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Saving Monticello
The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House that Jefferson Built
Marc Leepson
How a Jewish navy veteran and his descendants saved one of America's most recognizable architectural landmarks
Hang on for a wild ride through history with colorful characters that even Jefferson’s imagination couldn’t have foreseen.
"In this excellent account of Monticello’s ownership after Thomas Jefferson’s death, Leepson... turns the spotlight on a family that contributed to the preservation of history.... With fascinating detail, Leepson uncovers the facts surrounding Monticello’s owners and preservation.
"This book provides useful and welcome evidence of the Levys’ role [in saving Monticello]. Leepson is a diligent, thorough researcher.... [A] good book.
"Leepson... has opened the curtain on a little-known portion of American history, and Saving Monticello is a welcome treat... a fascinating book.
"In its own way, the story of the Levys at Monticello is as compelling as the story of Jefferson at Monticello. It’s not simply a story of how a remarkable family saved a special place, it’s a very human story—indeed, a very American story—wonderfully told. I highly recommend it.
"Journalist and historian Marc Leepson of Middleburg, Virginia, is the author of seven books, most recently Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership From the Idealist General. His other books include Flag: An American Biography and Desperate Engagement, a history of the Civil War Battle of Monocacy. He has been published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Preservation Magazine, Smithsonian, the Washington Post, and the Baltimore Sun and is a contributor to the Encyclopedia Americana.