Publisher's Weekly Review
Cunningham succeeds admirably in his biography of Jefferson, intended for both scholars and general readers. The University of Missouri historian conveys not only the details of Jefferson's career as a politician and polymath, but the evolution of his thinking as expressed in Notes on the State of Virginia and other writings. He shows that Jefferson's belief in ``the sufficiency of reason for the care of human affairs'' sustained his political principles and his faith in progress and education. Cunningham, author of earlier books on the man and his era (The Image of Thomas Jefferson in the Public Eye, etc.), writes well and with evident authority in this rich work. Photos not seen by PW. History Book Club main selection. (May 29) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
One might think that Jefferson had been exhausted as a subject for biography. However, in reviewing the literature, the stark fact emerges that a gap exists in the reasonable-length biographic genre for the general reader. There is, of course, Dumas Malone's six-volume masterpiece, Fawn Brodie's exercise in dubious revisionism, Peterson's massive one-volume work, and a smattering of scholarly tomes investigating particular aspects of Jefferson's work. But no good, general, short biography. Enter Cunningham (history/Missouri) to fill this gap, and he does so admirably. This is no mean achievement. Jefferson, after all, was a multifaceted character whose life spanned nation-building, the Presidency, diplomacy, agriculture, and the founding of the University of Virginia. Cunningham does not skirt any of these areas and, in fact, does an able job of meshing both the public and the private Jefferson. Anyone who would dismiss the need for another biography (yes, there is life after Dumas Malone) can consider the hectic pace al which anthropological diggings go on continually at Monticello, bringing with them the possibilities for new insights into the man. If there is any quibble, it is the speed with which Cunningham dispenses with Jefferson's early years--his first quarter-century whizzes by in just 13 pages, but, obviously, in dealing with Jefferson, something has to give for the sake of brevity. The author's major insight is in finding the key to understanding Jefferson to be his commitment to the application of reason to society. From this flowed everything--his devotion to natural law and the rights of man, his faith in majority rule, his dedication to education, his belief in progress, and his optimism. A boon to those who want more than a World Book article but who don't want to wade through volumes. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
973.4'6 (B) Jefferson, Thomas / Presidents U.S. Biography / U.S. Politics and government Revolution, 1775-1783 / U.S. Politics and government Constitutional period, 1789-1809 [CIP] 86-27626 Mapp, Alf J. Thomas Jefferson: a strange case of mistaken identity. 1987. [520p.] illus. Madison Books, $22.95 (0-8191-5782-1) Galley. ~ 973.4'6 (B) Jefferson, Thomas / Presidents U.S. Biography [CIP] 86-33335 Two new biographies by eminent historians reflect differing approaches to the life of the third president of the U.S. Cunningham has expressly composed a compact biography to accommodate either the general reader or history student wanting a readily accessible, one-volume treatment. Cunningham's approach is indicated by the title he gives his book; the thread he pursues is Jefferson's abiding adherence to the eighteenth-century concept of reason the belief in the infallibility of the rational mind. Notes; to be indexed. Mapp, on the other hand, provides a monumental reassessment of Jefferson's character and impact, giving himself free rein to explore in depth the complexities of this deep individual. It is Mapp's contention that an understanding of Jefferson's attitudes and actions must be preceded by an understanding that, first and foremost, Jefferson was an artist that he had the creative imagination inherent in the person with an artistic temperament. This first volume in a projected two-part study is an alternate selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. Notes; bibliography, and index. BH.
Choice Review
A well-written, concise account of the life of Thomas Jefferson. Cunningham is a recognized authority on Jefferson and has distilled Jefferson's essence into a very readable chronlogical account. Pursuit of Reason is much easier to digest than Paul Ford's The Works of Thomas Jefferson (12 v., 1893) or Julian Boyd's The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (1950). It is more encompassing than Nathan Schachner's biography, Thomas Jefferson (1951) or Lally Weymouth's Thomas Jefferson (CH, Oct '74), which attempts to treat him in terms of various fields. Cunningham does not dwell on varying interpretations of Jefferson's thought, but does provide readers with critical sources making this usable as a beginning work for college students. A must for college libraries. It will also be welcomed by general readers interested in the government's origins and in Jefferson, the man.-L.E. Babits, Armstrong State College
Library Journal Review
Finally we have a sensible one-volume biography of America's most multifaceted Founding Father. Cunningham, an expert on Jefferson's politics and presidency, has admirably condensed the variegated life and tumultuous times into a manageable and readable book. Cunningham's Jefferson is a man occasionally given to emotional turmoilas on the death of his wife and his flirtation with Maria Coswaybut mainly he is a personification of the Enlightenment's faith in human reason, progress, and education. It is a traditional interpretation, even conservativeJefferson's faults and mistakes are downplayed or excusedbut consistent with the weight of academic evidence. This is now the beginning biography for students and scholars alike. History Book Club main selection. Harry W. Fritz, History Dept., Univ. of Montana, Missoula (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
