Now available in paperback for the first time, James Cross Giblin and Michael Dooling relate the story of our nation's third president and author of the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson was a soft-spoken man. But his contributions to American democracy live on as bold reminders of his formidable intellect and spirit. Son of a wealthy famer, young Thomas was a studious boy who shared his father's love of books. He was painfully shy about speaking up in school, especially when other children taunted him. By age 16, though, Thomas had entered college, and began law school two years later. He was a man of many talents. Besides practicing law, he played the violin and designed Monticello, the beautiful home where he lived with his wife and family.