Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia - Where History, Philosophy, and Art Meet

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson authored the American Declaration of Independence. In its preamble, Jefferson invoked the Natural Rights of Man by which, he claimed, individuals have inherent rights including the right to pursue one’s own happiness and the right to alter or abolish governments that obstruct the same. Jefferson characterized this second right as the "Principle of Freedom." Historians today refer to it as "the Right to Revolution" and often claim that Jefferson borrowed it from John Locke’s famous 2nd Treatise of Government. Jefferson is a paradigm of someone who combines History with Philosophy.

John Locke

John Locke proved himself a pioneer in the modern Science of Politics when he published his Two Treatises of Government in 1689. Parliamentarians were then driving the last authoritarian Stuart monarch from the English throne. Locke rationalized their "Glorious Revolution" in his 2nd Treatise by asserting that the Laws of Nature give the majority of a community's body politic rightful authority to define their common good and make the law to accomplish it. Locke is therefore another paradigm of an individual who affects the course of History with Philosophy.

Charles Wilson Peale

Charles Willson Peale, the revolutionary-era American portraitist, produced our most complete collection of America's Founding Fathers and Revolutionary War leaders. Peale was a Freemason and, in line with the creed of that influential fraternity, endeavored to promote his countrymen's understanding of the natural world in which they lived. Part of his effort was in the pictures he painted. He eventually created a museum where he displayed his art. This proved to be an important link between Peale and Thomas Jefferson, who is sometimes called the Father of the Enlightenment in North America.

Welcome to Commonwealth Books of Virginia!

Commonwealth Books of Virginia is a small press founded in 2009 by James Thompson. In keeping with our motto, “Where History, Philosophy, and Art Meet,” we publish historical commentaries, non-fiction narratives in History and Political Philosophy, memoirs, historical fiction, and art. Our authors write great books. We build visibility for them and their work using technology that presents them to national audiences. We connect authors and their work with opinion makers, book reviewers, and commentators. We inform affinity groups and targeted communities of readers. We produce beautiful books. Our sales team takes our books into all channels of the book trade. Readers of our books expect to expand their horizons while enjoying themselves.

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New and Forthcoming Books

Thomas Jefferson's Enlightenment - Paris 1785 (Illustrated Edition)

Thomas Jefferson Enlightenment Background Notes (Release Date: June 15, 2015)

Comments on the North American Travels of Le Rochefoucauld-Liancourt 1794-1798 (Release Date: November 20, 2015)

News and Events

Symposium "New Discoveries of Thomas Jefferson's Architecture and Design,” March 16-17-2018 Feb 16, 18
The Life and Art of George M. Harding, Captain in the AEF - Sept. 27th Aug 09, 17
Salmagundi Illustrators of WWI Jul 19, 17

About the Publisher

James C. Thompson grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. As a boy, he studied art at the Delaware Art Center, home of the famous Howard Pyle collection. While doing this, he developed an enduring appreciation for the American art of illustration. This interest inspired his forthcoming book, How America’s Illustrators Created America.

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