Explores the relationship between Jefferson's inner life and his public life including his attitudes toward the church, slavery, women, and revolution.

The semi-transparent shadows -- The parents -- A sense of family -- A capacity for involvement -- A problem with the forbidden -- Martha Jefferson -- The revolutionary -- Jefferson and independence -- the domestic problem -- The flight from power -- Jefferson and the war -- Jefferson writes a book -- The two Marthas -- The return to politics -- Restlessness and torment -- My head and my heart -- The second interlude -- Sally Hemings -- The revolutionary goes home -- The satellite sons -- Disillusionment in Eden -- Triangles at Monticello -- Candidate à Contre Coeur -- Callender -- Jason -- Betrayal -- Jefferson under attack -- Death, hatred, and the uses of silence -- Jefferson and Burr -- A genius for peace -- Like a patriarch of old -- Writer of letters -- The Monticello tragedy -- Appendix I. Reminiscences of Madison Hemings ; Reminiscences of Israel Jefferson -- Appendix II. "My head and my heart" -- Appendix III. The family denial.