Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh by Thomas S. Kidd (review)

Abstract

There is much more of spirit than of flesh in this stimulating biography of Thomas Jefferson from the prolific pen of Thomas S. Kidd, a leading scholar of early America and author of several important works in the field, including studies of general religious history, the Great Awakening, and biographies of George Whitefield, Patrick Henry, and Benjamin Franklin. Kidd now accepts the challenge posed by the most elusive of founders, Thomas Jefferson. Noting the difficulty of his task, Kidd begins with “This is a biography of a brilliant but troubled person” (p. 1). The thousands of extant Jefferson writings have only intensified the problem of the historian: temperamentally averse to conflict and aware from early manhood that he was writing for the historical record, Jefferson’s letters were not always reflective of his true feelings. Kidd patiently and judiciously works through the sometimes conflicting statements in search of the real Jefferson. While no one will ever present the definitive Jefferson, Kidd paints a thoughtful and human portrait that captures the essence of the man. While some favor a more topical approach, Kidd presents Jefferson’s life in the traditional chronological format, which works well here, placing Jefferson’s choices in clearer context and providing better understanding of the development of his thought. The greatest strength and most significant contribution of this work, as might be expected from this author, lies in its portrayal of Jefferson’s religious and spiritual development. Kidd insists that Jefferson has been often misunderstood as a devoted Deist and child of the French Enlightenment. While crediting Jefferson’s unconventional religious views and BOOK REVIEWS