Well researched and written, this book looks at the three daughters that Jefferson had. Two were born of his wife, and one was born of his slave, Sally Hemings.

The two white daughters receive top notch education abroad but upon returning to early America they find their roles of women severely crimped.

Harriet, daughter of Sally, escapes slavery with the presumed help of Jefferson himself.

This story examines not only the three daughters but the American in which women lived and were ultimately limited by

In JEFFERSON'S DAUGHTERS, Catherine Kerrison tells the tale of Jefferson's three daughters. Two, Martha and Maria, by his wife and one, Harriet, with his slave Sally Hemmings.

This is a nuanced biography of the three women with the added bonus of reading never before seen documents and letters.

These three women take different paths to forge their destinies, and their story makes for rich reading.

Thomas Jefferson is famous for being the author of the Declaration of the Independence and the third president of the United States. However, we tend to forget about the women behind him. This triple biography by Mrs. Kerrison tells the little known story of Jefferson’s daughters. Two of them were daughters of his marriage. The third daughter was by his slave, Sally Hemings. These three girls lived in very different circumstances. Martha and Maria lived privileged lives and were well-educated. Harriet was a slave who was eventually freed. The story of Jefferson’s daughters shows the contrast of women of different races living in colonial America.

While I knew a little bit about Martha from the historical fiction novel, America’s First Daughter, I did not know much about Maria or had even heard of Harriet Hemings. These daughters are very different. Martha was educated in France. She was like her father. She loved reading and writing. She wanted her daughters to get a great education. Even though Martha’s daughters were well educated, they were not taken seriously because they lived in a patriarchal society. In fact, Thomas Jefferson did not believe in his daughters getting a good education. He believed that his daughters were supposed to marry well and raise a family.

Maria has often been overshadowed by her elder sister. She was lazy and did not fancy learning. The short letters she wrote to her father greatly disappointed him. However, she had a love of novels and composed music. Maria spent some part of her childhood with her aunt, and she considered her to be a maternal figure. She married her childhood friend and had a happy marriage. However, she had a difficult time with pregnancies. One of them eventually killed her.

Because Harriet was a slave, she was not educated. She worked in a textile workshop. The author states that this was a better option for Harriet because it was a much more preferred job than the fields. The author also states that she had a happy childhood with her family. There is not much information regarding Harriet, except that she escaped. Thus, the author speculates what may have happened to Harriet after she escaped. Mrs. Kerrison claims that Harriet may have gone to Washington D. C. and married a respectable gentleman. Even though Harriet was a slave, Thomas Jefferson still wanted the best for his daughter and helped her to be a successful free woman.

Overall, this biography gives us an in-depth look at the women behind Thomas Jefferson. These women were fascinating, accomplished, and resourceful in their own right. There were a few time jumps that made the novel confusing. The author has a habit of going into tangents and gets side-tracked in discussing side details. Also, the book is a bit dry at times. Still, Jefferson’s Daughters introduces us to these women’s personal happiness and their challenges. Hopefully, there will be more studies on these women in the future.

This was a very interesting book. There was a massive amount of information in between the covers of this book. It was well researched and written. The author allowed you to make your own conclusions about the Jefferson family. The information on all of Jefferson's children was insightful. The information on Jefferson's wife's family was necessary for the understanding of the rest of the family dynamics. While reading this book you become very aware not only the daughters but of all the children including nephews and nieces.. This book also shows the difficulties but ease for someone to just disappear during that time period. The only negative I found with the book was the last few of the last chapter felt like a lecture. This book has given new light on the treatment of women and even the differences between women themselves due to status. For anyone interested in Thomas Jefferson, or even the history of that time period this is a must read book. The pages of notes and the bibliography give a wonderful look into other readings and show the extensive research that the author did.

I so wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me.

An amazing book written in chronological order and may be a stay on your toes read to keep up. Was very emotional and highly intense at times. The author went deep to help you understand what was really happening at the time. This story of three sisters, white and black and their relationships with their father. The term father here used biologically. The oldest,Martha his oldest and in many ways the Matriarch of the family. She knew him best and was by far the most liked. His daughter, Maria who we may know the most about. Then of course, his daughter with his slave Sally Hemings named Harriet. Whom he forgot to free at the age of 21. This is truly an interesting book.

I was expecting a story about Jefferson's 3 daughters in relation to each other. Mostly, it was a story about Jefferson's White daughters, and then about Jefferson's Black daughter. They did not interact with each other.

It's really a study of gender roles in the 19th century. It could have been about any Virginian, slave-holding family.

Recommended only for Jefferson scholars.

Jefferson’s Daughters by Catherine Kerrison was a unusual choice for me to read. It was historically researched nonfiction, that relied on the many accounts of the time period to help fill in gaps. Despite my trepidation of the genre, I was fascinated enough to pick up and completely read the book. I found myself intrigued by the contradictions that made up Thomas Jefferson and how he treated his daughters.

Thomas Jefferson had three daughters that survived past childhood. Two of his daughters, Martha and Mary were from his marriage to Martha Wayles Skelton. Harriet Hemings, his youngest daughter was born to Sally Hemings and was one of four (six, but two died in while babies) children fathered by Jefferson.

The book enumerates the life of Martha, Mary and Harriet. Martha, Mary and Harriet’s upbringing and education were separate as Harriet was enslaved. From childhood, to marriage, and to their death (or disappearance), their lives were described and put into context for the times. Catherine Kerrison’s research and thoroughness shows within the writing of the book. At time, the book does delve into some subjects deeply, which interestingly did not detract from the book.

Jefferson’s Daughters is a long book. It is relatively easy to read, but its thoroughness does require attention and thought. Catherine Kerrison’s research of the time does help the reader understand the times that the daughter’s lived in. Jefferson’s Daughters is a good nonfiction book, that brings the time period and the daughter’s lives to the reader.

After TWO MONTHS of trying to read this, I'm pulling the plug about a third of the way in. I hate to do it, but this book is so, so, so boring. I feel like I'm being forced to read it for school. And I say this as someone who reads a decent amount of non-fiction and historical books. I got pulled in by the gorgeous cover art, which belies the dry, academic effort inside.

This book follows the daughters of Thomas Jefferson: his two legitimate, white children by his wife, Martha, and one daughter he had with his slave Sally Hemings (who was his wife's half-sister). It became clear early on in the book, at least to me, that the source material for what the author wanted to write just isn't there. There's a lot of speculation involved. Jefferson might have been thinking this, and his daughters might have done that. I'm not interested in hundreds of pages of what people might have done 200 years ago. We learn that Martha, the eldest daughter, learned to dance and draw. Then she goes to Paris where she might or might not have wanted to become Catholic. Riveting. So it's not that this book is terrible, but I'm relieved not to be reading any more of it.

This is a very interesting and informative book on Thomas Jefferson's daughters and not so much on him. Which for most of history we hear about him. I really enjoyed learning of the ups and downs and interesting life his daughters lived. So I highly recommend this book.

This is a well researched and well written history about Jefferson's three daughters, two with his wife and one with his wife's half-sister and slave, Sally Hemmings. Kerrison's depth of knowledge is expressed in a manner that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged throughout the entire work. I found the examination of education, societal expectations, and the fact that Kerrison did not gloss over the fact Jefferson's treatment of Hemmings and their children was unfair and harsh a refreshing look at the lives of both wealthy and slave girls/women of the 18th century.

Thanks Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and netgalley for this ARC.

Everything you'd ever want to know about Jefferson, the early States, and French Revolution. Not a quick read but worth it.

More than a biography of Jefferson's three daughters, Martha and Maria, who were born to his wife, and Harriet Hemings, born to Sally Hemings, the author offers a heavily researched and documented description of the societal and legal constraints on women, especially Southern women, in the US, regardless of their educational or social status. Martha, the oldest, was educated in France during her father's long period of residence there. She benefitted from the coursework at her elite Parisian school, which was not meant to prepare her as an “ornamental” wife, as was the goal in the US, but was meant to prepare young women with the knowledge to enter into philosophical and political discussions in the salons of Europe. She thrived, but unfortunately she returned to rural Virginia when her father's tenure in Paris ended. Gone were the intellectual stimulation, and her only outlet became the education of her own daughters and sons. This included fluency in French, Spanish, and Latin, which was a subject only boys were taught. For all Jefferson's talk of “equality” and his love of books and knowledge, he was completely negligent in applauding and utilizing the exceptional minds of his daughters. Needlepoint, music, art, French, manners, and of course household management were encouraged rather than science, math, philosophy, economics, or rhetoric. At the end of the day, Martha's daughters were the most educated women of the period, but unfortunately, the US at this time did not recognize the importance of education for women. Martha's younger sister, Maria, died at the age of thirty-five due to the complications of childbirth, but she only spent 2-3 years in Paris, and was not as indoctrinated in the culture of learning. She had one son who survived childhood, but he was very young when she died.
At the other end of the social ladder was Harriet Hemings Jefferson. Her education was focused on learning a trade so that when she was freed at the age of twenty-one, she could find work. However, because Sally Deming's daughter and three sons worked in Monticello home, they were exposed to the culture, mannerisms and lessons of the of the upper class, and they absorbed the behaviors like sponges. Although Harriet did not learn to write until adulthood, her brothers learned by watching, and as they entered the world outside of slavery, they could read and write. Besides the differences in the education and living conditions of the three sisters, the author provided extensive background information on the practice of “passing”, which all four of Sally Hemings's children chose to do, rather than become “freed slaves”, and there intelligence and perseverance allowed them to achieve success.
Occasionally the author seemed to repeat information, but since I was reading a Net galley, courtesy of Random House, this might not be the case in the final, and it wasn't that much of a distraction. I was engrossed in the story, and would definitely recommend for students of history, both casual and professional. It is a perfect fit for courses in women's studies, and US history, both cultural and political, and as a character study of Thomas Jefferson. Once again, in my opinion, he comes up short.
I can't help but wonder if Martha's and Sally's outcomes would have been different if they had remained in France. Sally's living conditions would surely have been better, and any daughters Martha might have had the educational opportunities they deserved. This is a strong contender for my book club the next time I host.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and its publisher, Random House.

This book is interesting right from the start. The lives of each of Thomas Jefferson’s three daughters, Martha, Maria, and Harriet, are detailed very thoroughly. It is apparent the author has done a significant amount of research. After finishing the book, I felt I knew each of his daughters and the challenges each encountered. The reader learns not only about Jefferson’s daughters but also their progeny. After reading this book, you definitely will have a solid understanding of the life and times of Jefferson’s era.

The book isn’t just about these three women. It is about numerous topics including the:
• History of Monticello
• Slavery in the U.S.
• Challenges of anyone with black blood
• Gender biases
• Thomas Jefferson’s political career
• Hardships of the times with illness/death
• Historical facts about Paris

I found numerous interesting details sprinkled throughout the book, such as “Eighteenth-century manners required that writers first draft their letter and then make a fair copy to send.” If you enjoy historical books, this is a great one to pick up. You learn a lot while your interest is held.

If you're interested in American history; this is a must read book.
Catherine Kerrison really did her research and it shows. It portrays Jefferson as a relatable, flawed human rather than the celebrated founding father that he normally is shown to be.
I had no idea he had 3 girls that lived to adulthood; let alone one born into slavery. I honestly thought he just had the one because very little is mentioned about his younger two in history books. It was fascinating to me to read how all 3 girls were brought up so differently from each other and how little of a day-to-day role Jefferson played.
This isn't a fast paced book by any means. There are a lot of tedious details that make parts of the book move at a snails pace. That said, I really enjoyed this book and Woolf recommend it to anyone that wants an accurate account of the Jefferson daughters.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book slowly.. as I wanted time to research a few items that I'd read. OMG! The author outdid herself. This has to be one of the best researched novels of Jefferson's daughters. If you've read, "First Daughter".. then, this book is a MUST read. You will gain insights that you would not have even thought of prior to reading this story. It's a standalone novel.. you do not need to do prior reading.. but, it does help you understand the Jefferson family and their role in forming this country!

I did not realize that his "wooded" retreat was three days from Monticello. Everyone else made out like it was just a few miles in the woods. Jefferson's architectural building concepts were so far ahead of his time.. it's not funny. Though, I found it very odd that he chose to give himself the best lit rooms.. and then, locked the library. To visit his sanctuary was by permission only.

An absolute treat for the mind! A book that I am sure I will re-read more than a few times in the coming years.

What I Liked

I have to say I really enjoyed a few things about this book. I like how Kerrison was not afraid to talk about slavery and shedding light and discuss the practice. I know a lot of authors write about the founding fathers they tend to or at least used to skip this part because of various reasons. Not only did she discuss it she showcased it right from the start. As many say, you must study the mistakes of the past to not make them again, so I am glad the whole past is being shown. Another thing I liked was how she introduced this story. She starts off with an informative introduction, but she also went back a few generations to set the “stage”. Not only did she talk about the birth of Jefferson’s daughters with Martha, she also discusses the lineage of Harriet to show that they truly were family by blood and not just in one way. For me that really sent a message. I myself am very close with my family and if I had half sister I could never imagine owning them. It just sheds more light on the mentality and the madness of the whole system. Lastly, I really liked the fact that I learned things I have never heard before.

What I Didn’t Like

One thing I wish I had seen in this book, but may not be an issue in the final edition, is the fact that there is a bibliography, but there are no endnotes or foot notes to explain which facts are from which sources. If I were to research this topic more and look to this book for a direction, I will have a difficult time finding the document that is relevant.

Overall Thoughts

Over all I thought this was a wonderful book. It was eye opening and genuinely learned from it. Even if you are not a lover of history, I would say this book is still worth the read. It deals with social norms of the time and it really leads you to reflect and think about how some individuals can be as great as to write the Declaration of Independence, but at the same time break his word and refuse to free his own children because that would not be acceptable. But, is also shows you that even if you have a sibling and the circumstances are a little different your lives could be very, very different. Lastly, this is a well done book, you can tell a lot of thought and research went into it.

This is an excellent book. I really enjoyed reading Kerrison's research. I appreciated her sleuthing capabilities in regard to what happened to Harriet Hemings, but I think her suppositions are stretched as to an assumed name Hemings may have taken, Hemings successfully erased her existence for reasons the author enumerated, Hemings relatives may have known her fate, but unfortunately that information has not been preserved. Still, Jefferson's Daughters is an excellent look at the three women who carried on their father's legacy.

A fascinating look at Thomas Jefferson and his relationship with his daughters. I had no idea of the lives they had led, and what challenges they faced. Found it very interesting, and helped form a more complete picture of Thomas Jefferson.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I enjoyed learning about Jefferson's daughters. This book was well researched and interesting. The author had to conjecture about the lives of all the daughters because there was not much written about them. This is especially true about Harriet Hemings because she was born a slave.

I like Catherine Kerrison's feminist take on history and the efforts she made to learn more about what happened to the Hemings after they were freed by Thomas Jefferson.