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Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy by Gordon-Reed, Annette is a nonfiction available to read on EtoBox.

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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

Who reads Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy?

Author

Gordon-Reed, Annette

Publisher

University of Virginia Press

Published

1998

Language

EN

Category

nonfiction

Subjects

History, American Studies, Humanities

Rating

3.92 / 5 (285 ratings)

Updated

2026-03-13