Thomas Jefferson is one of the “great men” of American history. Is this status deserved in view not only of his accomplishments but also of how he actually lived his life?  Do Jefferson’s financial dealings, his relationships with women, his personal indulgences and deceits, his failure to free his slaves suggest a need to reassess his historical stature?  Does the contrast between his life and that of Edward Coles, a member of the Virginia landed gentry who is virtually lost to history even though he was responsible for one of the boldest challenges to Jefferson’s ownership of slaves, raise fundamental questions about Jefferson’s legacy?  This exploration of the life and times of Jefferson asks whether political figures, including those of our day, should be judged by anything other than their public accomplishments.