His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer Hardcover – November 22, 2022

The author a wonderful historic tale and prides insights into travails that added dimension to an understanding of Jefferson and the country’s founding

Graceful writing about a great graceful writer

I’ve read dozens of books about TJ. This one was written from a different perspective. It’s a well-written book. Unfortunately, the author saw fit to criticize Jefferson and his ideologies throughout the book. Jefferson - like all humans - was flawed. The author spent waaay too much time pointing out those flaws. If you’re looking for an insightful book about those aspects of Jefferson’s life that are often overlooked, this book’s for you. Just be prepared to filter out the author’s incessant criticisms.

Fred Kaplan's biography of Thomas Jefferson, " His Masterly Pen" , is unparalleled for its sensitive historical accuracy, erudite research, deft writing, and exquisite personal and public portrayal through Jefferson's head and heart to pen in hand. Jefferson stated that his biography is to be found in his public writings yet he knew in the preservation of his copied personal correspondences that his private persona would add to that tome.Kaplan's work is splendidly replete with revelatory facts about this enigmatic and gifted founder, that this Jefferson reader/reviewer of over two-hundred books about him, has eclipsed. Add the fact that Kaplan's facile writing style is so inviting to his readers, I added adjunct books from my private library on Williamsburg, Monticello, marked events, and his contemporaries to supplement practically each chapter without loss of this magnetic biography at hand.

Fred Kaplan's careful portrayal of Thomas Jefferson, almost entirely through Jefferson's own writing, is magnificent. As harsh as some portions of the book may seem to be, the reader must realize that Kaplan is not sitting in judgment, he is simply presenting the evidence, and, through his deep understanding of Jefferson's motives, upbringing, and tortured self-doubt, Kaplan gives us a more realistic and strangely kinder picture of the man than we might otherwise discern. In addition, Kaplan's meticulous research and presentation, not only of Jefferson and his writing, but of the world in which Jefferson lived, lifts this biography into the extraordinary. It is a work of genius. Highly recommended.

I happen to get this book at the library, but I loved it so much I bought the book. For me to buy the book means I really really had to like it.

I was prepared to enjoy this book, but the second sentence in the Preface makes me wonder. How much of the book is accurate or correct? He states as fact “He…….after the death of his wife had six children by Sally Hemings…” No reference is provided for that statement. This is a currently popular, and widespread, historical myth. In fact, the only objective evidence we have that Thomas Jefferson might have fathered any children by Sally Hemings is the often mis-interpreted 1998 DNA evidence. That evidence shows only that there is a strong probability that Sally Hemings’ youngest son, Eston, was fathered by one of the more than two dozen Jefferson men in Virginia at the time. No information is available on her other children, and it is not known if they had the same father.The only detailed, objective review of the Jefferson-Hemings controversy was done by the Scholars Commission, a group of 13 senior independent, unpaid, authorities on Thomas Jefferson and his era established by the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society. The commission agreed unanimously in their report in 2001 that the allegation that Thomas Jefferson fathered one or more children by Sally Hemings was “is by no means proven”. The commission also stated that based on the historical evidence the “circumstantial case against one of Thomas Jefferson’s relatives appears significantly stronger that the case against him”. When Jefferson was in-residence at Monticello there were, in addition to family, numerous of visitors over the years in close proximity to Jefferson and his slaves. Many of then left written recollections, and yet there is “not a single record of anyone ever observing the slightest hint of behavior linking Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings romantically”.The author does not explain why this statement is in a book regarding Thomas Jefferson’s writing. The Scholars Commission report was published in 2001 and reprinted in 2011.

Perhaps the best book ever written about Thomas Jefferson. Outstanding book.Encourage everyone to read it