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Thomas Jefferson Travels: Selected Writings, 1784-1789
Acclaimed travel and adventure expert Anthony Brandt illuminates Jefferson’s inspiring voice, restless imagination and penetrating intelligence, drawing on his voluminous travel diaries and personal correspondence to reveal the man himself and the world in which he played such a vital role. Powerfully written in Jefferson’s own words, the book traces his journeys throughout Europe during his five-year residency in Paris, where he replaced Benjamin Franklin as U.S. Minister to France. His insightful, sophisticated impressions give readers a new perspective on European life in the 18th century.
Jefferson’s eloquent observations of his tours through southern France, northern Italy, Germany and Holland shed light on those places in history and deepen our understanding of one of the most progressive, cosmopolitan men of his age. He knew most of the leading lights of the liberal French aristocracy, which gave him a marvelous perch from which to watch the French Revolution begin. He conferred with the Marquis de Lafayette on the French Declaration of the Rights of Man.
The letters trace how Jefferson’s friendships with Adams and Abigail Adams developed; they reveal all that we really know of his love affair with the artist Maria Cosway; they show his interest in architecture developing and maturing, and they demonstrate his extraordinary skill in diplomacy. Brandt also addresses the question of whether Jefferson’s possible sexual relationship with Sally Hemings began in Paris. “This is a man whose mind grew wings,” Brandt writes, presenting Jefferson as a man no longer possible to idolize, but impossible not to like.
Jefferson’s eloquent observations of his tours through southern France, northern Italy, Germany and Holland shed light on those places in history and deepen our understanding of one of the most progressive, cosmopolitan men of his age. He knew most of the leading lights of the liberal French aristocracy, which gave him a marvelous perch from which to watch the French Revolution begin. He conferred with the Marquis de Lafayette on the French Declaration of the Rights of Man.
The letters trace how Jefferson’s friendships with Adams and Abigail Adams developed; they reveal all that we really know of his love affair with the artist Maria Cosway; they show his interest in architecture developing and maturing, and they demonstrate his extraordinary skill in diplomacy. Brandt also addresses the question of whether Jefferson’s possible sexual relationship with Sally Hemings began in Paris. “This is a man whose mind grew wings,” Brandt writes, presenting Jefferson as a man no longer possible to idolize, but impossible not to like.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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About the author
Anthony Brandt
38 books20 followersFrom Random House:
Anthony Brandt is the editor of the Adventure Classics series published by National Geographic Society Press, and the books editor at National Geographic Adventure magazine. Formerly the book critic at Men’s Journal, Brandt has written for The Atlantic, GQ, Esquire, and many other magazines, and is the author of two previous books. He lives in Sag Harbor, New York.
Anthony Brandt is the editor of the Adventure Classics series published by National Geographic Society Press, and the books editor at National Geographic Adventure magazine. Formerly the book critic at Men’s Journal, Brandt has written for The Atlantic, GQ, Esquire, and many other magazines, and is the author of two previous books. He lives in Sag Harbor, New York.
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August 30, 2009Particularly enjoyed the agricultural descriptions of Europe.
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July 26, 2010This month's theme for the biography book group at work is founding fathers and mothers, so I chose this one.
You can get a little bogged down in the language sometimes, but the editor did a great job of providing introductions to each chapter that put Jefferson's letters in historical context and explain what was going on at the time.
You can get a little bogged down in the language sometimes, but the editor did a great job of providing introductions to each chapter that put Jefferson's letters in historical context and explain what was going on at the time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews