Roger Kennedy is Director Emeritus of the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, and a past Director of the National Park Service. He has had a long and distinguished career in public service during which he has served six presidents. His books include Burr, Hamilton, and Jefferson and (as general editor and contributor) the twelve-volume Smithsonian Guide to Historic America.
"The book provides much food for argument....Kennedy is a talented
story teller, and many will find this adventure in speculative
history to be informative and fascinating."--Allan G. Bogue,
University of Wisconsin, Madison
"Forces us to reconsider settled opinions."--Wall Street
Journal
"Well-researched, well-written and provocative."--Santa Fe New
Mexican
"A good look at the economics that drove the early years of the
nation."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Fresh, endlessly fascinating, and altogether extraordinary....A
sweeping, continent-wide reinterpretation of early US history from
Kennedy, who replaces individualist heroes such as Daniel Boone
with economic movements, transcontinental forces, and unintended
consequences....Thematically rich and full of subtle arguments,
Kennedy's study forces a reconsideration of accepted views. It
couldn't come at a better time, given the soon-to-be widely
commemorated
bicentenary of the Lewis and Clark expedition."--Kirkus Reviews
(starred review)
"An enjoyable and provocative work, taking a novel approach but
backing it with good documentation."--Library Journal
"Mr. Kennedy's astringency forces us to reconsider settled
opinions, always a good thing."--Wall Street Journal
"Roger Kennedy's throws down the gauntlet in his engaging new book.
Was the freedom-loving, slave-holding Thomas Jefferson responsible
for the coming of the Civil War? Kennedy's bold argument will
certainly stir up controversy among the specialists, but it will
also force them to rethink some of the most important questions in
the history of the early American republic. Mr. Jefferson's Lost
Cause is vintage Kennedy, serving up a characteristically rich
offering of fascinating stories, deft character sketches, and
provocative conclusions."--Peter Onuf, University of Virginia
"Though in many ways a willful architect of the nation, Thomas
Jefferson failed to build the foundation he envisioned in his heart
of hearts: an Arcadian society of small farmers. His dream was
trampled by a parade of vanities, intrigues, and missed
opportunities, all marching lock step with the determinations of
social history and natural history. Roger Kennedy highlights this
fascinating story for us--he weaves it with stunning erudition, and
delivers it
with bounteous wit. Kennedy provides novel insights on Jefferson
and numerous contemporaries, and he plows bare the roots of
American land policy, revealing factors that are still germane
after two
centuries."--Daniel J. Gelo, University of Texas, San Antonio
"From this world of filibusters and spies, slaves and masters,
tribal leaders and imperial politicians, Roger Kennedy has
assembled as fascinating a cast as American history has ever
produced."--Richard White, Stanford University
The term Lost Cause generally refers to ex-slaveholders' hopes for an independent slaveholding Confederacy but is partly traceable to Thomas Jefferson, who envisioned free and independent yeomen, or small family farmers, as the foundation of the American republic. Yet his loyalties ultimately lay with the slaveholding plantation owners. Kennedy (director emeritus, National Museum of American History) argues that Jefferson's support of slaveholders turned his dreams for a yeoman republic into a lost cause. Jefferson's policies, including the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase, served slaveholders, whose ruinous land-use patterns and indebtedness to British interests contributed mightily to the territorial expansion of slavery. Kennedy has written an enjoyable and provocative work, taking a novel approach but backing it with good documentation. On the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, this book is an essential addition for academic and public libraries.-Charles L. Lumpkins, Pennsylvania State Univ., State College Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.
"The book provides much food for argument....Kennedy is a talented story teller, and many will find this adventure in speculative history to be informative and fascinating."--Allan G. Bogue, University of Wisconsin, Madison "Forces us to reconsider settled opinions."--Wall Street Journal "Well-researched, well-written and provocative."--Santa Fe New Mexican "A good look at the economics that drove the early years of the nation."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Fresh, endlessly fascinating, and altogether extraordinary....A sweeping, continent-wide reinterpretation of early US history from Kennedy, who replaces individualist heroes such as Daniel Boone with economic movements, transcontinental forces, and unintended consequences....Thematically rich and full of subtle arguments, Kennedy's study forces a reconsideration of accepted views. It couldn't come at a better time, given the soon-to-be widely commemorated bicentenary of the Lewis and Clark expedition."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "An enjoyable and provocative work, taking a novel approach but backing it with good documentation."--Library Journal "Mr. Kennedy's astringency forces us to reconsider settled opinions, always a good thing."--Wall Street Journal "Roger Kennedy's throws down the gauntlet in his engaging new book. Was the freedom-loving, slave-holding Thomas Jefferson responsible for the coming of the Civil War? Kennedy's bold argument will certainly stir up controversy among the specialists, but it will also force them to rethink some of the most important questions in the history of the early American republic. Mr. Jefferson's Lost Cause is vintage Kennedy, serving up a characteristically rich offering of fascinating stories, deft character sketches, and provocative conclusions."--Peter Onuf, University of Virginia "Though in many ways a willful architect of the nation, Thomas Jefferson failed to build the foundation he envisioned in his heart of hearts: an Arcadian society of small farmers. His dream was trampled by a parade of vanities, intrigues, and missed opportunities, all marching lock step with the determinations of social history and natural history. Roger Kennedy highlights this fascinating story for us--he weaves it with stunning erudition, and delivers it with bounteous wit. Kennedy provides novel insights on Jefferson and numerous contemporaries, and he plows bare the roots of American land policy, revealing factors that are still germane after two centuries."--Daniel J. Gelo, University of Texas, San Antonio "From this world of filibusters and spies, slaves and masters, tribal leaders and imperial politicians, Roger Kennedy has assembled as fascinating a cast as American history has ever produced."--Richard White, Stanford University
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