The Women Jefferson Loved

“A focused, fresh spin on Jeffersonian biography.” —Kirkus Reviews

In the tradition of Annette Gordon-Reed’s The Hemingses of Monticello and David McCullough’s John Adams, historian Virginia Scharff offers a compelling, highly readable multi-generational biography revealing how the women Thomas Jefferson loved shaped the third president’s ideas and his vision for the nation. Scharff creates a nuanced portrait of the preeminent founding father, examining Jefferson through the eyes of the women who were closest to him, from his mother to his wife and daughters to Sally Hemings and the slave family he began with her.

Historian Virginia Scharff breaks through the seemingly impenetrable wall separating Thomas Jefferson’s public legacy and his private life, offering an intriguing new portrait of the founding father as seen through the lives of a remarkable group of women. Scharff brings together stories of the women who surrounded and, in many ways, defined Jefferson, including his mother; his wife, Martha; his mistress and Martha’s half-sister, slave Sally Hemings; and his daughters and granddaughters. Based on a wealth of sources, including family letters, and written with empathy and insight, The Women Jefferson Loved is an unprecedented new look at this legendary American—one that offers a fresh perspective on American history itself.

“[A] luminous and long overdue addition to Jefferson scholarship. . . . This book is a tour de force; a must read for all who are interested in the early America, Jefferson, and Monticello.” - Annette Gordon-Reed, author of The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family

“With wit and verve, Scharff introduces us to a new side of the Founding Father, unraveling the intricate ties between his public and private lives and creating an unforgettable portrait of a man bound up in the struggle between head and heart.” - Martha A. Sandweiss, author of Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line

“We’ve all heard about the influence of the women ‘behind’ great men. Virginia Scharff actually shows this by examining all the women in Jefferson’s life-his mother, white wife, black common-law wife, daughters and granddaughters. A grand, lively read.” - Linda Gordon, Professor of History, New York University, and author of Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyond Limits

“If you think there’s nothing new to learn about Thomas Jefferson, think again-and read this original, shrewd and above all compassionate book. Virginia Scharff introduces us to the remarkable women who, as much as Jefferson himself, illuminate their time through their lives and their strength of character.” - Elliott West, author of The Last Indian War: The Nez Perce Story

“This fascinating and highly readable account deepens our understanding of how Jefferson’s emotional life with women, including his mother, wife, concubine, daughters and slaves, influenced his thinking and greatest public acts. . . . Scharff has created an entertaining and insightful portrait of Jefferson, the women in his life and what women endured in the pursuit of happiness.” - American History

“Scharff’s approach to Jefferson allows her to paint a portrait of a man who was passionate, vulnerable and charming but also hypocritical, difficult and demanding. The Women Jefferson Loved adds to our understanding of one of the most fascinating personalities of the American Revolution.” - Andrea Wulf, New York Times Book Review

“Engaging. . . . A story of Revolution-era America and its many divides-slave and free, male and female, revolutionaries and loyalists.” - Randy Dotinga, Christian Science Monitor

“It is not often that I spend a day reading a single book, but The Women Jefferson Loved is that gripping. Moving, brilliantly written and deeply sympathetic to everyone concerned, it is a wonder.” - Richard White, Professor of History, Stanford University, and author of The Middle Ground

“A smart, eye-opening, vividly written saga of Monticello. It’s an indispensable portrait of Thomas Jefferson like none other. Highly recommended!” - Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History, Rice University, and author of The Wilderness Warrior

“Scharff weaves a fascinating tale, enriched by the insights of the best contemporary scholarship, and seamlessly constructed from family lore, letters, garden and account books, and Martha Jefferson’s housekeeping journal. This is a terrific read!” - Barbara Oberg, General Editor, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Princeton University