American Triangle: The Intimate Story of Thomas Jefferson, Patsy Jefferson, and Sally Hemings

by Nelda Hirsh

Two different and extraordinary women occupy Thomas Jefferson’s heart and mind — his daughter Patsy Jefferson Randolph and his slave and mistress Sally Hemings. This riveting and carefully researched historical novel explores the entangled, loving, fraught relationships of this trio during the founding days of America amidst the toxic culture of slavery. Patsy and Sally, often living together at Monticello, vie for Jefferson’s attention, and Jefferson, genius and great statesman, reveals himself to be a devoted father, loyal lover, and flawed human being.

Genres: Historical Fiction

365 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2018

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Nelda Hirsh's fourth book and her third work of historical fiction. In her books, all written this decade (Julia DuVal, 2011, A Bohemian Life 2013, The Royal Huguenot 2015) and now American Triangle, published late last year, 2018, she has shown a particular interest in American history, whether through her family story in DuVal or love of art: the biography of the 19th century painter Evelyn McCormick. (Royal Huguenot is the outlier here - the story of the 16th century French king Henri IV.) For her new book American Triangle, Hirsh takes us to the founding of the republic. After spending months in the archives in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Jefferson papers are held, Hirsh brought her sensitivity and historical imagination to write a moving novel that looks closely at Thomas Jefferson in the second half of his life through his relationship to his mistress Sally Hemmings while bringing into better focus his relationship with his eldest daughter Patsy. Shifting between their three perspectives - Thomas, Sally, and Patsy - Hirsh offers a narrative which weaves together the history of period with emotional resonance, grappling with the contractions, culture and difficult moral questions of the time.

[Karen Mcgoldrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perplexed at authors choices

I plan on hanging in there to finish, but am frustrated by factual errors.
Thomas Jefferson thought pet dogs "a folly." He instructed his over seer to destroy dogs owned by his slaves . Although later he imported a sheep dog for breeding, he later had the progeny destroyed. Why put pet dogs being lovingly fondled by TJ in the narrative?
Why change the historical record of Ursula Granger too?
She was purchased for her "good breast of milk" for Patsy. Her husband purchased in the deal.
I'll come back to this review later. But right now I don't understand these unnecessary breaks from the historical recird.

[deb fiordalice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Very interesting and I delightful. Gave alot of history into the times. Gave a well rounded view of Jefferson a d family