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America's First Daughter: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Stephanie Dray (Author), Laura Kamoie (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 24,947 ratings

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

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The New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson's eldest daughter, Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph--a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.

From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson's oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother's death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.

It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father's troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love--with her father's protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William's wife and still be a devoted daughter.

Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.

Print length

590 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication date

March 1, 2016
File size

2415 KB
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

The abiding passion of his life is a government that derives its authority from the people.
Highlighted by 1,028 Kindle readers
“I’ll tell you a secret about being happy, Tom. Sometimes you just have to pretend at it until it becomes real.”
Highlighted by 813 Kindle readers
“Because partisanship has made anything fair, which honor and propriety might once have kept quiet.”
Highlighted by 809 Kindle readers

From the Publisher

Historical Fiction, Hamilton, Revolutionary War, Eliza Hamilton, United States History


	America's First Daughter	Ribbons of Scarlet	My Dear Hamilton

Customer Reviews	24,947	915	11,627
Price	$11.24	$10.89	$11.09

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Painstakingly researched, beautifully hewn, compulsively readable -- this enlightening literary journey takes us from Monticello to revolutionary Paris to the Jefferson White House, revealing remarkable historical details, dark family secrets, and bringing to life the colorful cast of characters who conceived of our new nation. A must read." (Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Empress)
"A delectable and poignant read, carefully paced and plotted with pitch perfect dialogue. It deftly draws on the volatile atmosphere of Jefferson's time, recounting his daughter's little-known story -- a heroine tested to the limit, loaded with grit and determination. All the right chords are struck here. You're going to want to read slow and savor this one. Bravo." (Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Jefferson Key)
"AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER is the story of a generation caught between the past and the future of a nation, and illuminates how the actions of one woman managed to sustain a family in spite of the consequences of both privilege and poverty. Not since GONE WITH THE WIND has a single volume family saga so brilliantly portrayed the triumphs, trials, and sins of a family in the American South." (Erika Robuck, bestselling author of Hemingway's Girl and The House of Hawthorne)
"[A] triumphant, controversial, and fascinating plunge into the complexities of Revolutionary America, where women held power in subtle ways and men hid dangerous secrets. You'll never look at Jefferson or his legacy the same way again." (C.W. Gortner, bestselling author of Mademoiselle Chanel)
"America's First Daughter brings a turbulent era to vivid life. All the conflicts and complexities of the Early Republic are mirrored in Patsy's story. It's breathlessly exciting and heartbreaking by turns-a personal and political page-turner." (Donna Thorland, author of The Turncoat)
"Fiction can go boldly where history treads warily. In this compelling, poignant novel, Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie open the door into the heart of Martha Jefferson Randolph, the motherless daughter, long-suffering wife, devoted mother and passionate protector of her famous father's lies, secrets, and silences. A remarkable and insightful achievement." (Virginia Scharff, Distinguished Professor of History, University of New Mexico, author of The Women Jefferson Loved)

From the Author

Join Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie's Newsletter to receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and reader events, sneak peaks and teasers, signings and appearances, and more! To subscribe, copy and paste this into your browser's address window: eepurl.com/bPZ-zD

From the Back Cover

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.

From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.

It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted daughter.

Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.

About the Author

STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women's fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives near the nation's capital with her husband, cats, and history books.

Laura Kamoie is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing fiction. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and two daughters.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00ZP4KE70
Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (March 1, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2415 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 590 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #44,745 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #45 in Historical Biographical Fiction
- #63 in Biographical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #284 in U.S. Historical Fiction

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4.5 24,947 ratings

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Laura Kamoie
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A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, Laura Kamoie has always been fascinated by the people, stories, and physical presence of the past, which led her to a lifetime of historical and archaeological study and training. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing genre fiction. She is the author of AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER, MY DEAR HAMILTON, and RIBBONS OF SCARLET, allowing her the exciting opportunity to combine her love of history with her passion for storytelling. Her upcoming novel, CHURCHILL'S SPYMISTRESS, is about SOE officer Vera Atkins and two of her spies in Occupied France during WWII. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and two daughters. www.LauraKamoie.com
Join Laura's Occasional Newsletter to receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and reader events, sneak peaks and teasers, signings and appearances, and more! To subscribe, copy and paste this into your browser's address window: http://bit.ly/3aRa8FU
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Stephanie Dray
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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into ten languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books.
Join Stephanie Dray's Monthly Newsletter for:
* Free book giveaways every month
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* Contests, Free Reads & Sneak Peeks
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To sign up copy and paste this into your browser: stephaniedray.com/fun/newsletter/
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4.5 out of 5

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Linda Sathre

America’s First Daughter

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024

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Throughly enjoyed this book. Beautifully written & hard to put down. I wanted to learn more about, Martha/Patsy & I am amazed at the life she lived. Again, beautifully written & a joy to read. I highly recommend.

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B. Burnham

Extraordinary life of Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2023

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My book club reads a lot of biographical fiction. It’s an interesting and entertaining way to learn more about a specific time, place, and person in history. This month we chose America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. With the first person POV of the main character, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph, it explores the life of not only Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, but of his contemporaries and family members. The book begins when Patsy is a young girl and finishes with her later years. It is filled with historical detail that a history-nerd will love. The Revolutionary War and the early years of the nation are not time periods I generally read, but this book was fascinating in its portrayal of a young nation founded on high moral principles, yet in reality a democracy riddled with injustices. Slavery, the huge elephant in the room given Jefferson’s own ownership of slaves and his relationship with Sally Hemings, is a big part of the story. Patsy is definitely a woman of her time, and though she abhors slavery (as do many of her acquaintance) she is unable to affect any kind of meaningful change. In fact, those with the power to do so either were unsuccessful or left it to later generations. The authors do a good job of balancing the context of the time (slavery, limited rights of women and children) with an honest portrayal of the subject matter. This is Patsy’s story to tell, and I feel the authors allowed this incredible woman to tell it. Patsy was witness to so much — the American Revolution, formation of a new nation, the unfolding of the French revolution, the rise and fall of political factions — yet she was first and foremost a dutiful daughter, a committed wife, and a nurturing mother of many children. Her life was both extraordinary and ordinary, and the novel expresses that so well.

If you are a fan of early American history, then this book is definitely for you. My book club googled a lot during the reading of the book! We also had an outstanding discussion.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased Kindle ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

15 people found this helpful

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Elias

yet I learned so much more about him and his brilliant but tortured soul

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2017

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A little disclaimer before we begin. I’m a MASSIVE history nerd, and even more so, American History (mostly Revolution and Civil War). Between having the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat most days, our recent Independence Day in America, a few historical road trips over the past couple of months, and the current state of affairs in our nation, I couldn’t help but pick up this book. I actually purchased it months ago, but when I was going through my personal shelves looking for something that just “spoke” to me in the moment, this was the one that won out instantly. After spending almost a full month savoring every page, I can finally say it was well worth the journey.

I always knew the Founding Fathers were superheroes of sorts. As Thomas Jefferson told me when I was in Williamsburg not too long ago, “we stand on the shoulders of giants”, and while he was referring to those who came even before him, I know I can say this about these men as well. Speaking of Jefferson…

While First Daughter is a work of historical fiction, the authors clearly did their research and brought in material from thousands of letters and documents to tell the story through the eyes of Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph. We meet her as she travels with her father and family to escape the British during The Revolution and follow every monumental moment of her life to an Andrew Jackson presidency.

Throughout most of the book, she speaks of her father doing his duty to the American nation, but what she doesn’t tell us directly is the part she played helping to shape the country. The Jefferson family suffered quite a bit, and thanks to Patsy, I was able to go behind closed doors and really understand and sympathize with not only their family, but the author of The Declaration of Independence and our third president.

My heart ached for Mr. Jefferson, yet I learned so much more about him and his brilliant but tortured soul. His losses are tremendous, whether it’s of a child or his beloved wife, but his duty to family and country are to be admired greatly. He promises his dying partner he’ll never marry again, so Patsy becomes his companion of sorts and helps him on days when he can’t even seem to get out of bed. Of crows, he has Sally too, but his relationship with her causes his soul to tear in two as he tries to make the right decisions, while also keeping her safe from public ridicule.

Patsy deserves all the credit in the world. She cares for her father whether they’re under the same roof, or far apart. She advises him on matters of family and state, while also keeping their home at Monticello afloat as best she can. With an abusive husband and eleven children of her own, she never loses heart, and does what she can to make sure everyone is seen to and cared for properly.

This story is so rich in history, drama, romance, and politics, that it can draw in numerous audiences. There is something for everyone, I assure you. I walked away from these pages having learned infinitely more about my country’s founding, the genius who helped to establish our roots, and the daughter who went above and beyond her patriotic duty and shared the gift of her father with us all. I didn’t want it to end, and now all I want to do is gobble up more novels just like this one!

18 people found this helpful

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Sue Baker

A well written story. Excellent read.

Reviewed in Canada on December 14, 2021

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This is an easy to engage with story. The writing flows well and you quickly feel like you know the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good story.

Antonio V.

It was a beautiful read

Reviewed in Italy on August 14, 2022

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Beautifully written and engaging, I bought it for my daughter who is particularly passionate about historical fiction. She fell in love with the heroine and read the book in 3 days. Bravo!

Cliente Amazon

I was so sad to finish this book

Reviewed in Spain on September 26, 2018

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this is such a different way to learn about US history and one of his presidents. it is beautifully written and so interesting.
i tried to read slower towards the end to make it last

Nancy Davies

Exceptional

Reviewed in Australia on December 6, 2018

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Because of its length I had to put it down and pick it back innumerable times but it is so well written and organised that I never lost the thread. Not for history buffs only - it’s for anyone who loves a good book.

Purple Cat 65

Excellent historical novel.C.A.T Purple Cat!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2016

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A well written book with sound historical research that brings alive the people of that particular time in American history thoroughly enjoyable. C.A.Thomas

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