William Morrow
Featuring: Thomas Jefferson; Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph
600 pages ISBN: 0062347268 EAN: 9780062347268 Kindle: B00ZP4KE70 Trade Size / e-Book Add to Wish List
Historical novels can often be very dry affairs, but it is
definitely not the case with AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER. This
novel was an extraordinary undertaking by the authors, and
the result is spectacular. AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER is the
life and times, literally, of Thomas Jefferson's daughter
Martha, affectionately known as Patsy, and I shall hereby
refer to her as Patsy so as not to create any confusion,
since
she bore the same name as her mother. With her illustrious
father, she experienced the American Revolution, then the
French Revolution, at times a bit from up too close. From a
nice plantation in Monticello, to the best French salons,
and then to a hard life, Patsy never faltered; she was her
father's daughter.
While I had read a biography of Sally Hemings, Thomas
Jefferson's slave and lover for many years, I didn't know
much bout the Jeffersons themselves, and the least I can
say
is that AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER is enlightening. Patsy
Jefferson was a very strong woman, but definitely a woman
of
her times, devoted to her father, a formidable presence, a
woman of contradictions, and at times given to theatrics.
Patsy
is a woman who stands beside her husband Thomas Randolph, a
man she liked, and married mostly because her father
thought
him the best for his daughter. William Short, a one-time
beau of Patsy's and family friend who is a presence off and
on in Patsy's life for years, is a most fascinating
character, and honestly I couldn't get enough of him. I did
find stupefying the inordinate amount of lies that were
told
by so many people, for so many years, in the name of honour
and family.
The amount of documentation the authors went through is
staggering, especially given the
sources were letters. It is astonishing how fresh the book
sounds; it's uncluttered, very matter-of-fact, while being
a
vivid fresco of the era, as well as offering glimpses of
illustrious historical figures. AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER is
written in the first person, which confers much intimacy to
the narrative. The tone is very natural, simple, and it
flows very smoothly. The writing is elegant, always in tune
with the era, and the dialogues have a very natural feel.
At
around 600 pages, AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER is a huge book,
extremely compelling all the way through. For me, it was a
very slow read not because of the length, but because it is
so richly detailed, so thoroughly captivating, I felt I
could not afford to read quickly lest I missed one tiny
detail. The authors have written a very important book
about
life, love, and liberty through the eyes of a dutiful
daughter, a woman stronger than most men, a woman who
helped
make America what it is. Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
make history come alive with an unforgettable book, and I
hope they have more in store for us.
In a compelling, richly researched novel that
draws from thousands of letters and original sources,
bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the
fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest
daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson
Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most
enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.
From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that
though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to
his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s
oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and
constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death,
traveling with him when he becomes American minister to
France. It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among
the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-
old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison
with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile,
Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s
protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist
and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and
the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose
a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted
daughter. Her choice will follow her in the years to come,
to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House.
And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family,
Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her
father's reputation, in the process defining not just his
political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.
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