The Last Patriot was published by Atria Books in 2008. Thomas Jefferson, as ambassador to France, discovered evidence of a lost revelation of the Prophet Muhammad — a final message that, if authenticated, would fundamentally delegitimize the theological basis for violent jihad. The revelation was hidden, and its existence has been suppressed for centuries. Now, in the present day, evidence of the document has resurfaced, and both Western intelligence and Islamic extremists are racing to find it.
The novel is Thor’s most controversial: its premise — that a lost Quranic text could end Islamic terrorism — engaged directly with questions of religious authority and textual authenticity that are profoundly sensitive within Islam. Thor argued that the novel was ultimately hopeful (it imagines a textual basis for Islamic reform) but critics found the premise reductive.
The Jefferson Connection
Thor’s use of Thomas Jefferson as a historical character in the novel’s backstory draws on real history: Jefferson owned a Quran (now in the Library of Congress) and was deeply interested in Islam as both a religion and a political force. The historical framework gives the fictional premise a grounding in documented fact.
Collecting The Last Patriot
First edition (Atria Books, New York, 2008): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $20–$40
- Signed first edition: $40–$120
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation. The controversy may limit some collector interest while enhancing it for others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Thomas Jefferson really own a Quran? Yes. Jefferson acquired a two-volume English translation of the Quran in 1765. It is now held in the Library of Congress, and was used in 2007 when Keith Ellison was sworn in as the first Muslim member of Congress.