{"id":2387,"date":"2005-02-09T18:51:52","date_gmt":"2005-02-09T23:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=2387"},"modified":"2015-05-16T22:14:21","modified_gmt":"2015-05-17T02:14:21","slug":"speaking-of-thomas-jefferson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=2387","title":{"rendered":"Speaking of Thomas Jefferson –"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re interested in the guy, and in reading a WONDERFUL book about him … pick up American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson<\/a>\"\"<\/i>, by Joseph Ellis.<\/p>\n

It’s not a typical biography. It’s not really a biography at all. It’s more of a contemplation, I would say … a contemplation on “the character of Thomas Jefferson”. Ellis doesn’t start with: “Thomas Jefferson was born a poor black child …” or whatever. Ellis is more interested in delving into the Sphinx-like nature of Jefferson, why he still has such a hold on the American imagination, even with all his contradictions, and Ellis is able to LIVE with those contradictions, rather than trying to explain them away, or take sides (like sooo many historians do. “I agree with THIS aspect of Jefferson’s personality … and so THAT is obviously the REAL Jefferson”. Thomas Jefferson is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. While we do know quite a bit about him, anyone who claims to say they have found the real Thomas Jefferson should not be trusted.)<\/p>\n

Ellis has proven time and time again that even though he is a historian, he is quite capable of saying, flat-out, “You know, there is only so much we can actually know. I have no idea of what Thomas Jefferson was thinking at this point … but let’s take a look at the context of those turbulent months.” He’s all about context. And from there? You’re just guessing.<\/p>\n

Also, it doesn’t hurt that Ellis is a lovely writer.<\/p>\n

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