Thomas Jefferson biographies are books that document the life of the third U.S. president, who lived from April 13, 1743, to July 4, 1826. The best-known title is Dumas Malone’s six-volume Jefferson and His Time, which won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for History. Major biographies span 1948 to 2012 and include works by Merrill Peterson, Joseph Ellis, Jon Meacham, and Annette Gordon-Reed.
What Are Thomas Jefferson Biographies?
Thomas Jefferson biographies are scholarly and popular books about the life, career, and character of Thomas Jefferson. They fall into 3 types: multi-volume works, single-volume narratives, and focused studies. Examples include Jefferson and His Time, American Sphinx, and The Hemingses of Monticello.
Who Was Thomas Jefferson?
Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He served as president from 1801 to 1809. He was born on April 13, 1743, and died on July 4, 1826.
What Are the Major Thomas Jefferson Biographies?
The 6 major Thomas Jefferson biographies differ in length, focus, and publication year. The table below lists each title by author, year, and focus.
| Title | Author | Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson and His Time | Dumas Malone | 1948 to 1981 | Six-volume life and career |
| Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation | Merrill Peterson | 1970 | Single-volume biography |
| Jefferson and Monticello: The Biography of a Builder | Jack McLaughlin | 1988 | Domestic life and the building of Monticello |
| American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson | Joseph Ellis | 1996 | Jefferson’s character |
| The Hemingses of Monticello | Annette Gordon-Reed | 2008 | Three generations of the Sally Hemings family |
| Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power | Jon Meacham | 2012 | Single-volume political biography |
Why Is Jefferson and His Time Called the Standard Biography?
Jefferson and His Time is a six-volume biography that became the standard work on Jefferson’s life. Dumas Malone published it between 1948 and 1981 and received the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for History. Malone spent 38 years researching and writing it. The table below lists the 6 volumes.
| Volume | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson the Virginian | 1948 |
| 2 | Jefferson and the Rights of Man | 1951 |
| 3 | Jefferson and the Ordeal of Liberty | 1962 |
| 4 | Jefferson the President: First Term, 1801 to 1805 | 1970 |
| 5 | Jefferson the President: Second Term, 1805 to 1809 | 1974 |
| 6 | The Sage of Monticello | 1981 |
Volume 1 covers Jefferson from his birth to 1783. Volume 6 covers his last 17 years, including his retirement, his correspondence with John Adams and James Madison, and his role in founding the University of Virginia.
What Is Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation?
Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation is a single-volume biography by Merrill Peterson, published in 1970. Peterson succeeded Malone as the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History at the University of Virginia. He also edited the Library of America edition of Jefferson’s collected writings.
What Is American Sphinx About?
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson examines Jefferson’s character and contradictions. Joseph Ellis published it in 1996, and it won a National Book Award in 1997.
What Is Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power?
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power is a single-volume biography by Jon Meacham, published in 2012. Meacham drew on archives in the United States, England, and France. The book appeared on The New York Times Best Seller List in 2013. Meacham also won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography American Lion.
What Does The Hemingses of Monticello Cover?
The Hemingses of Monticello traces three generations of the family of Sally Hemings, who was enslaved by Jefferson. Annette Gordon-Reed published it in 2008. She is a Harvard law and history professor.
What Is Jefferson and Monticello: The Biography of a Builder?
Jefferson and Monticello: The Biography of a Builder is a 481-page biography by Jack McLaughlin. Henry Holt and Company published it in 1988. It focuses on Jefferson’s domestic life and the construction of Monticello.
How Do Thomas Jefferson Biographies Differ in Approach?
Thomas Jefferson biographies differ in scope, tone, and treatment of slavery. Malone’s work takes a strongly sympathetic view of Jefferson. Later scholars, including Fawn Brodie, Annette Gordon-Reed, and John Chester Miller, examined Jefferson and slavery differently. The differences fall into 3 categories:
- Scope: Malone covers 6 volumes, while Peterson, Ellis, and Meacham each cover Jefferson’s life in 1 volume.
- Subject: McLaughlin examines architecture and domestic life, while Gordon-Reed examines the Hemings family.
- Tone: Malone presents Jefferson sympathetically, while later works address slavery more directly.
What Are the Earliest Thomas Jefferson Biographies?
Monticello’s suggested reading list identifies The Life of Thomas Jefferson as one of the first major biographies of Jefferson. The author interviewed members of Jefferson’s family for it. The list also includes The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson, written by Jefferson’s great-granddaughter. It relates family stories about life at Monticello.
Where Can Readers Find a Thomas Jefferson Reading List?
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation publishes a Suggested Reading List on the Monticello website. The list is organized by topic. Topics include architecture, Monticello, family, Jefferson’s library, and the founding of the University of Virginia.
What Do Thomas Jefferson Biographies Cover?
Thomas Jefferson biographies cover his political career, personal life, architecture, and relationship to slavery. The 6 major titles span 1948 to 2012 and range from a six-volume set to focused studies of a single theme. Readers comparing Thomas Jefferson biographies can select by scope, subject, and publication year.
People Also Ask
What is the standard biography of Thomas Jefferson?
Dumas Malone’s six-volume Jefferson and His Time is described as the standard work on Jefferson’s life.
Which Thomas Jefferson biography won a Pulitzer Prize?
Dumas Malone’s Jefferson and His Time won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1975.
Which Thomas Jefferson biographies are single volumes?
Single-volume biographies include Merrill Peterson’s Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation, Joseph Ellis’s American Sphinx, and Jon Meacham’s The Art of Power.
Who wrote The Art of Power?
Jon Meacham wrote Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, published in 2012.
Which Thomas Jefferson biography covers the Hemings family?
Annette Gordon-Reed’s The Hemingses of Monticello, published in 2008, covers the Hemings family.