Thomas Jefferson cover art

Thomas Jefferson

A Biography of Spirit and Flesh

Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

A revelatory new biography of Thomas Jefferson, focusing on his ethical and spiritual life

Thomas Jefferson was arguably the most brilliant and inspiring political writer in American history. But the ethical realities of his personal life and political career did not live up to his soaring rhetoric. Indeed, three tensions defined Jefferson’s moral life: democracy versus slavery, republican virtue versus dissolute consumption, and veneration for Jesus versus skepticism about Christianity.

In this book, Thomas S. Kidd tells the story of Jefferson’s ethical life through the lens of these tensions, including an unapologetic focus on the issue where Jefferson’s idealistic philosophy and lived reality clashed most obviously: his sexual relationship with his enslaved woman Sally Hemings. In doing so, he offers a unique perspective on one of American history’s most studied figures.

©2022 Thomas S. Kidd (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing
Americas Historical Politicians Politics & Activism Revolution & Founding United States Biography American History
All stars
Most relevant
A negative biography. Mostly focuses on his profligacy and relationship to slavery. Learned little about what made this man great and why. Narrator is ok

Lacks substance

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.