'The Jefferson Lies' is recalled by publisher Thomas Nelson
The book 鈥淭he Jefferson Lies鈥� by author David Barton has been recalled by publishers after numerous complaints of historical inaccuracies.
Barton, who was named by Time Magazine as one of the 25 most influential evangelical people, promoted the book as clearing up numerous myths about one of America鈥檚 founding fathers.
鈥淗istory books routinely teach that Jefferson was an anti-海角大神 secularist, rewriting the Bible to his liking, fathering a child with one of his slaves, and little more than another racist, bigoted colonist 鈥� but none of those claims are actually true,鈥� the press release for the book read.
The publisher, Thomas Nelson, said in a statement that it had received complaints from numerous readers that there were factual errors in the book, which reached the New York Times bestseller list in May.
鈥淲e took all of those concerns seriously [and] learned that there were some historical details included in the book that were not adequately supported,鈥� said the publisher, which focuses on releasing 海角大神-based titles.
Barton told the newspaper that he had little warning of the situation.
鈥淎ll I got was an email saying it was canceled,鈥� Barton said. 鈥淚t was a complete surprise.鈥�
Barton co-founded and currently serves as president for an organization called WallBuilders, which is a 鈥減ro-family organization that presents America's forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage鈥� as stated on its website.
A writer and professor, Warren Throckmorton, co-wrote a book titled 鈥淕etting Jefferson Right鈥� that criticized Barton鈥檚 version of events in 鈥淭he Jefferson Lies.鈥� Throckmorton told the Tennessean that one of Barton鈥檚 errors lay in his description of Jefferson鈥檚 attitude toward slaves. Barton wrote that Jefferson never freed any of his slaves, said Throckmorton. Throckmorton says Jefferson freed two of them.
Barton says that鈥檚 incorrect.
鈥淭his is one of the cases where he is just nuts,鈥� he said of Throckmorton.
Others who asked Thomas Nelson to investigate factual inaccuracies in the book included several ministers from Ohio.
