Person
Every book Clay Jenkinson recommended on podcasts
Clay Jenkinson is a historian, author, and humanities scholar known for his historical portrayals and radio broadcasts. Appearing as a guest on The Megyn Kelly Show, Jenkinson discussed and recommended notable historical and literary works. He strongly recommended Annette Gordon-Reed's book The Hemingses of Monticello, praising it as a fabulous and important work and citing Gordon-Reed as a great historian to highlight scholarship surrounding Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and the history of Monticello. In addition to recommending Gordon-Reed's work, Jenkinson discussed several other texts during the interview. He mentioned a pamphlet written by Thomas Jefferson in 1774, published without his permission under the title A Summary View of the Rights of British America, noting how it established the young Jefferson as a figure to be reckoned with across the colonies. Furthermore, Jenkinson brought up Dante Alighieri's Inferno to illustrate the broader cultural value of classic literature and to emphasize how much can be lost when great works of art are dropped from school curricula. Through these discussions, Jenkinson utilized literature and historical documentation to illuminate American history and the enduring significance of foundational texts.
Books recommended by Clay Jenkinson
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The Hemingses of Monticello
The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed is a monumental, Pulitzer Prize-winning history book that meticulously traces generations of the Hemings family and their intertwined lives with Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.
Recommended“So, historians are unclear and the great historian on this is Annette Gordon-Reed who has a fabulous and important book called The Hemings Family of Monticello, but she may have been in Washington for a short amounts of time, but probably not.”
Where to get it
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Inferno
Inferno by Dante Alighieri is a classic epic poem describing a journey through the underworld and the various circles of hell.
Discussed“let's say you drop Dante's Inferno out of the curriculum”
Where to get it
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Notes on the state of Virginia
Notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson is the only book published by the founding father during his lifetime, originally written to provide a comprehensive description of Virginia while defending the United States to French intellectuals.
Discussed“and then he in 1774 he wrote a pamphlet which was published without his permission called a summary View and everyone in all the colonies thought this is a young man to reckon with”
Where to get it
