America's First Daughter

Summary (from the publisher): In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.

 

From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.

It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted daughter.

Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.

Review: This well-researched work of historical fiction tells the story of Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph, oldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson. Each chapter is prefaced with quotes from some of the "more than eighteen thousand letters" that Jefferson wrote during his lifetime and the novel uses a  frame story of Patsy meticulously going through her father's letters after his death and in the process reminiscing on her life. Patsy's story begins when she is still a very young girl when her family is forced to flee from their home, Monticello, after learning that Redcoats are pursuing her father. After her mother's death, Patsy accompanies her father to France, where she becomes an accomplished and sought after young lady. After their return to Virginia, she marries Thomas Randolph and eventually gave birth to twelve children. Yet throughout her life, her true devotion seems to have been to her father.

Patsy is uniquely situated as a historical figure to reveal another layer to her father's story because her own life was so intricately intertwined with his. Although she married and had a large family of her own, Patsy was clearly greatly devoted to her father and willingly sacrificed as needed to be near him. Her first born son was named not after her husband but after her father, she served as her widowed father's First Lady while he served as President, and she is buried at her father's feet. As his only surviving child, she was left Monticello at his death and took on the task of editing his papers and correspondence.

A key theme throughout the novel is sacrifice, largely on behalf of family, honor, and duty to one's country. Another theme is the tension between Jefferson's declared beliefs and his status as a slaveholder. This tension has dramatic effects for Patsy, as she sacrifices her first love who refuses to make his fortune off of the labor of slaves. This tension is embodied in the tense relationship between Patsy and Sally Hemings, whom Patsy tacitly acknowledges as a 'necessary evil' to placate her long widowed father. "Sally would never steal my father's name, love, or fortune. I believed that she would never, and could never, be the cause of harm to my family."

Although the authors themselves reveal that the rich records of Patsy's life mean that not all details can be included in one novel, I did wish for more background information on her mother's family and history. In light of the role the Hemings played in this novel, it would have added greatly to see how their connection with the family began with Patsy's mother's family. Additionally, parts of the novel seemed to drag on longer than was necessary. In particular, the section where Thomas Jefferson is greatly bereaved of his wife and the years Patsy spends in France seemed to go on interminably and could have been reduced in length with no real loss to the storyline.

It's remarkable, given the rich historical record and her prominence during her lifetime, that few in-depth novels exist about Patsy. Although I knew going in that this was supposedly meticulously researched, it was still shocking to read in the authors' notes that nearly every moment of drama and conflict within this book is based on historical fact. Patsy had a fascinating and often turbulent life that makes her ideal for a fictional account. The authors did an excellent job of filling in gaps in the historical record, such as Patsy's relationship with her father's mistress Sally, in a plausible manner.  Additionally, the flawed nature of the historical figures is artfully conveyed. The characters in this novel are flawed and human, including Patsy herself who wounds her husband by constantly choosing her husband over him and is repeatedly accused of being a cold woman. Jefferson's imperfections are also visible, although the authors make it clear that the politician was skilled at attempting to conceal them; "My father was always an artful politician, too clever to be drawn into discussions of matters of the heart when his was so guilty."

In sum, Patsy Jefferson Randolph is "one of the most quietly influential women in American history.[...] She was a privileged, passive-aggressive, morally conflicted, gritty survivor with a facile relationship with the truth. She was also heroically devoted and capable of both enormous compassion and sacrifice. This novel allows the fictional Patsy to tell her story in her own voice and Dray and Kamoie have certainly done her justice.

Stars: 4