The strength of Rinaldi's novel lies in the careful and well researched historical details which give the reader a realistic and interesting glimpse of an important period in American history.

We learn about life on a Virginia plantation, the food, the clothes, the social events. The author never preaches, and the historical elements are presented not as in a textbook, but as an integral part of the story. At an elegant banquet, for instance, to which business associates of Jefferson are invited, Harriet works in the kitchen, helping to prepare an interesting array of foods typical of the period; when she is called to the master's study, she has a chance to observe and note some of Jefferson's inventions.

A feeling for the time is created not only through specific details and descriptions, but also through the style and language of the novel. While Jefferson, Harriet...