James Madison Book List
I have contacted “Mrs. Madison” from Montpelier and she was so kind as to get me in touch with two curators from Montpelier. I was looking for a list of books that Mr. Madison would have owned for our library. Here is the list they were so kind as to send me. If we could get these for the “James Madison” section of our library, we would be most grateful.
Books owned by Madison
Author |
Title |
Adams, John | Defence of the Constitutions |
Burns, Robert | Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect |
Crevecoeur, J. Hector St. John de | Letters from an American Farmer |
Filson, John | Discovery, Settlement, & Present State of Kentucky |
Gibbon, Edward | History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire |
A. Hamilton, J. Jay, and J. Madison | The Federalist |
Jefferson, Thomas | Notes on the State of Virginia |
Ledyard, John | Journal of Captain Cook’s Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean |
Locke, John | Treatises on Government |
Longacre, James Barton | National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans |
Montesquieu | The Spirit of the Laws |
Morse, Jedidiah | Geography Made Easy |
Shakespeare, William | Hamlet |
Plato | The Republic |
Raleigh, Sir Walter | History of the World |
Ramsay, David | History of the American Revolution |
Vattell, Emerich de | The Law of Nations |
Warville, J.P. Brissot de | The Commerce of America with Europe |
Books about Madison
Ketcham, Ralph | James Madison: A Biography |
Banning, Lance | The Sacred Fire of Liberty: James Madison and the founding of the Federal Republic |
Brookhiser, Richard | James Madison |
Burstein, Andrew and Nancy Isenberg | Madison and Jefferson |
Madison, James | Notes of Debates of the Federal Convention of 1787 |
Mattern, David and H. Schulman | The Selected Letters of Dolley Payne Madison |
Mattern, David B. | James Madison’s Advice to My Country |
Rakove, Jack | James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic |
Stagg, J.C.A. | Mr. Madison’s War: Politics, Diplomacy, & Warfare in the Early American Republic |
Wood, Gordon | Empire of Liberty |
Our “Virtual Housewarming Party” is to stock Belle Grove Plantation’s library.
We have five sections of shelves with five long shelves each. This is allot of book to find and buy. And personally we would like to have a good mix that are recommended reading from others.
So this is where you come in.
We would like to break each section down to catalogs.
Here is what they are:
Books that James Madison would have had in his library – These are books that James Madison would have had to read in his personal library. Or it could have been books that Thomas Jefferson would have allowed him to borrow. Here is a link of reading material Thomas Jefferson wrote about : http://www.john-uebersax.com/plato/reading2.htm
Books on the Founding Fathers (and Mothers) and the Constitution – These are books that are about the great men and women who help form America. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason, Martha Washington, Dolley Madison and on. We would also like to have books on the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.
Books on the military events and American History – Since Belle Grove’s history spans every period in American history, we would like this section to have books about the periods in American History. Of course the American Revolution and Civil Wars touched Belle Grove because they happened here, we would like to have several on these. But we would also like to have the rest too because it would have touched each family in some way.
Books on Virginia and American Life – These books would talk about life in Virginia and in America. Send us a book about your great state or your favorite Virginia sights.
General Interest Books – These can be of any interest. Fact or Fiction. Good stories that you think people would like to read. You may also like to send us a copy of a book you have had published.
A Couple of Requests
Because these books are going to be placed in this historic home, we would like to acknowledge you for making this donation to our library. In the front of the book, we ask that you place the following information:
“This book was donated to Belle Grove Plantation by (your name) from (City, State and Country) on (date) to help complete their library.”
This will help us preserve your place in our history.
We would also like to request that your book be a hardback book that isn’t too large. If the book is too large, it may not fit on the shelf. Paperback books are nice and inexpensive, but as people read them, they get worn over time. We would like your book to last as long as possible.
Books we already have
So we don’t get repeat books, once we receive a book, we will list it on our a blog page. Look on our left column under “About Us”. It is listed as “Housewarming for the Library”
Here is what we have picked up so far:
The Asent of George Washington – John Ferling
Madison Writings – Jack N. Rakove
A Slave in the White House – Elizabeth Dowling Taylor
The Debate on the Constitution – Bernard Barilyn
James Madison – Garry Wills
War at Our Doors – Rebecca Campbell Light
Images of America Virginia Presidential Homes – Patrick L. O’Neill
Places I Have Known Along the Rappahannock River – Beverley C Pratt
Come Retribution – William A Tidwell
A Perfect Union – Catherine Allgor
Gordonsville Virginia – William H.B. Thomas
Orange Virginia – William H.B. Thomas
Dearest Friend A Life of Abigail Adams – Lynne Withey
Patriots of the UpCountry – William H.B. Thomas
The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
Dolores Claiborne – Stephen King
The Dead Zone – Stephen King
Pet Sematary – Stephen King
The Tommyknockers – Stephen King
To get your books to us, please ship them to the following address:
Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast
9221 Belle Grove Drive
King George, Virginia 22485
Brett and I would like to thank you so much for supporting us throughout this last year and continuing to follow along with us as we reach that all important Opening Day. We look forward to see each of you at the plantation and sharing this beloved plantation with the rest of the world!
To see more of Belle Grove Plantation, please view our virtual tour at
http://virginiaplantation.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/take-a-tour-with-us/
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Michelle, in the box sent this morning is a Shakespeare with four plays including Hamlet so that one is covered!
Wonderful! Thank you!
it would be such a privilege to visit you and the plantation!
Yes, but the privilege would be ours. 🙂