Tag Archives: Joseph Ellis

Today in history, February 22, 1732

Posted on February 22, 2010 by sheila

George Washington, first President of the United States, was born. (All quotes from George Washington’s letters below I got from my copy of the Library of America’s compilation of his writings) Thomas Jefferson on George Washington: The moderation and virtue … Continue reading →

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“We don’t know anything about other people. We can only know them from the outside. This is one of the great joys of life.”

Posted on September 10, 2009 by sheila

So says Irish writer John Banville in this awesome recent interview about his new book that has set my mind spinning. There’s so much in it. So much to think about. There are only a couple of writers today where … Continue reading →

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Today in history: February 22, 1732

Posted on February 22, 2009 by sheila

George Washington, first President of the United States, was born. (All quotes from George Washington’s letters below I got from my copy of the Library of America’s compilation of his writings) Thomas Jefferson on George Washington: The moderation and virtue … Continue reading →

Posted in Founding Fathers, On This Day | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

The Books: “His Excellency: George Washington” (Joseph Ellis)

Posted on May 15, 2006 by sheila

Daily Excerpt continues: Next book in my American history section is His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph Ellis Hard to believe but this is the last book on this particular bookshelf (at least the last one I’ve READ. I hav … Continue reading →

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The Books: “American Sphinx : The Character of Thomas Jefferson” (Joseph Ellis)

Posted on May 11, 2006 by sheila

Next Daily Excerpt: Next book in my American history section is American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph (“Yeah. I was in ‘Nam. DOH.”) Ellis. My favorite of all of his contemplative biographies – he really just hits … Continue reading →

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The Books: “Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams” (Joseph Ellis)

Posted on May 6, 2006 by sheila

Next Daily Excerpt: Next book in my American history section is Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams by Joseph Ellis In addition to Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation Ellis has these other books which don’t qualify exactly … Continue reading →

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The Books: “Founding Brothers” (Joseph Ellis)

Posted on April 18, 2006 by sheila

And here is my next excerpt of the day from my library. Next book in my American history section is the marvelous Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, by Joseph Ellis. 7 guys: Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Jefferson, Adams, Washington, Madison, Franklin … Continue reading →

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Presidents: “the Jeffersonian utopia”

Posted on February 20, 2006 by sheila

From Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The vision he projected in the natural rights section of the Declaration, then, represented yet another formulation of the Jeffersonian imagination. The specific form of the vision undoubtedly drew upon language … Continue reading →

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Today in history: Sept. 18, 1793

Posted on September 18, 2005 by sheila

Not only is today my sister Jean Grania’s birthday (yes, she was named for the female pirate Gráinne Ni Mhaille, our most illustrious ancestor) – but today is also the day that George Washington laid the cornerstone for the US … Continue reading →

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Declaration – “within the Jeffersonian utopia such choices do not need to be made”

Posted on July 4, 2005 by sheila

More from Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Again, here is the text of the Declaration to use for reference. The vision he projected in the natural rights section of the Declaration, then, … Continue reading →

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Declaration – “it does not explain Jefferson’s much-debated deletion of ‘property’ “

Posted on July 4, 2005 by sheila

More from Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Again, here is the text of the Declaration to use for reference. The most famous section of the Declaration, which has become the most quoted … Continue reading →

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Declaration – “An elegant, if decidedly one-sided, version of recent Anglo-American history”

Posted on July 4, 2005 by sheila

From Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Again, here is the text of the Declaration to use for reference. (You know. If you’re a big huge geek like me, then you love to … Continue reading →

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Declaration – “On July 4 the Congress approved its revised version”

Posted on July 4, 2005 by sheila

From Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in a matter of a few days — Adams later remembered it took him only “a day or two” — … Continue reading →

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Declaration – “Jefferson guards the American Creed at this inspirational level”

Posted on July 4, 2005 by sheila

Excerpt from Joseph Ellis’ marvelous Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation: Before editorial changes were made by the Continental Congress, Jefferson’s early draft made it even clearer that his intention was to express a spiritual vision: ‘ We hold these truths … Continue reading →

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Jefferson’s Inaugural

Posted on February 15, 2005 by sheila

I’m careening through Joseph Ellis’ American Sphinx – (alongside my re-reading of East of Eden). Ellis’ book is not really a traditional biography. He breaks up the chapters into separate and distinct time-spans in Thomas Jefferson’s life. The chapter titles … Continue reading →

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Speaking of Thomas Jefferson -

Posted on February 9, 2005 by sheila

If you’re interested in the guy, and in reading a WONDERFUL book about him … pick up The American Sphinx, by Joseph Ellis. It’s not a typical biography. It’s not really a biography at all. It’s more of a contemplation, … Continue reading →

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“Self-evident”

Posted on January 1, 2005 by sheila

In this post below, I mentioned the fact that Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration of Independence, had the words “sacred and undeniable” instead of what is now there: “self-evident”: “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable …” … Continue reading →

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The Sphinx at Monticello

Posted on December 30, 2004 by sheila

I want to thank the kind and generous reader (you know who you are!) who sent me Joseph Ellis’ book American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. I read and enjoyed Ellis’ Founding Brothers very much (and to anyone who … Continue reading →

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