.

Honest and Inspiring!

Every American would benefit from the education this book provides. Jefferson’s sacrifices for and protection of America continued throughout his life. Jefferson also knew the American Revolution sparked the hope of freedom for mankind, and celebrated that fact.
The choices and contradictions of his life are covered with respect and fairness—not hiding details—but explaining the circumstances and the times in which he lived so we can better understand him. His integrity and his intellect are rare and are desperately needed in today’s world.

Stirring, excellent biography

Excellent biography of a truly unique person, both of his time and beyond time.
Well written, thoughtful, objective analysis. The United States and the world owe him gratitude and honor.

The audiobook was well performed.

Interesting, Informative, Somewhat Balanced

A very thorough, interesting biography, which makes a valiant attempt to balance Thomas Jefferson as a slave owner and lover of one of his slaves with all the great things he accomplished as a Founding Father, governor of Virginia, president of the United States, and statesman. I would have liked to know more, however, about the slaves Jefferson did not free at his death. Only a sentence or two is devoted to them. What happened to these unfortunate souls?

Accurate, honest, and thorough

This is a wonderful biography of one of Americas’s greatest presidents. From his writing of the Declaration of Independence to his establishment of the Monticello mansion to his Louisiana purchase and his 2-term Presidency to his creation of the University of Virginia, Jefferson’s accomplishments are explained in detail, yet with a wonderfully human touch. I felt like I knew the man so well that I could sit down to dinner with him. Yes, the question of slavery is repeatedly addressed, but it is done with balance and honesty rather than with the kind of obsessive derision of white Southerners common in the works of other current authors. I greatly enjoyed this book.