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His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer – The Founding Father's Words That Shaped Revolutionary America
As he did for Abraham Lincoln and John Quincy Adams, award-winning biographer Fred Kaplan offers a fresh, illuminating look at the life of Thomas Jefferson and his contributions as a writer.
In this unique biography, Fred Kaplan emphasizes Thomas Jefferson’s genius with language and his ability to use the power of words to inspire and shape a nation. A man renowned for many talents, writing was one of the major activities of the statemen’s life, though much of his best, most influential writing—with the exception of the letters he wrote up to his death, numbering approximately 100,000—was done by 1789, when Jefferson was just forty-six. All of his works—from his earliest correspondence; his essays and proclamations, including A Summary View of British America, The Declaration of Independence, and Notes on the State of Virginia; his religious and scientific writings; his inaugural addresses; his addresses to Indian nations; and his exchanges with Washington, Madison, Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams, and dear friends such as Maria Cosway—demonstrate his remarkable intelligence, prescient wisdom, and literary flair and reveal the man in all his complex and controversial brilliance.
In His Masterly Pen, readers will find a new appreciation of Jefferson as a whole, of his strengths and weaknesses, and particularly of the degree to which his writing skills—which James Madison admired as “the shining traces of his pen”—are key to his personality and public career. Though Jefferson could wield his pen with unrivaled power, he was also a master of using words to both reveal and conceal from others and himself the complications, the inconsistencies, and the contradictions between his principles and his policies, between his head and his heart, and between his optimistic view of human nature and the realities of his personal situation and the world he lived in.
In this unique biography, Fred Kaplan emphasizes Thomas Jefferson’s genius with language and his ability to use the power of words to inspire and shape a nation. A man renowned for many talents, writing was one of the major activities of the statemen’s life, though much of his best, most influential writing—with the exception of the letters he wrote up to his death, numbering approximately 100,000—was done by 1789, when Jefferson was just forty-six. All of his works—from his earliest correspondence; his essays and proclamations, including A Summary View of British America, The Declaration of Independence, and Notes on the State of Virginia; his religious and scientific writings; his inaugural addresses; his addresses to Indian nations; and his exchanges with Washington, Madison, Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams, and dear friends such as Maria Cosway—demonstrate his remarkable intelligence, prescient wisdom, and literary flair and reveal the man in all his complex and controversial brilliance.
In His Masterly Pen, readers will find a new appreciation of Jefferson as a whole, of his strengths and weaknesses, and particularly of the degree to which his writing skills—which James Madison admired as “the shining traces of his pen”—are key to his personality and public career. Though Jefferson could wield his pen with unrivaled power, he was also a master of using words to both reveal and conceal from others and himself the complications, the inconsistencies, and the contradictions between his principles and his policies, between his head and his heart, and between his optimistic view of human nature and the realities of his personal situation and the world he lived in.
670 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 4, 2022
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Fred Kaplan's literary exploration "His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer" was published two weeks ago. Kaplan is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Queens College in New York City and the author of a dozen books including biographies of John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Carlyle (a 1984 Pulitzer Prize finalist).
Thomas Jefferson was undoubtedly one of the most complex, contradictory and cerebral of the founding fathers. He was also one of the most gifted and prolific writers in American political history. In this 590-page narrative Kaplan explores Jefferson's life - principally his character and philosophical tenets - as revealed through the countless letters, books, declarations and speeches he penned.
Kaplan's book proceeds in a deceptively chronological fashion, with each of the fifteen chapters covering a distinct block of time from Jefferson's birth to his death. But while much of his life is covered - often in surprising detail for a book focused on his literary works - many important moments receive little coverage - or none at all.
But Kaplan's focus is not really Jefferson's life per se. Instead, his objective is to unmask Jefferson's character and core philosophies as revealed through his writings. And the large swaths of his non-literary life which receive coverage are included to provide adequate context for what Jefferson commits to paper.
Broad themes explored by the narrative include Jefferson's tendency to exhibit eloquent self-deception (or rationalization) in his writings, his life-long lack of "situational awareness" regarding racial and gender equality, and his stubborn commitment to America as an enduring agrarian society centered around farmers who would share Jefferson's values and goals.
As a result of Kaplan's focus, however, readers not already familiar with the major elements of Jefferson's life will find the narrative confusing and uneven. Beyond his relationship with Maria Cosway (a romantic dalliance which receives significant attention) relatively little of his personal life is revealed. And even his most important "professional" relationships - with John Adams, James Madison and others - are described with little of the intellectual charm or personal intimacy which actually sustained them.
But readers familiar with Jefferson may appreciate that Kaplan swerves to avoid the "basics" of his subject's life. Instead, he provides scholarly and unusually thoughtful dissections of Jefferson's most important works including "A Summary View of the Rights of British America", the Declaration of Independence and "Notes on the State of Virginia."
Overall, Fred Kaplan's "His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer" is a thoughtful and deeply intellectual exploration of Thomas Jefferson as revealed by his writings. As a supplemental text for readers well-acquainted with the third president this book may prove excellent. But in spite of its frequent focus on Jefferson's non-literary life, readers seeking a traditional biography will want to look elsewhere.
Overall Rating: “Unrated” as Biography
Fred Kaplan's literary exploration "His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer" was published two weeks ago. Kaplan is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Queens College in New York City and the author of a dozen books including biographies of John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Carlyle (a 1984 Pulitzer Prize finalist).
Thomas Jefferson was undoubtedly one of the most complex, contradictory and cerebral of the founding fathers. He was also one of the most gifted and prolific writers in American political history. In this 590-page narrative Kaplan explores Jefferson's life - principally his character and philosophical tenets - as revealed through the countless letters, books, declarations and speeches he penned.
Kaplan's book proceeds in a deceptively chronological fashion, with each of the fifteen chapters covering a distinct block of time from Jefferson's birth to his death. But while much of his life is covered - often in surprising detail for a book focused on his literary works - many important moments receive little coverage - or none at all.
But Kaplan's focus is not really Jefferson's life per se. Instead, his objective is to unmask Jefferson's character and core philosophies as revealed through his writings. And the large swaths of his non-literary life which receive coverage are included to provide adequate context for what Jefferson commits to paper.
Broad themes explored by the narrative include Jefferson's tendency to exhibit eloquent self-deception (or rationalization) in his writings, his life-long lack of "situational awareness" regarding racial and gender equality, and his stubborn commitment to America as an enduring agrarian society centered around farmers who would share Jefferson's values and goals.
As a result of Kaplan's focus, however, readers not already familiar with the major elements of Jefferson's life will find the narrative confusing and uneven. Beyond his relationship with Maria Cosway (a romantic dalliance which receives significant attention) relatively little of his personal life is revealed. And even his most important "professional" relationships - with John Adams, James Madison and others - are described with little of the intellectual charm or personal intimacy which actually sustained them.
But readers familiar with Jefferson may appreciate that Kaplan swerves to avoid the "basics" of his subject's life. Instead, he provides scholarly and unusually thoughtful dissections of Jefferson's most important works including "A Summary View of the Rights of British America", the Declaration of Independence and "Notes on the State of Virginia."
Overall, Fred Kaplan's "His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer" is a thoughtful and deeply intellectual exploration of Thomas Jefferson as revealed by his writings. As a supplemental text for readers well-acquainted with the third president this book may prove excellent. But in spite of its frequent focus on Jefferson's non-literary life, readers seeking a traditional biography will want to look elsewhere.
Overall Rating: “Unrated” as Biography
August 23, 2025
(Three and a half stars)
The ink roll of the quill pen was to become trademark Jefferson. He personified the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword. It would prove to be his staff, his rod, his mark, his truth.
His eloquence, diplomacy, charm and chagrin was delivered through masterstrokes of literary magic.
A 600-page monster, this account of Jefferson’s life is not a thorough biography but it is biographical enough, verbose at times, at other times a staccato retelling, as it weaves the fabric of his life from a selection of his superb significant writings.
Similar to the balance of Nature, good writing is neither superfluous nor wasteful. Jefferson’s arguments and position were extolled through the economy of his writings. For his contemporaries, this trait of Jefferson‘s stood out and, for this talent and recognition, he was set apart, sought after and extolled.
If you revel in the written word, like a mathematician revels in equations, or as a chemist does in physical reactions, or as an astronomer is amazed at the pathways of celestial bodies, or as a jeweller swoons to his precious gems, then revel in the flourishing written pages of this book.
The ink roll of the quill pen was to become trademark Jefferson. He personified the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword. It would prove to be his staff, his rod, his mark, his truth.
His eloquence, diplomacy, charm and chagrin was delivered through masterstrokes of literary magic.
A 600-page monster, this account of Jefferson’s life is not a thorough biography but it is biographical enough, verbose at times, at other times a staccato retelling, as it weaves the fabric of his life from a selection of his superb significant writings.
Similar to the balance of Nature, good writing is neither superfluous nor wasteful. Jefferson’s arguments and position were extolled through the economy of his writings. For his contemporaries, this trait of Jefferson‘s stood out and, for this talent and recognition, he was set apart, sought after and extolled.
If you revel in the written word, like a mathematician revels in equations, or as a chemist does in physical reactions, or as an astronomer is amazed at the pathways of celestial bodies, or as a jeweller swoons to his precious gems, then revel in the flourishing written pages of this book.
February 26, 2025
An in depth look at Jefferson's literary achievements, this book delivers all the goods on his writing career. While mostly known as author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson in fact was quite prolific with his pen. The only thing I was disappointed with about this book is that it tended to gloss over the Sally Hemings aspect of Jefferson's story. Other than that, a worthy effort and well worth considering.
May 17, 2023
A magnificent treatise about a Founding Father who was a gifted writer, enigma, and genius. Biographer Fred Kaplan uses his masterly pen to depict Jefferson's many strengths, including his ability to use words to ably convey, portray, and sometimes betray; and his understanding of the power for good that a government by the people can wield. The genius of Kaplan's work is his deft ability to juxtapose of these shining abilities with Jefferson's tendency to lie not only to others but to himself when his political policies contradicted his principles and beliefs. Yet Kaplan does not attempt to reconstruct history to excuse or exaggerate Jefferson's foibles. As fine a biography as I have ever read, meticulously researched and complete with extensive notes. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2024
Over the years I’ve read several biographies of many of our Founding Fathers as well as various accounts of how the American Revolution unfolded. Let me first profess, as did the aging Thomas Jefferson as described by Fred Kaplan in His Masterly Pen, the likelihood that as I’ve aged my mental faculties are not what they used to be. That way I have an out in case I say anything stupid or offensive. Truth be told, I did also toy with the idea of writing this review under a different by line or even having someone else write the review for me based on notes I sent them, to preserve plausible deniability for when I meet our third president in an afterlife, which may or may not be a thing.
Before I got too far in my Revolution reading I visited Monticello, and Thomas Jefferson became my earliest favorite founding father. He seemed so enlightened, so noble, and his Declaration of Independence had me convinced he earned a place in the bosom of Abraham, which may or may not be a thing.
But then I read and read and read, and almost with each turning page bits of nobility were chipped away from his scripted and guarded persona. I tried to hold fast because brave proclamations of the self-evident universal equality among men don’t drip from the quill often enough to feather a pin cushion, let alone a nest or a nation. I think the penultimate straw for me, though, came when I focused my reading attention on John Adams. I know Adams is not well-regarded by many historians, and there was that whole Alien and Sedition Acts debacle, but the things Jefferson did while he was Adams’ Vice President, which I don’t recall Kaplan mentioning frequently enough, seemed to me to be despicable towards Adams and disloyal, if not treasonous, towards the country. And it wasn’t just his actions which soured me, but also the way he connived behind the scenes to keep his name and ministrations hidden from public view, thereby preserving his nauseating plausible deniability. Now Kaplan has provided the ultimate straw with his well-supported portrayal of a Jefferson, to put it nicely, unalterably convinced of his infallibility. Funny, in all my reading I never found myself sympathizing with Martha Washington, what with her umbrage over George freeing “his” slaves upon his death and her never doing so with “hers,” not to mention her persistence in trying to recapture an escaped slave girl, or the Washingtons’ careful rotation of slaves between Mt. Vernon and Philadelphia every six months to avoid having to free their slaves in accordance with Philadelphia laws. But when Kaplan described Jefferson visiting Martha at Mt. Vernon on his way to assume the presidency after years of back-stabbing and bad-mouthing (surreptitiously of course) the by then late President while he served as Washington’s Secretary of State, my heart broke for her as I wished I could break Jefferson’s kneecaps.
Perhaps we could white wash over the Jeffersonian unpleasantries by, as Kaplan states on page 296, acknowledging that “ideology, emotion, and self-interest often made facts irrelevant.” Possible.
Perhaps we could use the times to absolve Jefferson for embellishing by saying “all men” when he meant “all white, propertied men.” Justifiable. Perhaps we could forgive Jefferson for knowing slavery was abominable but not being strong enough to damage his wealth and privileged standing by actively trying to do something to abolish slavery rather than kicking it down the lane for future generations, the same future generations he was so adamant about not subjecting to a static constitution, to abolish. Understandable. Perhaps then we could confidently and without reserve give Jefferson the keys to the Pearly Gates of American History, which may or may not be a thing. Or perhaps not.
Before I got too far in my Revolution reading I visited Monticello, and Thomas Jefferson became my earliest favorite founding father. He seemed so enlightened, so noble, and his Declaration of Independence had me convinced he earned a place in the bosom of Abraham, which may or may not be a thing.
But then I read and read and read, and almost with each turning page bits of nobility were chipped away from his scripted and guarded persona. I tried to hold fast because brave proclamations of the self-evident universal equality among men don’t drip from the quill often enough to feather a pin cushion, let alone a nest or a nation. I think the penultimate straw for me, though, came when I focused my reading attention on John Adams. I know Adams is not well-regarded by many historians, and there was that whole Alien and Sedition Acts debacle, but the things Jefferson did while he was Adams’ Vice President, which I don’t recall Kaplan mentioning frequently enough, seemed to me to be despicable towards Adams and disloyal, if not treasonous, towards the country. And it wasn’t just his actions which soured me, but also the way he connived behind the scenes to keep his name and ministrations hidden from public view, thereby preserving his nauseating plausible deniability. Now Kaplan has provided the ultimate straw with his well-supported portrayal of a Jefferson, to put it nicely, unalterably convinced of his infallibility. Funny, in all my reading I never found myself sympathizing with Martha Washington, what with her umbrage over George freeing “his” slaves upon his death and her never doing so with “hers,” not to mention her persistence in trying to recapture an escaped slave girl, or the Washingtons’ careful rotation of slaves between Mt. Vernon and Philadelphia every six months to avoid having to free their slaves in accordance with Philadelphia laws. But when Kaplan described Jefferson visiting Martha at Mt. Vernon on his way to assume the presidency after years of back-stabbing and bad-mouthing (surreptitiously of course) the by then late President while he served as Washington’s Secretary of State, my heart broke for her as I wished I could break Jefferson’s kneecaps.
Perhaps we could white wash over the Jeffersonian unpleasantries by, as Kaplan states on page 296, acknowledging that “ideology, emotion, and self-interest often made facts irrelevant.” Possible.
Perhaps we could use the times to absolve Jefferson for embellishing by saying “all men” when he meant “all white, propertied men.” Justifiable. Perhaps we could forgive Jefferson for knowing slavery was abominable but not being strong enough to damage his wealth and privileged standing by actively trying to do something to abolish slavery rather than kicking it down the lane for future generations, the same future generations he was so adamant about not subjecting to a static constitution, to abolish. Understandable. Perhaps then we could confidently and without reserve give Jefferson the keys to the Pearly Gates of American History, which may or may not be a thing. Or perhaps not.
November 27, 2025
Very thorough and well researched. My biggest complaint is all the authors speculation on Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Since, she didn’t really appear in his writings, why is the author so obsessed with inserting the hearsay into the book?
February 28, 2023
An excellent Jefferson biography. I enjoyed the extreme details conveyed on the life of Jefferson. A bit tedious at times but still a whorthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews