Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire at Monticello Book

"Burstein's Jefferson's Secrets takes a different tack [than recent Jefferson biographers], one that is more subtle, more penetrating and ultimately more rewarding." (Washington Post) When Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, he left behind a series of mysteries that have captured the imaginations of historical investigators for generations. In Jefferson's Secrets, Andrew Burstein draws on sources previous biographers have glossed over or missed entirely. Beginning with Jefferson's last days, Burstein shows how Jefferson confronted his own mortality. Burstein also tackles the crucial questions history has yet to answer: Did Jefferson love Sally Hemings? What were his attitudes towards women? Did he believe in God? How did he wish to be remembered? The result is a profound and nuanced portrait of the most complex of the Founding Fathers. "The result is stunning." (Baltimore Sun) "An absorbing book." (Christopher Hitchens, Wilson Quarterly) "Burstein's deft analysis will be a welcome read for anyone wanting to delve into the exquisitely human aspects of this man of contradictions." (Cleveland Plain Dealer)Read More