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Twilight at Monticello: The Final Years of Thomas Jefferson
Much has been written about Thomas Jefferson, with good reason: His life was a great American drama–one of the greatest–played out in compelling acts. He was the architect of our democracy, a visionary chief executive who expanded this nation’s physical boundaries to unimagined lengths. But Twilight at Monticello is something entirely new: an unprecedented and engrossing p...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
January 8th 2008
by Random House
(first published 2008)
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I have always admired Thomas Jefferson for his grand ideas and how they helped form our government and country. I also knew he was an architect and have always wanted to visit his home, Monticello. This book focuses on Jefferson's life after he is president. It made me a little sad to see that all his scholarly ideas didn't help him with normal, everyday life. He was a poor manager of his farms and was even worse at handling his financial affairs. He built Monticello, but it was not a pract...more
Listened to the audio download from [www.audible.com].
Narrated by: James Boles
If I read this book rather than listened to it, I would have given it 4 stars. This is the first time I've ever penalized a book for the reading.
Having just finished John Adams and watched the HBO miniseries, this book was an excellent accompaniment. Full disclosure, I am not a big Jefferson fan due his treatment of Hamilton and Adams, and as a result, could not feel sorry for ...more
Narrated by: James Boles
If I read this book rather than listened to it, I would have given it 4 stars. This is the first time I've ever penalized a book for the reading.
Having just finished John Adams and watched the HBO miniseries, this book was an excellent accompaniment. Full disclosure, I am not a big Jefferson fan due his treatment of Hamilton and Adams, and as a result, could not feel sorry for ...more
Like Lincoln, the books on Thomas Jefferson would fell a large forest in the Pacific northwest. Most probably aren't worth your time, however, this is one that definitely deserves a spot on your shelf.
Jefferson's post presidential life, which this book covers, was an exercise in a futile attempt at remaining solvent. Like many Virginia planters, Jefferson was land rich but cash poor. His sons-in-law, daughters and grandchildren were constant sources of worry and consternation. His...more
Jefferson's post presidential life, which this book covers, was an exercise in a futile attempt at remaining solvent. Like many Virginia planters, Jefferson was land rich but cash poor. His sons-in-law, daughters and grandchildren were constant sources of worry and consternation. His...more
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This compelling study of one of my favorite Americans (sorry David) focuses on the life of Thomas Jefferson from the close of his presidency to his death in 1826. Although the first 50 pages deal with his life until he left the presidency, the strength of the book is in detailing Jefferson's life at Monticello. Because there was no pension for ex-presidents, Jefferson found himself in debt for the remainder of his life, which has as much to do with poor harvest as with his desire for building ...more
Till now I've never talked about binding and paper, but this is one of a handful of paperbacks that are a delight to hold (another good example being The Art of Racing in the Rain. To my surprise, book designers and printers I've talked to can only guess at what makes it this way, although they're in agreement. Since no printer samples I've been given match this effect, my own book (going to print this week) will have to take an ordinary glossy cover.
In terms of content, this book ...more
In terms of content, this book ...more
I admire Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, ambassador to France, president, architect, inventor, scholar, farmer, vinter, connoisseur of fine things, to name just a few. I bought this book while visiting Monticello and Poplar Forest, so while reading it I could picture Jefferson in the domestic settings described in the book. The first 50 pages deal with his life before and during his presidency, while the rest of the book discusses his post-presidency. The author d...more
A biography of Thomas Jefferson concentrating on the years after he left the White House. It talks about him as a farmer and country squire. His main project is building the University of Virginia, and seeing his grandchildren grow up. It talks about his relationship with Sally Hemmings, the black woman he is supposed to have knocked up, his son-in-law who was a worthless drunk, his spendthrift habits and constant financial woes, his struggles with farming, and some of his philosophy. I liste...more
There is not a lot to recommend this book, which I read only for a book club.
It does provide an overview of Jefferson's life with an emphasis on his final years. He appears to have been a well-educated man who had a way with words and was exceedingly kind. His good attributes stop there. He railed against slavery and yet held slaves and was seemingly unwilling to recognize that male visitors to Monticello had their way with female slaves whenever they liked. He was also a very poor m...more
It does provide an overview of Jefferson's life with an emphasis on his final years. He appears to have been a well-educated man who had a way with words and was exceedingly kind. His good attributes stop there. He railed against slavery and yet held slaves and was seemingly unwilling to recognize that male visitors to Monticello had their way with female slaves whenever they liked. He was also a very poor m...more
Great look at the final years of this American genius. Also great insights into his family. Excellent retelling of the mending of the rift with John Adams. He quotes the following letter to Adams: "A letter from you carries me back to the times when, beset with difficulties and dangers, we were fellow laborers in the same cause, struggling with what is most valuable to man, his right of self-government. Laboring always at the same oar, with some wave ever ahead threatening to overwhelm us a...more
I love learning about Thomas Jefferson. I thought his life after the presidency was very interesting but also depressing. Such an active interesting man that I was saddened to read that he and his family ended up in poverty. However, he had such a full life that I think that it just goes to prove that anyone can have money problems! I really reccommend this book! Did you know that he used the Koran when he was sworn in as President?
I am not sure if I am giving this book a three because a.)I am so disappointed at the way this great man handled his personal life, b.) the audiobook reader was both dull and officious, or c.) it really was just an OK book. I suspect that if I could separate, I would rate the book higher, it was full of information and interesting enough for me to keep going even though it pissed me off at the same time.
Interesting. I learned a lot about Jefferson (if it's true, who can say). I'll need to read some other books about him to see if there are common threads. I get why he had (and kept) slaves. It was a culture thing, and it was something passed down from his forefathers. He did personally not like it though. I suppose in his heart of hearts he knew it was wrong.
Canela
added it
Jefferson had some amazing insight into the world. Many things that he said and wrote I was shocked at how is prediction have come true. It is kind of sad how well he knew people and the negitive things that would happen if we let it. I only people would have listened more to his advise way back then things might have be better today.
I really enjoyed this book. Crawford writes a biographical style that I appreciate - more toward facts than interpretation. This biography summarizes Jefferson's first 65+ years in about 40 pages before focusing on his life after his retirement from public service. The major parts of Jefferson's life after he left the presidency were his family, his University, and his finances. Many Jefferson biographies address his struggles to escape debt, and his battle to create a University as a temple...more
Thomas Jefferson is one of my heroes. Learning about his failings made him more real to me. And I hate to say it, because of his many amazing accomplishments, but he sounds like a bit of a "brilliant idiot". For example, consider the description of Jefferson's bookkeeping. Incredibly detailed, but Jefferson made no attempt to balance his books, and ended up leaving an enormous amount of debt to his heirs.
This book is really fresh, especially if you've already read a lot on the founders. It skims through Jefferson's presidency then chronicles his retirement years at his beloved Monticello, with his family. Original! It really stands out in the sea of literature written about the Founders.
Paulraiche
added it
I picked this up at the museum store at Monticello, so it was perfect after touring the home. A great story of the private life of one of our most brilliant founders, who hoped his final years would be peaceful, but instead were consumed with financial difficulties and family issues.
Really an interesting book for anyone who has an interest in Colonial History, Thomas Jefferson, or the State of VA.
As a native Virginian I enjoyed the book and learned some things I had not previously heard ! Very interesting information on the formation of the University of Virginia.
As a native Virginian I enjoyed the book and learned some things I had not previously heard ! Very interesting information on the formation of the University of Virginia.
A nice book that adds to the later stages of Jefferson's life. He was active in many things right up to the end and his family life was a nightmare. That subject gets touched on in bits and pieces in books and would make for an interesting book. Google Isham Lewis among others.
If you were looking for an account of just Jefferson's last years, this is the book for you.
If you're just going to read a few books on Jefferson, I would not include this one, since so many other Jefferson books cover this period, as well.
If you're just going to read a few books on Jefferson, I would not include this one, since so many other Jefferson books cover this period, as well.
early chapter give the biographical nutshell and then looks at the final 16 years of Jefferson's existence after he left political life and focused on family, reading, writing and completing his final legacies including the University of Virginia.
Very interesting biography of Thomas Jefferson's life after the White House. Well written and not dry, boring history. I was fascinated with his family and learned so much by reading this book.
Very good book. Jefferson is more complex than I ever thought. He wouldn't recognize this country today ... I'm sure he would be heartbroken by the things that are going on now. So sad.
Interesting, quick read. So often the later years of Jefferson are glossed over; you have the significant events (founding UVA, correspondence with John Adams, the debt), but rarely the detail. This book does a good job delving into family matters, Jefferson's thoughts on the politics of the day, and his views on all sorts of topics. I appreciated that Crawford broke the book up into short, easily manageable chapters.
My only problem was how easy it was to get everyone mixed up; a fam...more
My only problem was how easy it was to get everyone mixed up; a fam...more
I enjoyed the fresh look at Thomas Jefferson beyond what is generally presented. He became human and endearing in this book.
Well done biography. Interesting to me. It showed how his eternal optimism was both a strength and a weakness.
I felt this was a little biased -- trying to show the bad side of Thomas Jefferson. It wasn't at all balanced.
Francesalles
added it
I learned more about Jefferson than I had known before. I never realized that he died with so many debts and problems.
a study on the later years, post-presidency, of Thomas Jefferson
I learned so much about Jefferson in this book. It was very interesting.
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