Thomas Jefferson
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Overview
In her sixth presidential biography for National Geographic, Cheryl Harness illuminates the many sides of Thomas Jefferson: scientist, lawyer, farmer, architect, diplomat, inventor, musician, philosopher, author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia, and third president of the United States. Readers meet this extraordinary man of contradictions: a genius who proclaimed that "All men are created equal" and championed the rights of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," while at the same time living a life that depended on the enforced labor of slaves.
Readers experience an eventful life lived largely in public service, yet also enjoy the personal warmth of this fascinating historical figure. The narrative examines the crucial role that the "sage of Monticello" played in shaping the ideals of freedom and self-government, which became the cornerstones of American democracy. The author's conversational storytelling, her richly detailed illustrations, and use of period maps bring to life the exciting times of Thomas Jefferson on every page. This appealing and insightful biography is an honest, well-balanced portrait of a complex and controversial American legend.
Examines the life and times of the multifaceted man who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the third president of the United States.
Synopsis
In her sixth presidential biography for National Geographic, Cheryl Harness illuminates the many sides of Thomas Jefferson: scientist, lawyer, farmer, architect, diplomat, inventor, musician, philosopher, author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia, and third president of the United States. Readers meet this extraordinary man of contradictions: a genius who proclaimed that "All men are created equal" and championed the rights of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," while at the same time living a life that depended on the enforced labor of slaves.
Readers experience an eventful life lived largely in public service, yet also enjoy the personal warmth of this fascinating historical figure. The narrative examines the crucial role that the "sage of Monticello" played in shaping the ideals of freedom and self-government, which became the cornerstones of American democracy. The author's conversational storytelling, her richly detailed illustrations, and use of period maps bring to life the exciting times of Thomas Jefferson on every page. This appealing and insightful biography is an honest, well-balanced portrait of a complex and controversial American legend.
The Washington Post
A lively biography that deals as forthrightly with Jefferson's personal life (from his pleasure in his fiddle and garden to his loneliness in the "splendid misery" of the White House) as with his political legacy (from his radical invocation of equality to his wavering on slavery). — Elizabeth Ward
Editorials
The Washington Post
A lively biography that deals as forthrightly with Jefferson's personal life (from his pleasure in his fiddle and garden to his loneliness in the "splendid misery" of the White House) as with his political legacy (from his radical invocation of equality to his wavering on slavery). — Elizabeth WardChildren's Literature
In this excellent biography, Harness displays two remarkable gifts—she recounts the excitement and drama of historical events in prose that reads like a good novel; and she illustrates those events with lively paintings that somehow capture both the energy of action and effort and the subtle nuances of facial expression. The design and layout of this book are equally vibrant. The pages are lightly colored beneath the text and illustrations, suggesting the look of old parchment. The illustrations are varied in size, placement and format, with some showing a montage of scenes moving across a full, two-page spread and some containing framed insets of related material. Finally, Harness does an admirable job of addressing the contradictions in Jefferson's life without downplaying or negating his great achievements. One would be hard-pressed to find a book for young readers that so vividly and successfully captures the remarkable life of this remarkable man. This book is the sixth in a series of biographies that Harness has written for National Geographic. 2004, National Geographic Society, Ages 5 to 10.—Barbara Carroll Roberts