America’s First Daughter, by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

REVIEW:  I was a little impatient reading this book because it is long and at times seemed to move slowly.  BUT I found it intriguing!  The authors did an amazing job of capturing the times and the feelings about slavery and women.   There are so many interesting aspects to the novel that my discussion guide ended up being three pages!    This is a great book for book groups and should lead to lively discussions!

Citizens

Slaves

Thomas Jefferson Martha – wife, deceased Martha “Patsy” – daughter, married Tom Randolph Polly “Maria” – daughter, married Jack Eppes Lucy – daughter, deceased Wayles – Martha’s father William Short – Martha’s relative, aid to Jefferson Colonel Randolph Wife - deceased Tom – oldest child, married Patsy Judith – married cousin, Richard Randolph Nancy – had child to Richard Randolph, died 3 younger sisters Gabriella Harvie – Colonel’s 2nd wife Thomas Mann - son Tom and Patsy’s children Ann – married Charles Bankhead, abusive Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” – married Jane Nicholas Ellen – died Ellen – married Joseph Coolidge Cornelia Virginia “Ginny” – married Nicholas Trist Mary James Madison Benjamin Franklin Septimia George Wythe Maria Cosway – Paris, Jefferson’s married lover Lafayette

Hemings Betsy – had children by Wayles Sally – Martha’s half-sister, several children with Jefferson, two survived Jimmy – to Paris with Jefferson as cook Nance Critta Martin Bob Mary Hemings Bell – widow of owner of general store, now proprietress Betsy – Mary’s daughter, Polly’s maid Others Mammy Ursala

 For discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the paperback edition.

1. Were you surprised by the description of Thomas Jefferson’s strong mourning?  Did this fit with your image of him?  Why did no one seem to notice or intervene?
2. Was it fair for Martha to extract the promises that she did from Thomas (never marry again) and Patsy (always take care of father) (pages 30 – 33)?
3. Do you think Jefferson knew that his wife made Patsy promise to take care of him?  How did this affect his as well as Patsy’s life?
4. On page 57 Colonel Randolph said to Jefferson, “You’re better off in retirement.  No good comes of public service anymore.”   How would our country be different if Jefferson agreed?
5. When Patsy was thinking about entering the convent, she thought that she would teach Polly to be devoted rather than truthful because Patsy thought being devoted was a much more important virtue (page 108).   What do you think?
1. Also, on page 215 Patsy chose devotion to father over love for William Short.  Do you think she made a wise choice?
2. Well into their marriage Patsy said “I thought perhaps the thing for Tom I felt that was deeper than love might be dedication (page 271).   How does this fit with her previous statements?   Did she make a wise choice to let devotion and dedication direct her life?
6. Do you think it was in Polly’s best interest to leave her and Lucy behind when Jefferson and Patsy went to Europe?
7. It is now common knowledge that Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings.  What did you think about his choice when Polly first arrived and he was upstairs with Sally?   Was the fact that she resembled his wife mitigate his actions?
8. At Polly’s wedding when Tom was struggling, Patsy said to him, “I’ll tell you a secret about being happy, Tom.  Sometimes you just have to pretend at it until it becomes real” (page 329).   Do you think this is good advice?
9. The first time Tom hit Patsy was on page 292.  In the next section she thinks, “I’d fretted about my father’s reputation, but I’d given too little thought to Tom’s.  I deserved to be slapped to my senses” (page 293).  Why do you think Tom turned violent with Patsy?   Should Patsy have felt that she was spending too much of her energy on her father and not her husband?
10. What did you think of Tom Randolph?   Did he have any chance to be a better man?  Was he flawed from the beginning or did it happen over the years?
11. Did you agree with Patsy’s request of President Madison to have Tom recalled from military duty and assigned to be tax collector?  Did she have the right to do that?
12. Could any man Patsy married have competed favorable to her father?  Was her and Tom’s marriage doomed from the start?

13. When Ann returned home beaten and pregnant, she said she deserved it (page 543).  Patsy began to wonder what example she had set for her daughters and reflected that, “…Ann had never been taught to do anything but honor and obey a husband, and none of this was her fault” (page 543).   Given the times do you think Patsy could have raised her daughters differently?
14. When the book opened Patsy was contemplating burning some of Jefferson’s incriminating letters.  What do you think she should do? 
15. How did this book as a whole fit with your idea of Thomas Jefferson? 

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.