A controversial founding father. A man ready for a change. And a completely unique trip through Europe. In 1784, Thomas Jefferson was a broken man. Reeling from the loss of his wife and stung by political criticism, he needed to remake himself. To do that, he traveled. Wandering through Europe, Jefferson saw and learned as much as he could, ultimately bringing his knowledge home to a young America. There, he would rise to power and shape a nation. More than two hundred years later, Derek Baxter stumbles on an obscure travel guide written by Jefferson-Hints to Americans Traveling in Europe-as he's going through his own personal crisis. Who better to offer advice than a Founding Father himself? Using Hints as his roadmap, Baxter follows Jefferson through six countries and countless lessons. But what Baxter discovers isn't always what Jefferson had in mind, and as he comes to understand Jefferson better, he doesn't always like what he finds. In Pursuit of Jefferson is at once the story of a life-changing trip through Europe, an unflinching look at a contradictory figure in American history, and a moving personal journey. With rich historical detail, a sense of humor, and boundless heart, Baxter explores how we can be better moving forward only by first looking back.