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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Interesting insight into John and Abigail Adams' relationship
Three stars if you have already read McCullough's comprehensive Adams biography, but still worth your time.
Very informative and interesting— I wish I would’ve made more time to read it, like, consistently.
I always admired Abigail, but now I have more respect for John and their relationship in general.
I’d definitely recommend it, and in a few years I’ll probably re read it, tbh.
I always admired Abigail, but now I have more respect for John and their relationship in general.
I’d definitely recommend it, and in a few years I’ll probably re read it, tbh.
informative
slow-paced
A wonderful account of the relationship between Abigail and John. Perhaps wish Abigail had gotten a little more airtime, but that's more personal preference than anything else.
This is an elegantly written, colorful, perfectly concise overview of John Adams' public and domestic lives, related back to the framework of his marriage to Abigail. Usually, Adams prioritized one life role to the near exclusion of the other, spending years away from his family on diplomatic missions overseas in France and London, then retreating from his job as POTUS to care for Abigail in middle age while she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, determined to make up for letting his ambition overwhelm their earlier years.
John and Abigail, partners domestic and political, raised four children together. Three of their children ended up having sad, desperate lives; the fourth of course was their wunderkind and vessel of all familial ambition, John Quincy Adams, to whom Abigail once wrote as a young man that she would rather he drown crossing the ocean than live a dishonorable life. In accordance with her strict parenting, Abigail was a frank, tell-it-like-it-is sort of woman, a proto-feminist who believed women should have the right to vote and who chastised her husband for not writing often enough when he was not home.
After reading the Alexander Hamilton biography, I of course wanted to read about his nemesis 4ever, John Adams. Joseph Ellis is sympathetic to Adams as Ron Chernow was sympathetic to Hamilton, and viewing their feud from both perspectives is essential to a balanced overview of what happened during the Quasi War and the election of 1800. I also have future plans to read about Thomas Jefferson -- a common enemy to both men and for his opinions on the inferiority of African-Americans/slavery, also an enemy to me honestly.
Once again, I was caught off guard by the pathos of this sketch of an old relic of America's past. In his older years, retired from politics, John Adams was nearly bald, nearly toothless, and spent his life at his estate planting fruit and playing with his grandkids, freely instructing them to "make a mess of his desk." (Abigail was never so permissive.) He had horrible tremors of the hands and poor eyesight, but he refused to give up his favorite pastimes -- reading and writing -- even though they became so difficult. His vanity softened and he joked about the wreck of his body in letters.
I can't get enough of seeing the humanity in these now-deathless figures, our American legends who we only see from afar in statues, at museums. I prefer their vulnerabilities.
John and Abigail, partners domestic and political, raised four children together. Three of their children ended up having sad, desperate lives; the fourth of course was their wunderkind and vessel of all familial ambition, John Quincy Adams, to whom Abigail once wrote as a young man that she would rather he drown crossing the ocean than live a dishonorable life. In accordance with her strict parenting, Abigail was a frank, tell-it-like-it-is sort of woman, a proto-feminist who believed women should have the right to vote and who chastised her husband for not writing often enough when he was not home.
After reading the Alexander Hamilton biography, I of course wanted to read about his nemesis 4ever, John Adams. Joseph Ellis is sympathetic to Adams as Ron Chernow was sympathetic to Hamilton, and viewing their feud from both perspectives is essential to a balanced overview of what happened during the Quasi War and the election of 1800. I also have future plans to read about Thomas Jefferson -- a common enemy to both men and for his opinions on the inferiority of African-Americans/slavery, also an enemy to me honestly.
Once again, I was caught off guard by the pathos of this sketch of an old relic of America's past. In his older years, retired from politics, John Adams was nearly bald, nearly toothless, and spent his life at his estate planting fruit and playing with his grandkids, freely instructing them to "make a mess of his desk." (Abigail was never so permissive.) He had horrible tremors of the hands and poor eyesight, but he refused to give up his favorite pastimes -- reading and writing -- even though they became so difficult. His vanity softened and he joked about the wreck of his body in letters.
I can't get enough of seeing the humanity in these now-deathless figures, our American legends who we only see from afar in statues, at museums. I prefer their vulnerabilities.
There are many biographies of John and Abagail Adams. But this is the first one I am aware of that focuses on their relationship. Ellis gives a new perspective on John's personality and Abagail's insights. A must read for those interested in this famous couple.
I wanted to give this book 4 stars because I don't understand why the author had to speculate into the Adams' sex life multiple times. But, this narrative is just too good, so I'm giving it 5 stars. I wanted to keep reading and hates putting the book down. There was some speculation, which I didn't like at first, but it did make the story move along, and didn't detract from the facts. I've read many biographies, especially from this time period. This one stands out. The perspective of history as seen through John and Abigail's relationship is fascinating! The writing was friendly and made it easy and fun to read. I feel like I really got to know the Adamses and see a candid picture of other characters in history. This has really sparked my desire to read more about the time period and the people in it!
If you like history, this is a good one. Abigail Adams is my hero; strong and smart. Great insight into their marriage,family and the beginnings of our country.
The First Family by Joseph J. Ellis is a insightful look at the John Adams family through their letters. John and Abigail have long been looked at as the premier couple of the American Revolution, and they left behind over 1200 letters of their correspondence opening up their relationship to study in a unique way. Ellis uses their letters to each other, their children, and friends to recreate their lives and give them their rightful place in history. John's image suffered in the years after the Revolution and during his presidency as he gained a reputation for vanity and a volcanic temper, and while Ellis acknowledges there is some truth to it, much of it was slander created by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson to push forward their own political agendas. Both John and Abigail were fully aware that they were creating a political dynasty and often pushed son John Quincy to live up to their expectations, and their letters were often written to that effect. Ellis really helps bring this historic couple to life, from their flirtatious, almost naughty letters during courtship to Abigail's deep depression during John's years in France that kept them apart for five years to his term in the White House when she became too ill with rheumatoid arthritis to be with him. Ellis realistically creates a historic love story. John and Abigail balanced each other's flaws and while apart were each at their worst. When John was attacked during his presidency, he had no stronger ally than Abigail who said, "when he is wounded, I bleed." Ellis uses the analogy of a dancer alone on the floor, without a partner twice in the course of the book, first to describe Abigail when John is in Europe, and then again when she has passed away and John is alone, and the metaphor is a perfect one for this rare and wonderful couple.