Saving Monticello: The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House That Jeffereson Built Book

Sloppy editing and uneven timelines make this book somewhat hard to follow. The detailed accounts of documented activity can read like a bogged down social register and you may find yourself asking, "Why did the author think this was important?" But the answer, on every page, is clearly, "because these people helped save Monticello." Skim the mini paragraphs near the end itemizing Jefferson Levy's rigorous travel schedule and focus on the big picture. Uriah Levy (pronounced "leh-vee") and then his nephew Jefferson, contributed significantly to the preservation of Monticello. Along the way, various do gooders and ne'er do wells got their hands in (sometimes at the same time). Though a preserved historical estate is not a strange idea to us now, Saving Monticello is an excellent illustration of just how strange that idea once was, and how we got to where we are: a country where the mere fact Thomas Jefferson once read a book in a chair makes it a noteworthy artifact.

I'd definitely recommend reading this book before visiting (or revisiting) Monticello. Note the pictures, especially, in order to fully appreciate the condition in which you now view the home and its surrounding property.

If anyone has any other recommended books on this subject, I'm game.