Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)

It includes Jefferson's Anas, Autobiography, The Notes on Virginia( complete), Summary View of the Rights of British America, his version of the Declaration of Independence, numerous public papers, and addresses. This volume is a must have for the Jefferson reader. It also very necassary for the current state of the American Republic which would be wise to hear the words of this great man. A great buy!


Jefferson's Writings: some additional observations   April 12, 2009
Theodore Kobernick (Vancouver, WA United States)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

The persons who reviewed this wonderful book have done a fine job. My review intends to point out some aspects of the Writings unmentioned by the other reviewers.

First, Jefferson was a GREAT stylist. He's a delight to read.

Second, in his little Autobiography he shows the Declaration of Independence as he originally wrote it, shows the additions, the major deletions, and the finished product. I was amazed at how he was furious with England for enslaving Africans. The king, says Jefferson's original, "has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere...." And even more in that vein. Unfortunately, Congress deleted all that.

Third, his detailed "Notes on the State of Virginia" (good reading) display something of the broad range of Jefferson's interests, and the depth of his knowledge. They also give strong hints as to why he sent out Lewis and Clark -- and had them well prepared -- as well as Zebulon Pike and, on the Red River, Freeman. I recommend that immediately after reading the Notes, turn to J's 1803 letter of instruction to Merriwether Lewis. It's just an amazing piece of work: less than seven pages of the book -- and Jefferson planned the whole Lewis and Clark expedition BEFORE he had acquired the Louisiana territory.

Fourth, I got a charge out of the variety of the matters he dealt with when he was President. In a single year, 1803, for instance, he was grappling with the nation's division between democracy, which he championed, and aristocracy, which he viewed the Federalsts as working toward; he found time to write a serious missive concerning his views of Jesus as opposed to the major Greek and Roman philosophers and the Jews; he instructed William H. harrison regarding Jefferson's deep policy regarding the Indians; he focused upon agriculture -- the successful use of gypsum in Louden County, VA; reduction of the costs of government, and of course the Louisiana Purchase. Wow!

Fifth, his writings to John Adams, and Abigail, may tantalize some of us into reading both ends of their correspondence.

Of course, there's much, much more. After I got well into Jefferson's writings, I was compelled to buy the Library of America edition of Madison's writings -- a dangerous situation for anyone who wants to spend leisure time doing other things than reading great works from our Founding Fathers.




Jefferson, a renaissance man.   June 15, 2002
Andre G. (Santa Cruz, California)
28 out of 36 found this review helpful

This book is a treasure: it contains many of the writings of Thomas Jefferson, and his letters.
They are reveal a crisp thinking, like Voltaire, Rousseau, the abbey Gregoire, Rabeau Saint Etienne, and other geat thinkers of the 17th Century (T.Jefferson meet with most), as well a Pascal who was way ahead of his time. TJ try to explain the rational for generosity, compassion, respect for life, respect for people, respect for justice, and more: anyone who claims to be president of the USA (or any sovereign nation) should read and understand this book. Unfortunatly this is probably not the case... Politicians love to use a citation of TJ, but their policies would often be despised by TJ.
Let's hope that the future will give the US presidents with the values of this great thinker, and for the time being let's just be patient.