"Not trusting biographers with his story and frustrated by his friends' failure to justify his role in the American Revolution, Jefferson wrote his autobiography on his own terms at the age of seventy-seven. Yet he revealed little about himself and his family, choosing instead to address the various political concerns of the day. The resulting book ends, well before his death, with his return from France at the age of forty-six.".

"In Jefferson on Jefferson, researcher Paul Zall returns to original manuscripts and correspondence for a new view of the statesman's life. He extends the story where Jefferson left off, weaving excerpts from other writings - notes, rough drafts, and private correspondence - into passages from the original autobiography.

Jefferson reveals his grief over the death of his daughter, details his hotly contested election against John Adams (decided by the House of Representatives), expresses his thought on religion, and tells of his life at Monticello.".

"The result is a new and more complex portrait of a man who was often bitter about the past and insecure about his place in history. Rounded out by notes and an introduction, Jefferson on Jefferson offers readers a new glimpse into the life of one of America's most studied presidents."--BOOK JACKET.