Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)
by Thomas Jefferson
List Price:
Our Price: $17.99
You Save: $17.01 (49%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.50 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Thomas JeffersonEditor: Merrill D. Peterson
Edition: Hardcover
Published: 1984-08-15
ISBN: 094045016X
Number of pages: 1600
Publisher: Library of America
Book Reviews of Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)
Book Review: "Men of Men" (born of Women)
Summary: 5 Stars
I will never be able to write a suitable review for this book - the scope of what lies between it's covers is far too great to do justice to in a review, and I am vastly inadequate to the task in any event. So, the one I write today comes from the heart - as one of the "posterity" they speak of as they went forward in their remarkable undertaking. As one of those they "did it for."
The constructive writing of the "Articles of Confederation" was especially intriguing. The pesky issue of slavery presented an immediate and daunting problem early on within the erection of the articles of confederation. It forced an issue never dealt with before, from those educated, mostly wealthy men who would "free themselves from oppression" but had obviously never before seriously considered the oppression of others - or that it would present so large a problem in the overall picture of establishing Independence "for all". They struggled with it, agonized over it; and as can be imagined, could not agree over it. It was spell-binding to watch the process unfold - not from the pen of the "historian" but from the rapidly evolving mind of the Rebel himself - because no matter how you view it, these brilliant men were elitists within their own, considered themselves to be conceived in somewhat of a Royal Nature, too, while at the same time viewing the Crown itself as a symbol that could not longer be tolerated. The "free labor population" (Benjamin Franklin himself would have been categorized into this second group early in his career) presented essentially the same problem to them as did the slaves in the proportioning.
As a result, they found themselves dealing with their own consciences too, something that may have been a unique concept for most of them - an exercise much needed of themselves as they extended their own quest for Independence and found themselves having to deal with "all of us" into the bargain. They knew they would have only "one shot" at establishing the best of it; and amazingly they were honest and earnest in that Quest. (try that today with the political assortment we have now)
In the "republican legislature" and "revisal of the law" section of this original accounting, the struggle for the distinct separation of Church and State is one of the most important conquests ever undertaken; uprising from a birth in the human mind; and clearly demonstrates the chasm of thought processes that existed between Jefferson and other honest, though less broad-minded men who still clung to the "status quo" and did not possess the courage, judgment or the vision to want to support the concept which became a cornerstone of our Constitution.
The 'original papers' poignantly illuminate the intimate, internal working of the mind of Thomas Jefferson for the reader as nothing else can, something the "historical accounting" written by others somehow leaves wanting in the translation. To read the words straight from the mind and the pen of the "original", uncensored language, spelling, phrasing and all - is an experience anyone interested in keeping the torch of the Forefathers burning will enjoy.
This book highly recommended.
Summary of Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)
The most comprehensive one-volume selection of Jefferson ever published. Contains the "Autobiography," "Notes on the State of Virginia," public and private papers, including the original and revised drafts of the Declaration of Independence, addresses, and 287 letters.General Books
- History: Americas: United States: General
- Literature & Fiction: Essays: General
- Literature & Fiction > World Literature > United States > Classics > General
- Collections & Readers
- Essays
- History > Americas > United States > Revolution & Founding > General
- Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( J ) > Jefferson, Thomas
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Books by American Presidents (up to Bush 41)
An American Lifeby Ronald Reagan
Pocket; Published: 1999-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.94
The Reagan Diariesby Ronald Reagan
HarperCollins; Published: 2007-06-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.45
Price in other shops:
Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a Presidentby Jimmy Carter
University of Arkansas Press; Published: 1995-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.86
Price in other shops:
A Presidential Legacy and The Warren CommissionThe FlatSigned Press; Published: 2007-04-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.82
Price in other shops:
A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Fordby Gerald R. Ford
Harper & Row / Reader's Digest; Published: 1979-08-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $75.60
In the Arena: A Memoir of Victory, Defeat, and Renewalby Richard Nixon
Simon & Schuster; Published: 1990-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.90
Price in other shops:
RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixonby Richard Nixon
Simon & Schuster; Published: 1990-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $62.00
SIX CRISES (Richard Nixon Library Editions)by Richard Nixon
Touchstone; Published: 1990-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
Leaders (The Richard Nixon Library Edition)Touchstone Books; Published: 1990-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $33.99
The Vantage Point: Perspectives of the Presidency, 1963-1969by Lyndon Baines Johnson
Holt, Rinehart and Winston; Published: 1971; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Abraham Lincoln : Speeches and Writings 1832-1858 (Library of America)by Abraham Lincoln, Don E. Fehrenbacher
Library of America; Published: 1989-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.25
Price in other shops:
Lincoln: Speeches and Writings: Volume 2: 1859-1865 (Library of America)by Abraham Lincoln
Library of America; Published: 1989-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $18.05
Price in other shops:
The American Revolution: Writings from the War of Independence (Library of America)by Various
Library of America; Published: 2001-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.00
Price in other shops:
Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings (Library of America)by Benjamin Franklin
Library of America; Published: 2005-10-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.80
Price in other shops:
The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adamsby John Adams
The University of North Carolina Press; Published: 1988-09-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.65
Price in other shops:
Alexander Hamilton: Writings (Library of America)by Alexander Hamilton
Library of America; Published: 2001-10-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.95
Price in other shops:
The Debate on the Constitution : Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches, Articles, and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification : Part One, September 1787-February 1788 (Library of America)Library of America; Published: 1993-06-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
George Washington : Writings (Library of America)by George Washington
Library of America; Published: 1997-02-22; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
James Madison: Writings: Writings 1772-1836 (Library of America)by James Madison
Library of America; Published: 1999-08-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $18.95
Price in other shops:
Thomas Paine : Collected Writings : Common Sense / The Crisis / Rights of Man / The Age of Reason / Pamphlets, Articles, and Letters (Library of America)by Thomas Paine
Library of America; Published: 1995-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops: