by John Bailey
First published 2013
George Wythe begins his career as a traveling lawyer in colonial Virginia, but his quiet determination and gentle nature soon elevate him far beyond those humble origins. He becomes America's first law professor and helps draft the Declaration of Independence. More importantly, he serves as mentor and surrogate father to Thomas Jefferson and other future leaders. Wythe fights against slavery when few dare to speak out. He witnesses the birth of a nation and shapes its founding documents. But in 1806, someone murders the aging statesman under strange circumstances. The mystery of his death shadows his remarkable life. This is the story of a man Jefferson called his dearest friend, whose influence shaped America's earliest leaders and whose tragic end remains unsolved.
Genres: biography, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, mystery, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure, mentor-protege
Setting: Colonial Virginia, America
Period: 18th Century, Early 19th Century
330 pages · Hardcover · Momentum