Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I knew a bit about Thomas Jefferson's family, including his daughter Patsy, but this well-researched novel brought her to life. The eldest of three daughters, Patsy was the one who stood by his side through his long career in public service, culminating in the presidency in the early 1800s. Patsy's mother, who died when her eldest was 10, made her promise to always take care of her father, and Patsy did, sometimes to her detriment. The novel starts with Patsy as a child as her family flees Monticello as British troops approach in the waning days of the Revolutionary War. It follows her to Paris not long after, where she accompanies her father, who is the fledgling nation's representative in France. Patsy grows up quickly amid the decadent French court and the stirrings of revolution. She finds, and then loses, her first love. After her return to Virginia, she marries a member of the illustrious Randolph family, whose members aren't known for their kindness or integrity. Through it all, she is there for her father as he travels back and forth from Washington City -- later D.C. -- serving a variety of roles before running for president and serving two terms. Woven through the narrative is Jefferson's relationship with the beautiful slave Sally Hemings, believed to be the half-sister of Jefferson's late wife and bearing a strong resemblance to her. Over the years, Sally bears him several children. Their attachment is an open secret that results in scandal brewed by Jefferson's political opponents. This is a long book -- almost 600 pages -- but I raced through it. The writing is straightforward and Patsy's voice is strong. She was a witness to, and sometimes a participant in, the history of the nation, but that didn't protect her from tragedy. Life in the early United States was hard, and medical care was rudimentary. The problems of Jefferson's descendants are not glossed over here. Still, it's a fascinating story -- stirring events are told in a first-person account that makes it seem like you are sitting in front of Patsy, hearing her tell her life story. I highly recommend this book.