America's First Daughter

On the book list for my DAR chapter. Well written, historic, and easy to read. Very engaging.

My book club reads a lot of biographical fiction. It’s an interesting and entertaining way to learn more about a specific time, place, and person in history. This month we chose America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. With the first person POV of the main character, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph, it explores the life of not only Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, but of his contemporaries and family members. The book begins when Patsy is a young girl and finishes with her later years. It is filled with historical detail that a history-nerd will love. The Revolutionary War and the early years of the nation are not time periods I generally read, but this book was fascinating in its portrayal of a young nation founded on high moral principles, yet in reality a democracy riddled with injustices. Slavery, the huge elephant in the room given Jefferson’s own ownership of slaves and his relationship with Sally Hemings, is a big part of the story. Patsy is definitely a woman of her time, and though she abhors slavery (as do many of her acquaintance) she is unable to affect any kind of meaningful change. In fact, those with the power to do so either were unsuccessful or left it to later generations. The authors do a good job of balancing the context of the time (slavery, limited rights of women and children) with an honest portrayal of the subject matter. This is Patsy’s story to tell, and I feel the authors allowed this incredible woman to tell it. Patsy was witness to so much — the American Revolution, formation of a new nation, the unfolding of the French revolution, the rise and fall of political factions — yet she was first and foremost a dutiful daughter, a committed wife, and a nurturing mother of many children. Her life was both extraordinary and ordinary, and the novel expresses that so well.If you are a fan of early American history, then this book is definitely for you. My book club googled a lot during the reading of the book! We also had an outstanding discussion.Recommended.Audience: adults.(I purchased Kindle ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

I grew up reading historical fiction. It fired my imagination, made me love the learning of history and continues to this day as a still loved source of reading pleasure. This book about Martha 'Patsy' Jefferson Randolph is beautifully researched, well written and a pleasure to read.The authors have taken such care to show the fulsomeness of Patsy's character that I often found myself reacting to her and the events of her life and some of her choices with a disbelieving shake of my head, laughter, gasps, aggravation, concern and frequently, with sorrow. The things that she does to take care of and protect her father and meet the responsibilities of a wife and mother during turbulent political and social times often left me feeling exhausted on her behalf. She comes across as a very unique character who truly understood the history she was living, so much so that her efforts are almost totally responsible for much of what the world knows about the details of Thomas Jefferson's life.In this book, Jefferson himself is no marble statue because we get to see him through the eyes of his daughter. Devoted as she is, his weaknesses are presented along side his strengths. As a Founding Father, he loved and nurtured the 'grand experiment' that is the United States, but did not know how, after the death of his wife, to nurture his own children. He was deeply emotional, but often discouraged emotional reactions by his children. He wrote that 'all men are created equal,' but kept slaves. He was man of brilliant intellectual ability, but also a 'dabbler' who seldom finished a project, once started. He was generous to a fault, but left his family in near penury upon his death. Finally, the authors convince me that he loved his children but it isn't evident until they are older and the quality of their intellectual abilities is shown.The relationship of Jefferson with Sally Hemmings and the children she bore him is not deeply explored in this book. However, what is told is often poignant and heartbreaking. The authors explore only a few of the many contradictions of personal philosophy and the human heart in this complicated relationship. Patsy and Sally are wary with one another, but work in concert to protect Jefferson both in life and in death.As a side note, the campaign for the Presidential election in 1800 which is chronicled in this book was vicious and petty with personal attacks and insults. Sound familiar? Ah, history...how it repeats itself.Bottom line: Patsy Jefferson was a helluva' woman. This book, told in the first person, is not only wonderful history, it is a compelling read about a woman faced with incredible personal struggles and responsibilities who felt both the glory and the weight of her father's legacy while he lived and after he died. She lived through two revolutions, the War of 1812, Jefferson's eight years as President presiding as his hostess in the absence of a First Lady, survived a difficult, often abusive marriage, bore 12 children and raised several that weren't her own, wrestled with the shame of slavery and preserved Jefferson's legacy. This book helped me understand that HER legacy is something to be celebrated.

This is an easy to engage with story. The writing flows well and you quickly feel like you know the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good story.

Beautifully written and engaging, I bought it for my daughter who is particularly passionate about historical fiction. She fell in love with the heroine and read the book in 3 days. Bravo!

this is such a different way to learn about US history and one of his presidents. it is beautifully written and so interesting.i tried to read slower towards the end to make it last

Because of its length I had to put it down and pick it back innumerable times but it is so well written and organised that I never lost the thread. Not for history buffs only - it’s for anyone who loves a good book.

A well written book with sound historical research that brings alive the people of that particular time in American history thoroughly enjoyable. C.A.Thomas