Thomas Jefferson

In this insightful biography, Thomas S. Kidd explores the complex ethical and spiritual life of Thomas Jefferson, one of America's most celebrated political thinkers. Through the lens of three key tensions—democracy versus slavery, republican virtue versus dissolute consumption, and veneration for Jesus versus skepticism about Christianity—Kidd examines the contradictions between Jefferson's lofty ideals and his personal realities. Notably, the biography addresses the significant yet controversial relationship between Jefferson and Sally Hemings, providing a fresh perspective on an iconic figure in American history.