Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire in Monticello

by Andrew Burstein

Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, leaving behind a series of mysteries that captured the imaginations of historical investigators-an interest rekindled by the recent revelation that he fathered a child by Sally Hemmings, a woman he legally owned-yet there is still surprisingly little known about him as a man. In Jefferson's Secrets Andrew Burstein focuses on Jefferson's last days to create an emotionally powerful portrait of the uncensored private citizen who was also a giant of a man. Drawing on sources previous biographers have glossed over or missed entirely, Burstein uncovers, first and foremost, how Jefferson confronted his own mortality; and in doing so, he reveals how he viewed his sexual choices. Delving into Jefferson's soul, Burstein lays bare the president's thoughts about his own legacy, his predictions for American democracy, and his feelings regarding women and religion. The result is a moving and surprising work of history that sets a new standard, post-DNA, for the next generation's reassessment of the most evocative and provocative of this country's founders.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Presidents, American History, American, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Andrew Burstein is the Charles P. Manship Professor of History at Louisiana State University, and the author of The Passions of Andrew Jackson, Jefferson’s Secrets, and Madison and Jefferson, among others. Burstein’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, and Salon.com, and he advised Ken Burns’s production "Thomas Jefferson." He has been featured on C-SPAN's American Presidents Series and Booknotes, as well as numerous NPR programs, including Talk of the Nation and The Diane Rehm Show. He lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now I have to start this by saying that I love Thomas Jefferson (I know David, you don't like him, but you wear his shirts). There so much fascinating information about Jefferson out there--much of it written in a highly engaging style. This book--not so much. Written by a professor at the University of Tulsa (we need to check the suicide rate in the history department there), his pedantic writing style is an excellent cover for the genuinely interesting information contained in this volume. This is the style of writing that makes people say that they hate history. I can just hear the author reading his golden sentences aloud and marveling at the depth of his intelligence and the beauty of his sentence construction. Seriously, get a grip. However, after digging through the hubris, there is some genuinely interesting information about Jefferson in the twilight years of his life. Same information written in a more readably style available elsewhere.

[Erin (NY) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was such a chore to get through! It was boring awfully written and the interesting information passed me by because it was so scarce! It you want to learn more about Jefferson, do NOT read this book! (The first chapter was all about his bodily functions! I mean come of ewwww!)

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

O dear. Picked this book being excited to learn about jefferson. Maybe 20% of the book was about him, the rest was about unending explanations of who his friends , doctors and family were. It reads like a very unexciting college essay that you constantly hope is over. I read this book during work downtime and would never read it on my free time outside of work. I started and finished two other books during this duration that were much more interesting. Some of the info was interesting, but you often had to reference the internet to better describe what was happening because the author seemed to assume you already knew about it and therefore didn’t explain it from the start. Also the book starts w jefferson’s death and works backward from this, yet magically recaps and discusses his death again at the end- which is a terrible book layout

[Heath Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a fantastic view of Jefferson's more "internal" mindset. There is plenty in here that will make a reader smile, assuming you are a fan of Jefferson in the first place. I'm not certain I would recommend it to anyone who has not read a more general biography of Jefferson, as this one is quite specific. This book is better suited for someone who already has quite a bit of context for the time period and the subject.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's writing style and the inclusion of quotes made mostly in the 18th century made it challenge to read. I feel that the author did a lot of research on the topic but was repetitive. I do feel that I know much more about Jefferson after reading this.

[Eva Seyler]

Okay, Simon Vance is my favourite voice in the book narrating world, but WHO THE HECK TOLD HIM TO PRONOUNCE MONTICELLO MONTI-SELL-O???

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[Joe Bellew · Rating 4 out of 5]

History is usually interesting. Even if there are no “secrets” to reveal. Spoiler alert: there are no mysteries solved here.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in progress...

[AttackGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

No discussion of his Masonic membership…?

[Tasneem Tripathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

delved into jefferson's psyche.
1. his relationship with sally hemmings was not romantic, but carried out merely to fulfill his sexual needs. he looked up to the greeks, who supported this type of behavior.
2. the book discussed his views on religion-which are much like mine. spiritual in nature.
3. jefferson was unwilling to address slavery because he believed people with black skin were truly inferior. he ascribed psychological and intellectual traits to physical attributes. i can't remember the term for it...but either way, it's totally backward and about as racist as you can get. john adams in contrast to jefferson, was morally opposed to slavery, although he decided not to address it during his one and only presidential term because he thought it would be better for future generations deal with it.
4. jefferson and adams both were prolific letter writers mainly because they wanted documents that would later inform history. they were really worried about how history present them.
5. jefferson loved the french, and was an aesthete. designing his own home in monticello
6. he was a good grandfather. although, like others in the south, believed women were to be educated in the arts etc, so they could make good conversation. he believed that even if they were intelligent, their emotional nature precluded them from public affairs.

[Janie Panagopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an exceptional researcher, Andrew Burstein, once again, has shared with us his academic understanding of Thomas Jefferson. Analyzing Jefferson's post-retirement personal letters, business writings, and book collection, this researcher shares with us Jefferson thoughts concerning such matters as his personal religion, slavery, sex, women in "his" modern society, science, medicine, and death.

Burnstein address the question of how the author of the Declaration of Independence ("all men are created equal") could remain a slave owner. What is revealed portrays Jefferson as a "timid abolitionist" and also a large property owner of his time. There are, also, included, earlier written statements of Jefferson, spewing racist (man of his time) comments concerning blackness and his fear of national slave revolts.

This book is not an easy read for the curious, casual, first historical read on Jefferson, and not for someone looking for an introduction to our third president. This unique biography, based on Jefferson's own pen, will, however, fill in the gaps of those already familiar with the life, and politics of the man.

[Wayland Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well-researched biography of Thomas Jefferson, who is a fascinating individual. It covers his life with emphasis on his career in politics and later, his retirement years.

While the man had his flaws, there's a lot to admire. Anyone who almost goes broke buying books is my kind of people (and probably yours if you're on this site). He stuck by his beliefs about religion, even when it cost him politically. One thing that really struck me was that, when he was elected President, since it was known he wasn't a devout Christian, there was a wave of fear that he'd ban, confiscate, and burn Bibles, and people hid them and bought extras. Substitute "guns" for "Bibles" and it's the same irrational fear that's out there today.

I think this book covered a complex man well. I recommend it to fans of Jefferson, the American Revolution, and American History.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thomas Jefferson died of dysentery and had an enlarged prostate. I could have lived my whole life without knowing these facts. The author focuses on Jefferson's letters from later in his life. As the title suggests, the author tries to piece together Jefferson's inner impressions, feelings, and motivations. In some places, his analysis is fascinating. Other places, it seems a bit too much to buy. In other places, I had trouble staying interested. In all, a smart book that I'm glad was written, but I still didn't need to know the dysentery part.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

TJ was an amazing individual. A genius....complete with quirks and a very deft strategist. Kind of like rolling Plato, Descartes, Socrates, and Mark Twain together, if you can imagine that.

Jefferson predicted a remarkable amount of what he "feared" would happen to this country. The part that worries me is what will ultimately happen in this country, if his predictions hold. I'm not even suggesting that he is some kind of Nostradamus or anything, just a very astute observer.

--He had some seriously scary predictive skills.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jefferson's retirement years, according to Burstein, have been much neglected by historians and biographers. He takes it upon himself to remedy that situation. Here we have Burstein's intelligent interpretation of the retired president's views on politics, religion, death, sex, and even slavery. I liked how he constructed his exploration, which including looking backward from TJ's later years. Interesting, well written, and well researched, with a reasonably objective and balanced discussion of this complicated figure.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this being an interesting biography, but I was sorely disappointed. It's very rare that I don't finish a book once I've started it, but I couldn't make it all they way through. It wasn't about Jefferson so much as about random medical trivia and his beliefs on good diet and excercise. I couldn't handle it.

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

This unfortunate book was written like a soap opera, and has about as much credibility. Yet, in spite of the sensationalist agenda, it manages to be quite boring.

The audio version is also greatly diminished by the narrator who has an annoying, grating voice and can't even manage to pronounce "Monticello" correctly.

[Marjie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read on Thomas Jeffersons ideas and thoughts on science, medicine, religion, politics, death, race and women's place in society. Based on TJ's letters and correspondence, the author grants the reader a glimpse into the brillant yet conflicted mind of one of my favorite founding fathers. So many more questions left to be answered.....

[Charles M.]

Towards the end of Thomas Jefferson's life, he apparently held many secrets or opinions about various aspects of his life, including that of slavery and his relationship with Sally Hemings. Here's some fascinating insight into those "secrets".

[Cynthia Bower · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting review of some of the lesser known interests and academic pursuits of Thomas Jefferson. Includes his interest in the study of medicine as well as the debate on whether women should read novels and the whole topic of educating women.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author seemed more interested in spouting off his knowledge about philosophy and poetry, than discussing tj.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like listening to your aged aunt's list of ailments.

[janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like it, the back cover made it seem more like novel than textbook, but the actual writing reminded me it was actually a textbook, and not an interesting one at that

[Patricia Dumas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oy vay, I will never finish this book. It is pompous and boring. The history of desire? Desire and Science?? I want Jefferson in the flesh and blood. So far, this is horrible.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jefferson's post-retirement writings and what they show of the inner man

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/1/13

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather difficult o read, almost as difficult as Jon Meacham’s Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power.

[Reforming · Rating 1 out of 5]

Considering the topics, I found it rather dry. Didn't finish it. But what I did read made me like Jefferson less...

[Renée Fontenot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Not sure it told any secrets, but it was insightful and a pleasure.

[Michele]

This is going on the back burner...it's a little too dry for me at the moment.