“We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson turned over in his sleep. That document – they tore what I wrote apart. I must talk to Ben Franklin and John Adams. They have to persuade the Continental Congress to restore my original wording before the delegates sign it. And so the saga begins. The “Declaration of Independence” series brings to life the crafting and signing of the World famous document as told through the eyes of Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Francis Lewis. Best- Selling author Murray Pura also includes recipes for Corn Bread and Colonial Braised Rabbit with “Volume 1 – Thomas Jefferson”. Fast Fact- There is something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence. There is a simple message, written upside-down across the bottom of the signed document: “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.” No one knows who exactly wrote this or when, but during the Revolutionary War years the parchment was frequently rolled up for transport. It’s thought that the text was added as a label.
Murray Pura gives a lot of history in this series about Thomas Jefferson. At times it was hard to read and it didn't keep me turning pages as I wanted it too. Yet I kept coming back, wanting to know more history that I hadn't thought about before. Everything was not so cut and dry as it seems today.
It made me realize the struggle the Thomas Jefferson went through and that he wanted his opinions known. Yet he came to realize the country must come first. He had a strong character but he knew in his heart he should listen to others.
It was the little descriptions here and there that made me feel like I was back in time. Somehow I could smell the pipes being smoked in the taverns, imagine the streets crowded with carriages, and the ships in the harbor.
I have to admit I skipped over some parts including the bedroom scene talked about so much in the reviews on Amazon. After going back and rereading that part I'm going to say this as a great history read for adults!
I was given this book by the author in exchange for a review.
I loved the premise of this book and it is inspiring, patriotic and very intriguing. Murray is a great writer and I have enjoyed every story that I've read from him.
The ending is one of those that makes you want to stand to your feet and cheer! A standing ovation for this story.
The only reason I don't give it five stars is because there's one scene that's too mushy for my taste. ;)
Age Appropriate For: 16 and up for some marital themes Best for Ages: 16 and up
I am a bit obsessed with the American Revolution right now, so when the Remington Holt series went on sale, I decided to buy the first two volumes. I was intrigued at the fresh take on the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence.
There were two things I didn’t care for in this first story. First off, there was a scene where Jefferson is remembering his wedding night. Although Pura never went into too much detail, I still didn’t care for the scene or see what it added to the story. I also felt the whole story was a bit choppy. Jefferson bounces between the present and memories of the past so often it gets a bit confusing where in time he is.
On the good side, I felt that this story was a very good look into the character of Jefferson. Pura obviously did his research and quoted many documents by Jefferson. I was surprised and pleased how much research the author had obviously done for this short story.
I recommend this story for older readers who enjoy history, like Thomas Jefferson, and want to read about the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence.
I was blown away by "Thomas Jefferson"! Murray Pura brought me into a time and place and made me feel like I was right in the room.Amber Schamel's is next on my list, she has Samuel Adams.It doesn't matter if you enjoy Historical Fiction or not, you just need to enjoy a great story, this is one.