"Those Who Labor for My Happiness": Slavery at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (Jeffersonian America) Paperback – Illustrated, 15 Feb. 2012

Gives a voice to those at Monticello who before Stanton and Annette Gordon-Reed had no voice. Well-written and still holds up years after its publication.

Actually, this book is about more than slavery but also the generations afterward and what became of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemming's descendants or supposed descendants because no one will ever know for sure. Given how men tend to be, I think that although Jefferson did not believe the two races should "mingle" he did quite a bit of "mingling" with Sally Hemmings. I was disappointed to read how ordinary Jefferson was as a plantation owner and while he may have had innovative ideas about farming, he seemed to be the typical slave owner - no better nor worse. But he did provide a lot of specific training for his slaves which they found useful when they were free and many continued on in the same trade they had learned in slavery - often from highly successful professionals and artists. They would not have had exposure to these elite folks without Thomas Jefferson. In any case I found the book highly readable and very interesting and would like to know more. Which is the sign of a good book!

Arrived on time. And was exactly as described.

The book gives a unique insight into the world of slavery - which is very rare. It also has helped me to understand what has made America such a violent and excessively aggressive society - something that I have often wondered about. After all, Canada was settled in those days also, but has turned out a much better nation. And this book has helped me tremendously to answer that question. I do not think the author intended this at all, but I still want to thank her for that very much.Regards,Trine Mikkelsen, Denmark

If you have ever wondered about the lives of African Americans before Emancipation, read Cinder Stanton's ground-breaking work. You won't just learn about life at Monticello, you'll meet wonderful individuals with moving stories, impressive talents, and the fortitude to endure slavery. This volume includes the now out-of-print "Free Some Day," an excellent monograph concerning the major slave families owned by Thomas Jefferson.These essays represent a career dedicated to exploring primary resources concerning life at Monticello and are essential reading for anyone interested in daily life at Jefferson's endlessly fascinating plantation.