Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings

Synopsis

When Annette Gordon-Reed's groundbreaking study was first published, rumors of

Thomas Jefferson's sexual involvement with his slave Sally Hemings had circulated for two centuries.

Among all aspects of Jefferson's renowned life, it was perhaps the most hotly contested topic. The

publication of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings intensified this debate by

identifying glaring inconsistencies in many noted scholars' evaluations of the existing evidence. In

this study, Gordon-Reed assembles a fascinating and convincing argument: not that the alleged

thirty-eight-year liaison necessarily took place but rather that the evidence for its taking

place has been denied a fair hearing.Friends of Jefferson sought to debunk the Hemings

story as early as 1800, and most subsequent historians and biographers followed suit, finding the

affair unthinkable based upon their view of Jefferson's life, character, and beliefs.

Gordon-Reed responds to these critics by pointing out numerous errors and prejudices in their

writings, ranging from inaccurate citations, to impossible time lines, to virtual exclusions of

evidence--especially evidence concerning the Hemings family. She demonstrates how these

scholars may have been misguided by their own biases and may even have tailored evidence to serve

and preserve their opinions of Jefferson. This updated edition of the book also includes an

afterword in which the author comments on the DNA study that provided further evidence of a

Jefferson and Hemings liaison.Possessing both a layperson's unfettered curiosity and a

lawyer's logical mind, Annette Gordon-Reed writes with a style and compassion that are

irresistible. Each chapter revolves around a key figure in the Hemings drama, and the resulting

portraits are engrossing and very personal. Gordon-Reed also brings a keen intuitive sense of

the psychological complexities of human relationships--relationships that, in the real world,

often develop regardless of status or race. The most compelling element of all, however, is her

extensive and careful research, which often allows the evidence to speak for itself. Thomas

Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy is the definitive look at a centuries-old

question that should fascinate general readers and historians alike.