The first collection of Jefferson's reflections on his wide-ranging travels, this book draws on his journals, personal correspondence, and other writing, using Jefferson's own words to open a window on the world in which he played so important a part. From his views on his native Virginia to his extensive tours of New England, he shows us America as it was in our earliest years as a nation. He records his extensive, sophisticated impressions of Europe, formed during a five-year sojourn in France, which included visits to northern Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and England. His correspondence with Lewis and Clark reveals not just a seasoned traveler's wisdom and a bottomless curiosity about the American wilderness, but his passionate explorer's wish that he could actually join their Corps of Discovery. Editor Brandt's commentary provides historic and cultural context to fill in the background of this panoramic vision.--From publisher description.