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Start giftingThomas Jefferson
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Learn moreMuch has been written about Thomas Jefferson, the public man, and with good reason: he was the architect of our democracy and a visionary who expanded the nation’s physical boundaries to unimagined lengths. But the intensely private Jefferson joined in a conspiracy to make himself unknowable to the public.
Thomas Jefferson: Family Secrets is a new and unprecedented examination of the “intimate” Thomas Jefferson—from his return to Monticello after two terms as president until his death. Author William G. Hyland Jr. pierces Jefferson's private family veil and reveals little-known, poignant scenes of the relatives closest to Jefferson in his last years. Thomas Jefferson: Family Secrets is the first biography to uncover the dynamic relationship Jefferson had with his adult grandchildren.
With a novelist’s skill and a scholar’s meticulous detail,Hyland explores new ground in Jefferson’s autumn years as a waning patriarch, enduring physical illness and family strife. These glimpses of Jefferson’s inner character will change the way readers think about this American icon: as a flawed—but benevolent—man.
William G. Hyland Jr., a native of Virginia, is the author of four widely praised historical biographies, including In Defense Of Thomas Jefferson, which was nominated for the Virginia Literary Award. Mr. Hyland is a seasoned litigation attorney with the national law firm of Vernis & Bowling. Mr. Hyland is also a former adjunct professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law. His professional lectures include televised speeches at the National Archives, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the University of Virginia, CSPAN, BOOK TV, and the Federalist Society. He is a member of the Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York Historical Societies and serves on the board of directors of the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society. He holds a BA from the University of Alabama and a JD from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. (www.williamghyland.com)
Kate Mulligan has acted with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for more than ten seasons in productions including Hairspray, Alice in Wonderland, and Sense and Sensibility. Her film and television work includes Being John Malkovich and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Reviews
“The author is an adept storyteller and defends Jefferson’s legacy with a confident narrative…An engrossing read.”
“A powerfully in-depth production…Hyland creates a far more psychologically detailed account of Jefferson than almost any competing biographical examination.”
“Hyland…adds a compelling element of social texture to ensure his characters are vividly and emotionally depicted.”
“[A] meticulously researched and precisely detailed account…[of] Jefferson’s turbulent twilight years…An immersive, original account that is both illuminating and thematically rich.”
“Paints a sympathetic portrait of both the third president’s last years as the patriarch of Monticello and the extended family that carried on his legacy, as well as a spirited defense against accusations of Jefferson’s sexual exploitation of Sally Hemings.”
“[An] in-depth and illuminating study of Jefferson through the lens of his intimate family members…Very well done.”
“An excellent book that intertwines Jefferson’s family, his legacy, and his tragedies…I enjoyed reading Hyland’s work and will be proud to place it in my Jefferson Library.”
“Thomas Jefferson’s last, sad years are often overlooked. Fortunately, scholar William Hyland has brought that time to light…Hyland also exposes the deeply loving relationships Jefferson had with his two favorite grandchildren.”
“A rarely told chapter in the life of an American legend…Presents an ex-president in a decidedly vulnerable space, descended from political legend to a more tucked-away life amongst family, resulting in an intimate and intriguing character portrait…of the man and of the country.”
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