Jefferson’s Daughters

by Catherine Kerrison
Published by Random House
Biography/Memoir

Narrator Tavia Gilbert candidly delivers the story of Thomas Jefferson’s daughters, Martha, Maria, and Harriet, in this meticulously researched profile. Gilbert’s thoughtful delivery movingly recounts their lives in Paris and early America. His white daughters, Martha and Maria, lived privileged lives yet were undervalued due to their gender. Harriet, his black daughter, was born into slavery but was raised in the family home. At age 14, Jefferson made her work at his mill, where she was exposed to the harshness of slave life. Harriet escaped Monticello around age 21, never to return. This is a well-produced work, although Kerrison’s intricate details on certain topics can overshadow the main subjects.—AudioFile Magazine