Released 2016.03.01 | Finished 2024.05.19 | Own
Praised by critics as an historical novel that catches the elusive history of Thomas Jefferson and his daughter Martha ‘Patsy’ Jefferson Randolph. The widowed Jefferson was left with two daughters to raise. The older was already a favorite companion of the revolutionary who as a young teen must guide her father through his madness and grief at the loss of her mother in a world that holds many enemies of her father. She was thrust into a world of diplomats and political enemies at an early age which only proved to be a training ground for the needs of her father when he was elected President of the United States.
Through the years and in political situations, Patsy was helped by future first ladies, Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison. Their sisterhood that looked beyond the entanglements of their spouses and father. The future of the United States depended on the ability of these women to hold the society of diplomacy together. They might not be the ones signing the treaties or passing laws, but they were the ones to control the hubris of their men in public and to advise them in private.
The novel is 580 pages long. At times that seemed quite long to someone who does not tither at a new history or historical novel. There were pages that seemed familiar, but such is the case when reading historical novels that have stories that overlap with other historical novels, biographies, and history texts. The reader expects to have these moments of déjà vu. The book was informative especially once the reader connects with the authors’ notes to explain historical situations vs. hypothetical/fictional situations. I read this for a book club – unless it had contained information that I need for a current historical project, I most likely would not have read it. However, because of the obligation to the club, I did finish it rather than escape to more modern fiction. That will not be the case for a reader that enjoys biography or historical fiction. There was something to be learned about Patsy Jefferson Randolph and this book provided a means to do so.
The Authors
Stephanie Dray (aka Stephanie Draven) is an American writer of historical and fantasy fiction known for her research and accuracy. According to the Elisabeth Storrs website, Stephanie is a frequent panelist and presenter at nation writing conventions, a former lawyer, game designer, and teacher.
Laura (A. Croghan) Kamoie (b. August 27, 1970, in Hagerstown, Maryland) is an historian (Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy) and author. She graduated cum laude from Dickinson College in 1992 and later earned her MA and PhD in American History from the College of William and Mary. She writes historical fiction and non-fiction as Kamoie and romantic fiction as Luara Kaye. Under her combined names, she has 44 titles.
Another Arm Chair Opinion 