Young readers of all ages will love this story about President Thomas Jefferson, who found his passion as soon as he learned to read: books, books, and more books! Before, during, and after the American Revolution, Jefferson collected thousands of books on hundreds of subjects. In fact, his massive collection eventually helped rebuild the Library of Congress—now the largest library in the world. Author Barb Rosenstock's rhythmic words and illustrator John O'Brien's whimsical illustrations capture Jefferson's zeal for the written word as well as little-known details about book collecting. An author's note, bibliography, and source notes for quotations are also included.

A chronicle of Thomas Jefferson's passion for reading and building his library.

Painstaking Reconstruction of Jefferson's Library Catalogue Sold to the Library of Congress in 1815 to replace volumes burned by the British during their occupation of Washington, Jefferson's library, comprising 6,700, volumes was one of the finest in the United States. The taxonomically arranged catalogue that accompanied these books was a remarkable work, one that offered great insight into the broad and systematic nature of Jefferson's mind. Unfortunately, it was lost. Using Jefferson's notes and the first edition of the Library of Congress catalogue, Gilreath and Wilson recreated Jefferson's original compilation. It contains an extensive collection of legal books arranged under the general heading "Philosophy." Beginning with the broad designations of "Ethics," "Moral Philosophy," "Law of Nature and Nations" and "Religion" Jefferson proceeds to such topics as "Common Law," "Maritime Law and "Foreign Law." It is valuable both for its insights into Jefferson's legal mind and as a guide to the titles one would want to include in a first-class American law library of the period. James Gilreath was an American history specialist at the Library of Congress rare book and special collections division. Douglas L. Wilson is George A. Lawrence Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus; Co-director, Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College Galesburg, Illinois. CONTENTS Foreword Introduction Selected Reading List Editorial Note Catalogue I. Memory 1. Antient History 2. Modern History. Foreign 3. Modern History. British 4. Modern History. American 5. History-Ecclesiastical 6. Natural Philosophy 7. Agriculture 8. Chemistry 9. Surgery 10. Medicine 11. Animals. Anatomy 12. Animals. Zoology 13. Botany 14. Mineralogy 15. Occupations of Man. Technical Arts II. Philosophy 16. Ethics Moral Philosophy Law of Nature and Nations 17. Religion 18. Jurisprudence. Equity 19. Jurisprudence. Common Law 20. Jurisprudence. Law-Merchant 21. Jurisprudence. Law-Maritime 22. Jurisprudence. Law- Ecclesiastical 23. Jurisprudence. Foreign Law 24. Politics 25. Mathematics. Pure. Arithematic 26. Mathematics. Pure. Geometry 27. Physico-Mathematics. Mechanics, Statics, Dynamics, Pneumatics, Phonics, Optics 28. Astronomy 29. Geography III. Fine Arts 30. Architecture 31. Gardening, Painting, Sculpture 32. Music 33. Poetry. Epic 34. Romance, Tales-Fables 35. Pastorals, Odes, Elegies 36. Didactic 37. Tragedy 38. Comedy 39. Dialogue-Epistolary 40. Logic, Rhetoric, Orations 41. Criticism. Theory 42. Criticism. Bibliography 43. Criticism. Languages 44. Polygraphical Appendix Some pages from the printed catalogue of 1815

This visually stunning volume explores Monticello, both house and plantation, with texts that present a current assessment of Jefferson’s cultural contributions to his noteworthy home and the fledgling country. Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States, designed his Virginia residence with innovations that were progressive, even unprecedented, in the new world. Six acclaimed arts and cultural luminaries pay homage to Jefferson, citing his work at Monticello as testament to his genius in art, culture, and science, from his adaptation of Palladian architecture, his sweeping vision for landscape design, his experimental gardens, and his passion for French wine and cuisine to his eclectic mix of European and American art and artifacts and the creation of the country’s seminal library. Each writer considers the important role, and the painful reality, of Jefferson’s enslaved workforce, which made his lifestyle and plantation possible. This book, illustrated with superb photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna, is a necessary addition to the libraries of those who love historical architecture and landscape design, art and cultural history, and the lives of prominent Americans.

A masterly treatment of the epic 3 day Gettysburg Campaign. Complete with detailed maps, Stars in their Courses brilliantly recreates this great battle of the Civil War.

In honor of the Library of Congress's 200th anniversary in April and its new Jefferson exhibition, this book presents a lively narrative of Jefferson's life and influence in a series of essays by scholars, illuminated by Jefferson's own words. Introduction by Garry Wills, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Lincoln at Gettysburg." 150 illustrations, two-thirds in color.

This is a book about two special men and their time. But it is also about friendship, books and libraries, reading, understanding the wisdom of the past, and acting on this knowledge. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were among the great library builders of their age. They used the information in their books to guide them and, in their retirement, they articulated the role of books and ideas in their lives. Their lives were intertwined; they documented in letters and other writings what they felt, thought, and did. Except for the few years when they were political enemies, they were friends who shared ideas and engaged in one of the most distinguished correspondences in American history or letters. Introspective, reflective, and remarkably informed, these men tested each other's understanding of the previous half century of the nation's political, economic, and social development at the same time that they shared credit as founding fathers for much of what America had become. The year 2009 marked the bicentennial of Thomas Jefferson leaving the presidency and returning to Monticello-and also the start of the rebuilding of the friendship between Adams and Jefferson. Jefferson wrote to Adams in 1815, "I cannot live without books." And Adams wrote, "We ought not to die before we have explained ourselves to each other." And so they did in their correspondence as they reviewed the Revolution, the Constitution, and ideas on democracy from the Greeks to the Enlightenment. In June 2009, a weeklong conference called "John Adams and Thomas Jefferson: Libraries, Leadership, and Legacy" was held initially in Boston and then in Charlottesville. Thirty-two scholars presented papers on these two great Americans and the ideas they shared. Speakers came from twenty institutions in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. The conference was sponsored by seven national organizations, including the Boston Public Library, the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, Monticello. Book jacket.