Merrill D Peterson 1st edit/1 print Thomas Jefferson and the New Nations 1970 [Paperback] Peterson, Merrill D [Paperback] Peterson, Merrill D

by Merrill D. Peterson

This rare and vintage book is a perfect addition to any bibliophile's collection

Paperback

Published January 1, 1970

About the author

Merrill Daniel Peterson was a history professor at the University of Virginia. After spending two years at Kansas State University, Peterson earned his B.A. at the University of Kansas and then took his Ph.D. in the history of American civilization at Harvard University. Before teaching at the University of Virginia, he taught at Brandeis and Princeton.

Reviews

[Esmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I intentionally sought out an older biography on Thomas Jefferson to avoid contemporary conclusions and views. The biographies written in the last 20 years do not use many original sources but instead rely on written papers of other historians. This author clearly used Thomas Jefferson's own writings as well as his contemporaries. The author was perhaps sympathetic towards Jefferson because he was a Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor at the University of Virginia. However, he presented a fairly balanced look at Jefferson, criticizing or pointing out where Jefferson may have made a poor decision.

The writing is excellent and the author succeeds in bringing Jefferson to life. He touches on all the major events of Jefferson's life with enough detail to understand who he was in the context of his time. The writing was very engaging and did not get bogged down. While the book comes in at 1009 pages, it is well worth the effort. Jefferson was a truly great man and president. Much of what he did laid a foundation for our country to survive and thrive. While some may criticize Jefferson on various things, no one can deny what Jefferson did for America. I am so grateful I read this book.