America's First Daughter: A Novel

I know absolutely nothing about Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph. I don't even know that much about her father, President Thomas Jefferson. All I know is that once I finished this engrossing novel, I want to read more about her and her family. This is one of my favorite historical fiction novels of all time.Patsy Jefferson is the eldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson. Having run from their plantation Monticello to hide from the British in the Revolutionary War, she grows up as not only as the daughter of the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence, she matures as the daughter of the third President of the United States. Growing up, she lost her mother at the age of 10; lived in Paris during her coming out years and experienced the revolutionary fervor there. She comes home and marries a distant cousin, Thomas Randolph. Even though she was constantly pregnant (she ended up giving birth to 11 children), managing her husband's plantations as well as her father's, she ended up being a pivotal part of Thomas Jefferson's life.This is a long novel and if I could, I would have sat in my chair and read for hours. This story simply pulled you into Patsy's life, turmoil, world ... it gives a personal flair to a woman I have never heard of. It does touch upon the sticky issues of slavery, Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemmings and Patsy's own relationship with Sally as well as with other people. It is a reminder for those of us who like to think in terms of history being black and white, that there are a lot more issues that surround the times and nothing is ever so easy as we'd like to believe. The authors have navigated through some of the thorny issues with a fine touch by bringing a personal touch to it.The only issue I have with this book is that it does not cover her later years as much as I had hoped for. However, if there are books written about her children, I will definitely seek them out. I know this is a novel, but I feel as if this would be a good starting point in getting to know the history of our forefathers, as much as to encourage the interest in our leading ladies. These 2 authors have managed to bring a woman who has been buried under the dusty pages of history to life.And that is my favorite way to spend time ... reading about the ones who have lived before us. It is inspiring to read about people and be reminded that too, they were once flesh and blood, and survived to be remembered in history as to shape our country's path.

Very disappointed in this book after reading the reviews. I have read numerous books on Thomas Jefferson and know the history of the Revolution and the French Revolution fairly well. I was looking forward to reading about the President daughter, although I knew a little prior to reading. I felt the undocumented romance between "Patsy" and William short did not add anything, yet it took up almost the first half of the book, then jumped quickly to her marriage to Thomas Mann Randolph. The Randolphs and Jeffersons were related, but this didn't seem to really come through in the book. If this had been my first encounter with Thomas Jefferson I would have come away with a very disappointed view of the man. Never did I really get an idea of the "great" sacrifices he made for this country, nor any evidence of his brilliance. As for the daughter, I don't seem to have a feeling for her one way or another, certainly not one of great respect, which I thought I would have after reading the book. Disappointed in the history content and in the way the life of Patsy Jefferson Randolph was developed.

I can't say that I liked this long, drawn-out saga of Patsy Jefferson Randolph's life. It read like a soap opera and a melodramatic one at that. I certainly hope there was more substance to the real woman than we were shown here. In the epilogue, the authors try to vindicate themselves by saying that it is fiction, after all, but based on real letters written by real historical characters. Therefore, some of the most ridiculous events (Patsy and Dolly Madison saving the American Revolution for Thomas Jefferson or Patsy being Lafayette's inspiration for his own rebellion when she was 15 years old) are meant to be accepted as fact. Really? Thank God for Patsy. Poor old Thomas Jefferson couldn't have made a grilled cheese sandwich without her, much less have written The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, designed Montecello and the University of Virginia among other things. As for France, I don't know why Delacroix and generations of French people have called Lady Liberty by the name 'Marianne' when clearly she should have been named 'Patsy', because she was the true inspiration for that embodiment of ideas.

A well written book with sound historical research that brings alive the people of that particular time in American history thoroughly enjoyable. C.A.Thomas

Wonderful Novel So Beautiful xx

Brilliant

A fascinating story very well told. I read the book on a recommendation, and I recommend it as well. I came away with a feeling for what it was like to live at the time and what the constraints were upon Jefferson and his family. It is never wise to judge an historical figure by our times and our values and I thought the authors did an outstanding job of walking in the shoes of America's first daughter so I believed the reason why she made the choices she did and would have made the same in her place. Higher praise I cannot give.

It took me some time to read this because it is a long one and I wanted to take my time to read it.I enjoyed the story and found the authors did a lot of research to make this book.Very well written. It didn't suck me in right away but it is a book I will be reading again in the future.I do highly recommend this book.