Jefferson: A Novel by Max Byrd

by Max Byrd

As he did with Presidents Jackson and Grant in those magnificent novels, Max Byrd now reveals Thomas Jefferson as we’ve never seen before. Byrd transports us to 1784, as Jefferson, the newly appointed American ambassador to the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, arrives in Paris—a city adrift in intrigue, upheaval, and temptation that will challenge his principles, incite his passions, and change him forever.   Through the eyes of his impressionable young secretary, William Short, readers watch as the future president builds his dream of America with fellow patriots John Adams and Ben Franklin, while struggling between political ambition and an unexpected crisis of the heart with a woman who has the power to destroy him. Behind the face this complex Virginian shows the world, Thomas Jefferson is an enigmatic statesman who fights for individual liberty even as he keeps slaves, who champions free will even as he denies it to his daughters, and who holds men to the highest standards of honor—even as he embarks on a shadowy double life of his own.  “Max Byrd’s historical novels about the third and seventh presidents bring both men alive in ways that only a literary imagination can.”—George F. Will, The Washington Post “Jefferson has the organic intimacy of a novel that has sprung full-blown from the imagination of its creator.”—The New York Times  “Superb . . . fascinating in the psychological insight it provides to one of the greatest Americans . . . a truly memorable book.”—W. Jackson Bate, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Samuel Johnson and John Keats   “Absolutely splendid historical fiction that resonates with international, provincial, and individual passion and drama.”—Booklist “A real tour de force.”—San Francisco Chronicle

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, France

Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

May Byrd is the author of a number of scholarly books on 18th century English literature, including Visits to Bedlam and London Transformed. Winner of the Shamus Award for best paperback private detective novel, his oeuvre of detective novels include the Book-of-the-Month Club selection Target of Opportunity. Byrd is also the author of four historical novels: Grant: A Novel, Jefferson: A Novel, Jackson: A Novel, and Shooting the Sun. He currently serves as the president of the board of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.

Max Byrd has taught English at Yale and UC Davis, has been a visiting professor at Stanford, and has lectured at UC Berkeley, Warwick University, the Sorbonne, and Monticello. Among the many publications featuring Byrd’s articles and book reviews are the Yale Review, New York Times Book Review, New Republic, and Woodrow Wilson Quarterly. He has served as editor of the scholarly journal Eighteenth-Century Studies.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the late 1780s, William Short put pen to paper to create a biography of his boss and mentor, Thomas Jefferson. Then serving as ambassador to France, Jefferson was already a seasoned American politician, having previously been in the Congress that declared independence, and shortly thereafter held office as Virginia’s governor. That biography is a novel going in two directions; the main thread follows Jefferson’s social life in France during the 1780s, with interruptions by Short to tell Jefferson’s story from boyhood to his travels abroad. The text is heavy with dialogue; the major activity is talking before dinner, or during it, or after it -- and the expressions seem drawn mostly from Jefferson’s letters. Because the storyteller is Jefferson’s protégé, is a tale largely sympathetic to the quiet man whose presence looms so large over his friends and American history; Short puts several stories about Jefferson to rest, offering his own interpretation of events. It’s a strange novel, one that doesn’t so much go somewhere as give readers a chance to spend dinner after dinner with Jefferson, coming to know his mind and the stories of his life. Other personalities like John Adams (a man of "granite flecked with sugar"), Ben Franklin, and the Marquis de LaFayette are regular companions. The heavy but agile use of Jefferson's actual writings, and the abundance of historical characters, make it a book worth reading for anyone passionate about the Revolution and its lingering meaning. Like American Sphinx, it's more of a study in character, but this time from a more intimate angle -- face to face over a course of French fare.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't actually finish this, which is unusual for me. I like historic fiction, I like this era of history, I find Thomas Jefferson interesting ... this should have been perfect. Sadly, it wasn't. I just couldn't get into it, nothing was /happening/. Whole chapters gone by and all I've gotten is character description, and very little of that even about Jefferson. Not worth what little reading time I have.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel is somewhat ponderous, but I got through it with a bit of perseverance. What I enjoyed most was the portrait it paints of Paris during Jefferson’s tour as diplomat in the days leading to revolution.

[venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like if u get it u get it if u dont u dont

[Laura Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has an annoying habit of putting something in paratheses on every page, as if in an aside to the reader. Drove me nuts and I could not finish.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel features Thomas Jefferson when he is an ambassador to France. It is written in the point of view of Jefferson's young secretary, William Short. During his time in Europe, France is on the brink of revolution.

Although it is a slow read, it did hold my interest. I felt that Byrd did capture the complexity of Jefferson's character. Jefferson was a person of many contradictions. For example, he believed so much in freedom, yet he own slaves and was very strict and limited his daughters' freedoms.

I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in historical fiction and in early American history.

[Jonne Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Short served as Jefferson's secretary during his time as Ambassador to France. We come to know this very amazing yet imperfect man, so important to American History, through Williams eyes. We also are treated to a view of several other famous individuals and a glimpse at the anarchy of the French Revolution.
Mr. Byrd takes his information from the papers of William Short and Thomas Jefferson.

[Cami · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would an interesting way to learn more about Jefferson's personality and private life. It was not. The focus is more on people on the fringe of Jefferson's life. This takes place before the French Revolution and before Jefferson's presidency. It is not a very compelling story and some of the fringe storylines are just thrown in to put some sex into the story...stupid!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome historical fiction novel. Just like in "Grant" and "Jackson", Byrd does a great job telling an interesting story while including tons of history. I learned a ton about Jefferson and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

historical fiction

[Justin Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good insight to how Americans operated in Europe at the beginning of our nation.

[David Anthony Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written from the point of view of Ambassador Jefferson's assistant, William Short, his daughter, Patsy, and others, it captures well the ambiguity and contradiction of the man.