American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson - Hardcover

“Fascinating ... an erudite and illuminating study.” —"The New York Times"
 
“This elegant book on Jefferson sets a standard—history at its best.” —"Chicago Tribune" Editor’s Choice
 
“A brilliant, unconventional look at Jefferson ... beautifully written, cogently argues, full of both zealous scholarship and lively imagination.” —"Cleveland Plain Dealer"
 
“Magnificent.... Ellis has a Jeffersonian gift for language.” —"Newsweek"
 
“Lively and provocative ... first-rate.” —David McCullough

Fascinating an erudite and illuminating study. "The New York Times"
This elegant book on Jefferson sets a standard history at its best. "Chicago Tribune" Editor s Choice
A brilliant, unconventional look at Jefferson beautifully written, cogently argues, full of both zealous scholarship and lively imagination. "Cleveland Plain Dealer"
Magnificent. Ellis has a Jeffersonian gift for language. "Newsweek"
Lively and provocative first-rate. David McCullough"

Fascinating an erudite and illuminating study. The New York Times
This elegant book on Jefferson sets a standard history at its best. Chicago Tribune Editor s Choice
A brilliant, unconventional look at Jefferson beautifully written, cogently argues, full of both zealous scholarship and lively imagination. Cleveland Plain Dealer
Magnificent. Ellis has a Jeffersonian gift for language. Newsweek
Lively and provocative first-rate. David McCullough"

"Fascinating ... an erudite and illuminating study." --The New York Times
"This elegant book on Jefferson sets a standard--history at its best." --Chicago Tribune Editor's Choice
"A brilliant, unconventional look at Jefferson ... beautifully written, cogently argues, full of both zealous scholarship and lively imagination." --Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Magnificent.... Ellis has a Jeffersonian gift for language." --Newsweek
"Lively and provocative ... first-rate." --David McCullough

-Fascinating ... an erudite and illuminating study.- --The New York Times
-This elegant book on Jefferson sets a standard--history at its best.- --Chicago Tribune Editor's Choice
-A brilliant, unconventional look at Jefferson ... beautifully written, cogently argues, full of both zealous scholarship and lively imagination.- --Cleveland Plain Dealer
-Magnificent.... Ellis has a Jeffersonian gift for language.- --Newsweek
-Lively and provocative ... first-rate.- --David McCullough

Joseph J. Ellis is the Ford Foundation Professor of History at Mount Holyoke College. Educated at the College of William and Mary and Yale University, he served as a captain in the army and taught at West Point before coming to Mount Holyoke in 1972. He was Dean of the Faculty there for ten years. Among his previous books is Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams. The author lives in Holyoke, Massachusetts, with his wife Ellen, and three sons.