Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power (2013) by Jon Meacham. This fine new biography of Jefferson shows him, warts and all, and attempts to show that he was a flawed man, but a great man. I think it succeeds admirably. A philosopher and a scientist, a naturalist and a historian, Jefferson was a man of the Enlightenment, always looking forward, consumed by the quest for knowledge. These proclivities were reflected in his public actions -- author of the Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, he forever left his stamp on our republic. He was also a man who owned slaves, and who had children by one of these slaves, Sally Hemings. Meacham makes no excuses for Jefferson, merely tries to place him in historical context and help the reader understand, if not forgive, his actions. This is a marvelous book, and I don't hesitate to give it the highest marks. Grade: A