The Mind of a Patriot: Patrick Henry and the World of Ideas

by Kevin J. Hayes

The Mind of a Patriot presents an intellectual life of a major figure who has traditionally been seen as an anti-intellectual "child of nature." This was the view of Patrick Henry that William Wirt presented in his Life of Henry, and it has pervaded every biography since. Hayes presents a very different view of Henry. Starting with neglected pieces of evidence-the inventory of Henry's library-Hayes's unique perspective allows him to position Henry's life within the intellectual currents of the day. After the opening chapter, which shows how Thomas Jefferson's opinions of Henry influenced Wirt's depiction of him, the author traces Henry's life through his relationship with the world of books. Individual chapters examine Henry's education; his legal career; his use of books to improve his speaking style; his relationship to the antislavery movement; his use of books as a legislator, a farmer, and a father; and, ultimately, the place of books in his life during his waning years. In a lengthy appendix, Hayes reconstructs Henry's library, presenting a detailed catalogue of its contents.

Genres: History

200 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2008

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a study of Patrick Henry's personal library, the author strives to make connections between the literary experience of the man, and his words and actions. There is some insightful biographical information to tie into the book study, but I think the author engages in a bit too much speculation, and makes some conclusions that are not necessarily logical. That said, it's brevity recommends it, and all in all, is worth a read.