'Thomas Jefferson's Enlightenment Background Notes is a self-contained collection of seventeen essays. Author James Thompson envisioned it originally as a supplement for his earlier book, Thomas Jefferson's Enlightenment Paris 1785.' Readers will find in these detailed background notes a feast of little known facts, seldom noted events, and forgotten relationships. As they peer into historical nooks and crannies that only the author seems to know about, they will develop a new insight into the circumspect political loner who drafted the Declaration of Independence alone in his Philadelphia rooms. They will see how enlightenment transformed Thomas Jefferson into the engaged social progressive who later waged and won the Second American Revolution. In this collection of notes, the author discusses the factors that shaped the man who went to France, the people he encountered there, the city he came to know, the circles he entered, the ideas they discussed, and other topics relating to this fascinating period in Jefferson's life. By examining the motives and objectives that guided him through his day-to-day affairs, Mr. Thompson brings welcome clarity to an image that somehow became murky.REVIEWS In Thomas Jefferson s Enlightenment, Professor Thompson allows the reader to go on an intellectually joyous ride-along or in this case, walk-along as the future president, Jefferson, is transformed by the philosophies introduced to him in Paris by Pierre Cabanis. Most impressive are Thompson s non-fiction narratives making tangible Jefferson s conversations with Cabanis and France s greatest thinkers during the pair s eight excursions on foot through Paris. I predict Professor Thompson s wonderful book will become an invaluable walking tour guide for intellectually curious visitors seeking to walk in Jefferson s footsteps in Paris, literally, and ruminate on the big ideas that had such an enormous impact on one of America s greatest citizens. Christopher Lyon, president, Infomentum LLC"