Nonfiction Navigators discussion

The color of Thomas Jefferson’s eyes is unknown. They were blue, green, or hazel, depending on who was asked. The eyes that saw the birth of a nation remain a mystery in the same way that much of his character remains a mystery. The descriptions of Jefferson’s physical appearance, actions, and ideology depend greatly on who is asked. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis begins to unravel the folklore, history, and controversy surrounding the third president of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson.

The man who became legendary and carved into the side of Mount Rushmore for his declaration that all men are created equal owned slaves. The myth who demanded a limited government participated in the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States of America (although Jefferson firmly believed that this fell within his power to negotiate treaties). The legend who championed farmers and the country’s agrarian roots racked up enormous debt in his private life by living luxuriously. The self-deception or hypocrisy of Jefferson was most likely unintended, but the way his ideology guided him and was implemented in practice is an important lesson for Americans.

I believe that at heart, Jefferson understood the quintessential “American” philosophy when it comes to how a government should govern over its people. The way he acted upon this ideology is less decisive. The difficulty in bringing these ideal image of a government into practice are seen throughout Jefferson’s life. This book provides a lot of information on Jefferson and his often conflicting beliefs, and I believe understanding, or beginning to understand Jefferson leads to a better understanding of America and the principles it was founded on.

It is difficult to tell where Ellis diminishes the luster of Jefferson’s mythology and where Jefferson does it himself. Much of Jefferson’s life is undiscussed in this biography. This book analyzes the character of Jefferson for the reader, which illustrates the subjectivity many historians have when discussing Jefferson. Jefferson lived a life of many contradictions, and which parts of the contradictions are highlighted shape his legacy.

I could not set this book down during the portions that read like a novel. Reading the way other historical figures described and interacted with Jefferson was thrilling, since I am fascinated by the Revolutionary War and the years surrounding it. History coming to life is the most exciting thing to me, and for the most part, this book hit the mark. The more editorial portions where Ellis input his analysis were more difficult to trudge through. Overall, this was a great read for a history geek such as myself. As Jefferson’s self-proclaimed number one fan, this was an important book for me to read.

Ellis, Joseph J. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, 1997. Print.

(I could not get this text to tab, no matter what I tried.)