Derek Baxter

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

In Pursuit of Jefferson is a travelogue through both the late 1700s and the modern age, with an increasingly deep personal journey along the way. Derek Baxter grew up in Virginia with an adoration of Thomas Jefferson. That continued into adulthood. Sure, he knew about Sally Hemings, but Jefferson did so many other things! He was a genius, a polymath, a Founding Father! He also wrote what is now a rather obscure advice book called Hints show more for Americans Traveling Through Europe. Baxter hit upon the idea of traveling where Jefferson traveled, chronicling how things changed and stayed the same.

That alone makes for an intriguing read, but I really appreciated the narrative the most when it reached the halfway point and the author realized he couldn't try to ignore that Jefferson wrote that all men are created equal, yet owned and sold slaves--that he owned his own children. Baxter does a deep dive into how Jefferson, largely absent from Monticello for 40 years as he traveled and worked elsewhere, started out as a young idealist well-aware of the corruptive influence of slave ownership, who became the very thing he warned about. Jefferson lived luxuriously while abroad and reached a point where his slaves were his financial stability. The details around that--from the nailery shop to his escaped slaves to what the Hemings family horrifically endured in France and in Virginia--is enlightening and disturbing.

What begins as a kind of worshipful exploration of Jefferson becomes a profound effort to understand the man and his frustrating contradictions. Along the way, you get to read a lot about wine in France, Jefferson's rigorous scientific hobby and how it provides a perspective on climate change, why we should all be proud of the grand North American moose, and more. The story gains even more because Baxter's family with two young kids essentially grows up within their dad's obsession. Seeing how they learn and mature through their experiences truly shows the benefits of education through travel, uncomfortable as it may be at times.

This truly is a stand-out nonfiction title for the year. What I learned from this read will linger with me for a long time. show less

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The concept of the books sounded, to me, very original and exciting. Mr. Baxter has read Jefferson’s Hints for Americans Traveling Through Europe and decided to follow his footsteps. I have read several books about Thomas Jefferson, and shamefully admit that the title didn’t sound familiar.

The author, his wife, and two children took a series of vacations, following Jefferson’s 1788 book through England, France, show more Germany, Holland, and Italy. These weren’t just sightseeing tours, the family visited vineyards, farms, as well many towns. Attempting to observer what the Founding Father saw, or experienced, whether it be architecture or “new” technology. On the way they learned about local cuisine, cheesemaking, and, of course, wines.

About half way through, the tone turned a bit somber. The Virginia native realized that Jefferson was a slave owner, and a hypocrite when it comes to that and other aspects as well. The American Founding Fathers, however, were well aware of their hypocrisy, and wrote about it often. It was either selective amnesia, or just a subject Virginia schools chose to gloss over.
Or simply, the old adage of “you don’t want to meet your heroes” turned out to be true.

To Mr. Baxter’s credit, he dives into the subject. He does not shy away from it and does his best to learn more about slavery, as well as Jefferson’s role in it. At first, I found the subject out of context for the book. However, trying to make sense of it, if possible, by a native Virginian was certainly an interesting read.

If I had to describe In Pursuit of Jefferson by Derek Baxter in one word, it would be “honest”. Mr. Baxter writes in a chatty tone, warm, and often corny – but it works. show less