The Mind of a Patriot: Patrick Henry and the World of Ideas

Bücher

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The Mind of a Patriot"presents an intellectual life of a major figure who has traditionally been seen asan anti-intellectual "child of nature." This was the view ofPatrick Henry that William Wirt presented in his "Life ofHenry, " and it has pervaded every biography since. Hayes presents avery different view of Henry. Starting with neglected pieces of evidence-theinventory of Henry's library-Hayes's unique perspective allows him to positionHenry's life within the intellectual currents of the day. After the opening chapter, which shows how Thomas Jefferson's opinions of Henry influenced Wirt's depiction ofhim, the author traces Henry's life through his relationship with the world ofbooks. Individual chapters examine Henry's education, his legal career, his use ofbooks to improve his speaking style, his relationship to the antislavery movement, his use of books as a legislator, a farmer, and a father, and, ultimately, the placeof books in his life during his waning years. In a lengthy appendix, Hayesreconstructs Henry's library, presenting a detailed catalogue of itscontents.