Author: Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
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.
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.
“I’m not only my
father’s daughter, but also a daughter of the nation he founded. And protecting
both is what I’ve always done.”
“Sons of a
revolution fight for liberty. They give blood, flesh, limbs, their very lives.
But daughters . . . we sacrifice our eternal souls.”
“Your care is
ever a comfort. Just be sure to attend to your own happiness, too.”
Although I love history, Thomas Jefferson and his
legacy have never been topics that I have covered in my research, until I read
this book. Now I am spending time dedicated solely to researching this man and
his daughter, Patsy. And if you think politics are corrupt now, just wait until
you read this book; your mind will be blown. Betsy, whose real name is Martha,
is the heroine of this novel and readers will follow her journey after her
father passes away. Patsy spends most of her life by her father’s side and is
his most loyal and avid supporter. She will sacrifice everything to clear his
name. Readers get to enjoy Patsy’s younger life with her father as well because
of her frequent flashbacks.
This book was exceptionally well-written and is
one of my favorite books so far this year. The research that must have gone
into this book is astronomical. I have read that Jefferson took notes on every
single day of his life, and it is with journal and notes like this that authors
like Dray and Kamoie can put together amazing stories like this one. The author
did not leave out one single detail regarding the time period. Slavery was
depicted as harshly as it was all those years ago and other living conditions
were discussed as well. The smaller characters add a nice twist as well; the
book is over six hundred pages in length, and so many wonderfully rich
characters fill those pages. I suggest diving into this book as soon as you get
the chance.
***A free copy of this book was provided to me
by the publishers at William Morrow in exchange for my honest review***
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