America's First Daughter

 Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie wrote a long book about Martha (Patsy) Jefferson Randolph, Thomas Jefferson's eldest daughter. The audio version of America's First Daughter was over 23 hours long. The book may have been long but it was never boring. Patsy was ten years old, red haired and freckled like her father, when her mother passed. On her death bed her mother asked Patsy to watch over her poppa. Patsy took that vow seriously. She gave up her own choices to be with her father all throughout his life including 8 years of living in Paris when he was ambassador there. In Paris Patsy got a great education. She could speak four languages, sew, dance, and read. Sally Hemmings, his slave, was Patsy's age and also in Paris. When they left Paris, Sally was pregnant with her first child and Patsy knew all about it. At his side, Patsy lived through the American revolution and the French revolution. Patsy married Thomas Randolph and had a dozen children with him. When her father was elected to be the third President of our nation, she served as his hostess in the White House. Some of the book includes excerpts of actual letters between Patsy and her father or her father and other people. Some parts of the book were based on conjecture. We know that Patsy's husband beat his children but we don't know for sure if he beat Patsy too as is indicated in this book. Reading this book gave me a sense of what it was like for women living in Virginia on a farm trying to make a living while raising a family. I have admired Jefferson as a President but now I admire his daughter for helping him. He would not have been as successful without Patsy.