Helpful Score: 1
An interesting book, and more than an interesting take on Monticello and Jefferson. Pretty well written, though dry is some places. Also, unless you're a builder, there are numerous areas in which the book bogs down in describing the minutiae of specific parts of building such as boards, bricks, windows, etc. As a student of Jefferson, this was an interesting read which shows a different side of the man than I'm used to. A solid book, but it would be enjoyed more by a builder who likes history than a historian.
I ordered this book to read before a recent trip to Monticello and I'm sure that I gained much more from the visit because of it. The author does an outstanding job in providing much detailed information in an entertaining manner. The reader gets to know the homes of Thomas Jefferson, the man and many of the other family members and slaves as individuals. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American history or classical architecture.
