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greypierce's review against another edition
4.0
My dad suggested I read this book when I was focused on colonial history during high school. It gave real insights to the relationship of the second lady and second president's.
livruther's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
i would have preferred these to be edited for spelling and grammar rather than being the exact same as the original since it kind of took me out of it a little bit
lcrick1223's review against another edition
3.0
A little slow going, but I enjoyed reading portions of it- particularly Abigail's feminist statements to John.
justicepirate's review against another edition
3.0
I have a fascination with letter writing. I really loved reading the love that was shared and the ideas transcribed between husband and wife, politician/founding father and housewife. It was a joy to share a moment into their hearts. I cried a little at all the loss they suffered through within a short period of time, but they had such joy through the losses that they went through.
offbalance80's review against another edition
3.0
An illuminating (if dry) look at one of the founding fathers and his amazing wife - the original American power couple.
inthecommonhours's review against another edition
4.0
A birthday gift from Brian. I find myself opening it to random sections at a time...
ETA: great winter time read...haven't read it from cover to cover but will continue to read it bits at a time.
ETA: great winter time read...haven't read it from cover to cover but will continue to read it bits at a time.
richardr's review against another edition
I think the main thing that stands out from this is the extent to which the revolutionary war was also a civil war. There are various dimensions to this: firstly Adams records the failure of the 1775 Battle of Quebec. Adams feared that the defeat in Canada could embolden others within the thirteen colonies: "Others there are in the Colonies who really wished that our enterprise in Canada would be defeated, that the Colonies might be brought into danger and distress between two fires, and be thus induced to submit."
Although Adams does often frame the war as between America and Britain, he also frames it as a battle of Tories and Whigs, typically with the implication that said Tories represented a fifth column in American society: "A Tory here is the most despicable animal in the creation... I heartily wish every Tory was extirpated from America ; they are continually , by secret means , undermining and injuring our cause... The unprincipled and unfeeling and unnatural inhabitants of Staten Island are cordially receiving the enemy , and , deserters say , have engaged to take arms . They are an ignorant , cowardly pack of scoundrels." In practice, this tension of Whig and Tory was an international one, with British Whigs looking favourably upon the colonists. Franklin records seeking their support in his autobiography. The revolution was a fissure within countries as much as between them, which raises an interesting counter-factual: what if Whig policy had prevailed in London? In that case, American independence would presumably have followed a similar course to that taken by Canada and Australia, albeit with the possibility that slavery might well have still lead to secession in the Southern states at some point.
On that point, there's also the question of native and African Americans, reflecting the role of slave owners in the revolution: "There has been in town a conspiracy of the negroes . At present it is kept pretty private... They conducted in this way : got an Irishman to draw up a petition to the Governor , telling him they would fight for him , provided he would arm them and engage to liberate them if he conquered." Slavery would be abolished thirty years earlier in the British Empire than the United States, although the departure of the Southern States may well have undermined the influence of their counterpart plantation owners in the West Indies.
Although Adams does often frame the war as between America and Britain, he also frames it as a battle of Tories and Whigs, typically with the implication that said Tories represented a fifth column in American society: "A Tory here is the most despicable animal in the creation... I heartily wish every Tory was extirpated from America ; they are continually , by secret means , undermining and injuring our cause... The unprincipled and unfeeling and unnatural inhabitants of Staten Island are cordially receiving the enemy , and , deserters say , have engaged to take arms . They are an ignorant , cowardly pack of scoundrels." In practice, this tension of Whig and Tory was an international one, with British Whigs looking favourably upon the colonists. Franklin records seeking their support in his autobiography. The revolution was a fissure within countries as much as between them, which raises an interesting counter-factual: what if Whig policy had prevailed in London? In that case, American independence would presumably have followed a similar course to that taken by Canada and Australia, albeit with the possibility that slavery might well have still lead to secession in the Southern states at some point.
On that point, there's also the question of native and African Americans, reflecting the role of slave owners in the revolution: "There has been in town a conspiracy of the negroes . At present it is kept pretty private... They conducted in this way : got an Irishman to draw up a petition to the Governor , telling him they would fight for him , provided he would arm them and engage to liberate them if he conquered." Slavery would be abolished thirty years earlier in the British Empire than the United States, although the departure of the Southern States may well have undermined the influence of their counterpart plantation owners in the West Indies.
bookworm_baggins's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting to read the letters of John and Abigail Adams to each other over the course of the formative years of the United States.
As a history buff, their perspectives on different historical events are intriguing. Even more so, as a wife, their letters reminded me how privilege we are to have easy communication.
Most letters began by telling the other which letter had just been received (and it was never the one that had most recently been written). Additionally, they went through many, many often lengthy separations to allow John to serve the early United States, in the Continental Congress, in Europe during and after the Revolutionary War, and then as VP and President. Most difficult were the 18 months John was in Europe, followed by nearly 5 years in Europe, both separated from Abigail. One year she only received 3 letters from him, and they often took 3-4 months to arrive.
Quite a fascinating couple, and a great collection of early American history in these letters.
As a history buff, their perspectives on different historical events are intriguing. Even more so, as a wife, their letters reminded me how privilege we are to have easy communication.
Most letters began by telling the other which letter had just been received (and it was never the one that had most recently been written). Additionally, they went through many, many often lengthy separations to allow John to serve the early United States, in the Continental Congress, in Europe during and after the Revolutionary War, and then as VP and President. Most difficult were the 18 months John was in Europe, followed by nearly 5 years in Europe, both separated from Abigail. One year she only received 3 letters from him, and they often took 3-4 months to arrive.
Quite a fascinating couple, and a great collection of early American history in these letters.
ecstaticlistening's review against another edition
3.0
John & Abigail Adams were deeply in love and partners in life. It's great to catch a glimpse into a really strong marriage of two incredibly intelligent, insightful and moral people caught up in an historic time and place. The Revolutionary War has never seemed more real to me, and knowing how much of their friendship and marriage was spent separated due to John's work in establishing American values and government gives me new inspiration to patriotic civic-mindedness.
thebookaneer's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a selection of letters between John and Abigail Adams, the couple who shaped and experienced the birth of the United States of America.
First let me say that I have always had a huge historical crush on John Adams ever since I saw 1776. Because of this, I see John Adams through William-Daniels-colored glasses.
I loved this book because of who was writing, and the small kernels of love and knowledge and wisdom that spoke to me. It is the style I had difficulty with.
You would think that an epistolary book would be easy to compile, and easy to read; one person writes, the other person responds. Not true. One person writes 5 letters and waits for a friend who is traveling in that direction to take them. They tie them all in a packet, and it takes weeks to get to the destination. In the mean time, the responder has done exactly the same thing. So you have 5 letters that have nothing to do with each other, all written at during the same month or so. And then you have the responses to all of the letters at once in another letter, followed by several more.
And that is not to mention the letters that were tossed overboard or stolen by spies.
So it is not exactly a linear conversation.
A good 50% of the conversation is "I miss you so much, write me more letters." Another 40% is recounting raids and skirmishes in Boston.
But the last 10% is filled with beautiful moments, and passions I want to hug them for.
Like John's insistence that education, exercise, simplicity, and virtue are the keys to a well-lived life. And how while changing history, all he wants to do is go home to his farm and his family. Or the comical descriptions he gives of his barber (he is not allowed to tell anything about the Continental Congress, which is hugely disappointing, as I would have loved to have this detailed of a character study for them.)
I love when she gets impassioned about the rights of women. Everyone knows the famous "remember the ladies" letter, but I think the better one is in regards to female education. It is the first time I can tell she is angry.
In response to John's rant about the deficiency of education of men in the country, she writes:
"If you complain of neglect of education in sons, what shall I say with regard to daughters, who every day experience the want of it? With regard to the education of my own children, I find myself soon out of my depth, destitute and deficient in every part of education.
I most sincerely wish that some more liberal plan might be laid and executed for the benefit of the rising generation, and that our new Constitution may be distinguished for encouraging leading and virtue. If we mean to have heroes, statesmen, and philosophers, we should have learned women. The world perhaps will laugh at me and accuse me of vanity, but you, I know, have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard the sentiment. If much depends, as is allowed, on the early education of youth, and the first principles which are instilled take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women."
All in all a difficult book, because it was not in narrative form, but it gave me joy to hear the words of my heroes.
First let me say that I have always had a huge historical crush on John Adams ever since I saw 1776. Because of this, I see John Adams through William-Daniels-colored glasses.
I loved this book because of who was writing, and the small kernels of love and knowledge and wisdom that spoke to me. It is the style I had difficulty with.
You would think that an epistolary book would be easy to compile, and easy to read; one person writes, the other person responds. Not true. One person writes 5 letters and waits for a friend who is traveling in that direction to take them. They tie them all in a packet, and it takes weeks to get to the destination. In the mean time, the responder has done exactly the same thing. So you have 5 letters that have nothing to do with each other, all written at during the same month or so. And then you have the responses to all of the letters at once in another letter, followed by several more.
And that is not to mention the letters that were tossed overboard or stolen by spies.
So it is not exactly a linear conversation.
A good 50% of the conversation is "I miss you so much, write me more letters." Another 40% is recounting raids and skirmishes in Boston.
But the last 10% is filled with beautiful moments, and passions I want to hug them for.
Like John's insistence that education, exercise, simplicity, and virtue are the keys to a well-lived life. And how while changing history, all he wants to do is go home to his farm and his family. Or the comical descriptions he gives of his barber (he is not allowed to tell anything about the Continental Congress, which is hugely disappointing, as I would have loved to have this detailed of a character study for them.)
I love when she gets impassioned about the rights of women. Everyone knows the famous "remember the ladies" letter, but I think the better one is in regards to female education. It is the first time I can tell she is angry.
In response to John's rant about the deficiency of education of men in the country, she writes:
"If you complain of neglect of education in sons, what shall I say with regard to daughters, who every day experience the want of it? With regard to the education of my own children, I find myself soon out of my depth, destitute and deficient in every part of education.
I most sincerely wish that some more liberal plan might be laid and executed for the benefit of the rising generation, and that our new Constitution may be distinguished for encouraging leading and virtue. If we mean to have heroes, statesmen, and philosophers, we should have learned women. The world perhaps will laugh at me and accuse me of vanity, but you, I know, have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard the sentiment. If much depends, as is allowed, on the early education of youth, and the first principles which are instilled take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women."
All in all a difficult book, because it was not in narrative form, but it gave me joy to hear the words of my heroes.