America’s First Daughter is a historical fiction novel written by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray.
I really enjoyed reading another of their novels, My Dear Hamilton, the story of Eliza Hamilton. I couldn’t wait to read another book set during the 18th century around the time of the American Revolution.
America’s First Daughter is the story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph and was a New York Times bestseller.
America’s First Daughter: Plot
As with My Dear Hamilton, the story is a work of fiction based on true events. Thomas Jefferson wrote almost 20,000 letters in his lifetime so there are a lot of writings to centre the story around. However, while he is obviously a key character, this isn’t Thomas Jefferson’s story. This story is based on Patsy Jefferson, his daughter.
After her mother’s death, Patsy becomes her father’s companion, confidant, and keeper of secrets. We follow the Jeffersons from Monticello to Paris and back to America, all the way to the White House. We see a young Patsy have to make difficult decisions during a turbulent era, torn between love and loyalty to her father. As a devoted daughter, she sacrifices so much as she discovers, and conceals, dark secrets as tragedy and poverty threaten her family.
America’s First Daughter: My Opinion
Before I read My Dear Hamilton I already knew quite a bit about Eliza and Alexander from watching the musical Hamilton. I was therefore already familiar with most of their story. Through reading that novel and watching the musical, I had already formed an opinion on Thomas Jefferson. However, his daughter’s story was completely new to me.
America’s First Daughter feels in many ways like a good old-fashioned family saga. There are love stories, family secrets, conflicts and scandals. In some ways, it’s easy to forget it’s based on the family of one of America’s most enigmatic founding fathers.
As a man who shaped America’s legacy, I found Thomas Jefferson to be a deeply flawed character. While obviously a brilliant man who did brilliant things, he often displayed cowardice, hypocrisy and weakness throughout the story. As a man who believed “all men are created equal”, this sentiment obviously didn’t extend to slaves. He also promised his wife as she lay dying that he would never love anyone but her. He then went on to have a secret, illicit relationship with a slave girl the same age as his daughter, fathering several children with her. However, it’s not always wise to judge a historical figure by the standards of our times, and the authors brilliantly show both Thomas and Patsy’s conflicted emotions.
Patsy did everything she could to keep their family’s darkest scandals secret and ensured she protected not only Jefferson’s reputation but also his political legacy. Alongside Eliza Hamilton, and no doubt countless more, it shows the subtle power these women had with the secrets they kept and the advice they bestowed.
It can often feel frustrating to read about these women sacrificing so much while the men went on to achieve glory. Patsy’s relationship with William Short, a staunch abolitionist, has never been confirmed but hinted at throughout history. I found myself rooting for them, willing Patsy to take a chance at her own happiness.
The story is clearly well researched and I enjoyed reading about familiar figures such as Alexander Hamilton and Marquis de Lafayette through Patsy’s eyes.
I really enjoyed the book and would definitely read more by the authors. They did a brilliant job of giving Patsy Jefferson a voice and I love reading about women of that time.
FAQs
How many pages does America’s First Daughter have?
America’s First Daughter has 590 pages.
When was America’s First Daughter released?
America’s First Daughter was published on 1st March 2016.
What should I read after America’s First Daughter?
If you enjoyed America’s First Daughter, I would definitely recommend My Dear Hamilton also written by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray. If you’re looking for more books set in the 18th century, I would recommend The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd Robinson and That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn.