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Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History
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Plot Summary of Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History
"    Thomas Jefferson hid his private life from the public. The American people knew him as a statesman and leader, but to his family, he was a warm and loving man. Jefferson had sophisticated tastes in wine, he enjoyed playing the violin, he was an architect, and he was devoted to his family.
    Jefferson also had another side that people were not allowed to see. After his wife's death, he promised her that he would never marry again, and he kept his promise, but that did not mean that he would go without the pleasures of female companionship. Jefferson engaged in a long affair with his slave, Sally Hemings, even fathering children with her, according to the author. The author claims Sally Hemings was the biological half-sister of Jefferson's wife, she was the product of a liason between Jefferson's father-in-law, and a slave. This would have made Sally Hemings a sister-in-law to Thomas Jefferson, but as a slave, she was given no legal recognition."

Nathaniel Ford, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Political/social rights fight Yes
Plotlet: - slavery
job/profession: - politician
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1700's

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Age: - 40's-50's
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Genius (really!)
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast
Europe Yes
European country: - France
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion
Century: - 19th century

Style
Person - rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Writer's slant towards subject: - very favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of nearly entire life
Pictures/Illustrations? - None
How much dialogue in bio? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
Most similar books to Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
The Impeachment and Trial of Andrew Johnson by Michael Les Benedict
His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis
Barbara Jordan: Breaking the Barriers by Ann Fears Crawford
The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gordon S. Wood


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Fawn M. Brodie Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Nathaniel Ford  

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