Thomas Jefferson stands falsely accused of several crimes, among them infidelity and disbelief. Noted historian David Barton now sets the record straight. Having borne the brunt of a smear campaign that started more than two centuries ago, the reputation and character of American president Thomas Jefferson shows considerable tarnish, as lies and misunderstandings have gathered on his legacy. Noted early-America historian David Barton scours out the truth. Jefferson and Sally: Did he really have children by his slave, Sally Hemings? Jefferson and Jesus: Did he really abandon the faith of his family? Jefferson and the Bible: Did he really want to rewrite the Scripture? Jefferson and the church: Did he really advocate separation? Jefferson and slaves: What is the truth about his slaveholding and his statements that all are created equal? Jefferson and education: Did Jefferson really found the first secular, irreligious university? All of these questions deserve the cleansing light of truth. Barton has gone through the historical records, combed the original documents and letters, and examined the recent evidence, and his findings will upset the establishment. Barton shows the true man, the real Thomas Jefferson. Most readers will have the joy and surprise of meeting him for the very first time. - Publisher.
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In 2012, Barton's New York Times bestseller The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You've Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson was voted “the least credible history book in print” by the users of the History News Network website. A group of ten conservative Christian professors reviewed the work and reported negatively on its claims, saying that Barton misstated facts about Jefferson.
In August 2012, Christian publisher Thomas Nelson withdrew the book from publication and stopped production, announcing that they had “lost confidence in the book's details” and “learned that there were some historical details included in the book that were not adequately supported.” A senior executive said that Thomas Nelson could not stand by the book because “basic truths just were not there.”