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2nd out of 15 books
—
5 voters
Abigail Adams
by
Woody Holton
Prof. Woody Holton (NBA-finalist forUnruly Americans) reveals that Americanicon Abigail Adams was far wiser and wilier than previously known....more
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published
November 3rd 2009
by Free Press
(first published 2009)
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I've read(or most often listened to) lots of books about the creation of America...John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, The Mayflower, 1776....this book is a great addition, telling about the same events from Abigail's perspective...and a very different one from what we get in most histories.
Based on the 1200 existing letters between Abigail and John, it allows us to see well known historical events in the context of a strong minded woman's view. Filled with deta...more
Based on the 1200 existing letters between Abigail and John, it allows us to see well known historical events in the context of a strong minded woman's view. Filled with deta...more
Abigail Adams was a remarkable self-taught woman who lived at a time where women had no rights and certainly no voice. She was John Adams, the 2nd President of the United State's wife. Rather than try to temper her high spirits, her curious mind, her strong opinions and her willingness to share, John seems to have come to rely on Abigail. She was tremendously loyal, had a keen gift of finances and was very committed to family. However, the book also shared instances time and again on her stance...more
Woody Holton has written what will probably stand as one of the definitive accounts of Abigail Adams' life, drawing extensively from primary sources -- her correspondence with various people (especially her husband, John), as well as the writings of others who knew her.
If there's a weakness in the book, it's the surfeit of detail. There's little analysis that takes place, and one event rolls into another, the mundane alongside the profound. It's like watching a video of every moment in someone's...more
If there's a weakness in the book, it's the surfeit of detail. There's little analysis that takes place, and one event rolls into another, the mundane alongside the profound. It's like watching a video of every moment in someone's...more
Much emphasis is rightly given to the founding fathers of America such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. But rarely do we get such a detailed glimpse into the homes and personal lives of these men as we do the Adams' in Woody Holton's biography of Abigail Adams. With riveting detail, Holton introduces us to the complex woman who helped shaped America more than perhaps any other of the "founding mothers" through her influence on her husband.
Strong-willed, intelligent and will...more
Strong-willed, intelligent and will...more
As far as the book itself, "Abigail Adams: A Life" is an interesting and somewhat in depth look into the life of Abigal Adams, the wife of John Adams, one of many players of the American Revolution.
As I read the book, what really bothered me was the constant undertones of "feminism" that was interwoven with the book and although AbigailAdams is considered to be a very strong and outspoken woman of her time, and I understand it's difficult to write a book, either about the past or present, withou...more
As I read the book, what really bothered me was the constant undertones of "feminism" that was interwoven with the book and although AbigailAdams is considered to be a very strong and outspoken woman of her time, and I understand it's difficult to write a book, either about the past or present, withou...more
Holton has penned a very readable and informative account of the life of one of America's first ladies. Abigail Adams is well researched and supported by original source material. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a general biography of Mrs. Adams.
In this reader's opinion, however, there are some nits I have about interpretation rather than presentation of the facts. Having read My Dearest Friend: letters of Abigail and John Adams as well as the McCullough biography of John Adams, it...more
In this reader's opinion, however, there are some nits I have about interpretation rather than presentation of the facts. Having read My Dearest Friend: letters of Abigail and John Adams as well as the McCullough biography of John Adams, it...more
Abigail Adams by Woody Holton is a timely and vital update to the well-known second First Lady of the United States. Abigail Adams has gained a place in history as the Dear Friend of her husband John Adams, as well as for her famed Remember the Ladies letter to him during the American Revolution. Previous biographies of her and her husband have treated her as a spunky but devoted wife of a Founding Father, but Holton brings completely new aspects of her to life in this well researched and enjoya...more
Interesting and thorough. The author covers Adams' letters and family relationships, but also really digs into Abigail Adams' financial dealings and how they relate to the ups and downs of the economy and the evolution of marital property law -- and actually makes all of that interesting and relatable, much more than you would expect. It does get a bit gloomy by the end, when you're basically running through the illnesses and deaths of a whole bunch of Adams relatives. Not really a book you read...more
After reading David McCullough's biography of John Adams, I knew that knowing more about Abigail Adams was crucial to understanding our second president, so I chose the most recently published work on Abigail to continue my study. Holton did not disappoint.
I find it interesting that some readers adamantly claim that Abigail was not a feminist. I find her the most balanced form of feminism ever displayed. She is a wife and a mother; a business woman and investor. She unashamedly gives her opinio...more
I find it interesting that some readers adamantly claim that Abigail was not a feminist. I find her the most balanced form of feminism ever displayed. She is a wife and a mother; a business woman and investor. She unashamedly gives her opinio...more
I was inspired to read about Abigail Adams after a spring break trip to Philadelphia. I enjoyed learning about her life and would have liked to have met her. As for the book, fortunately, there were over 1200 letters written between Abigail and John Adams, so there was a wealth of information from which to learn about her life. I got a little bogged down in all the information about investments and skimmed those areas of the book. I was most fascinated by her role and comments and influence. on...more
A very thorough biography, this book was far more detailed than my interest level. Also I am not terribly intrigued with colonial America. That said, Abigail Adams was a unique woman far ahead of her times. Outspoken in letters to her husband, sisters and other acquaintances, she debated women's rights and many other political subjects. She held firmly to her convictions and her strong, opinionated personality grew on me. She kept up a very impressive and extensive correspondence which really is...more
Interesting history, but heavy with the history of bond speculation and financial issues in the early days of the American republic. Fair enough, given Adams' significant use of the market, but be forewarned if economic & political history isn't your thing.
There's also a lot of naming of Adams' views on slavery, slaves, and people of the African diaspora. (As an adult: against, mixed, mixed). She's well established as holding many of the common prejudices of her time, and places where she mi...more
There's also a lot of naming of Adams' views on slavery, slaves, and people of the African diaspora. (As an adult: against, mixed, mixed). She's well established as holding many of the common prejudices of her time, and places where she mi...more
!I LIKED THIS BOOK MORE THAN ANY OTHER I HAVE READ ABOUT ABIGAIL. THE OTHER BOOKS GLORIFIED HER, BUT THIS BOOK GIVES A MORE INTIMATE ACCOUNT OF HER PERSONALITY AND HER FAULTS. AND SHE DID HAVE A FEW OF THEM. SHE WAS A PRECURSER TO WOMEN'S LIB AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS WERE ALWAYS IN THE FOREFRONT OF HER MIND. IN HER WILL SHE LEFT ONLY BENEFITS TO WOMEN - HER GRANDDAUGHTERS AND NIECES, ETC. SHE WAS VERY MUCH A CONTROLLER (OR TRIED TO BE) OF HER CHILDREN'S LIVES AS WELL AS HER GRANDCHILDREN. IN LOTS OF W...more
Very thorough, and a nice complement to Lynne Withey's Dearest Friend, as well as David McCullough's John Adams. Holton draws heavily on Abigail's letters and delves very specifically into the lives of her extended family and children. One thing that got on my nerves, however, was his determination to jive Abigail's views on women, race, and other issues with today's views. Different times, different views, I say. I wish he hadn't gotten so hung up on trying to figure out her often contradictory...more
Fantastic book...especially if you've read/listened to John Adams. I listened to this from an Audible.com download and have to comment once again on the remarkable and mellifluous voice of Cassandra Campbell. As soon as I noticed she was the reader I was in. For audiobook listeners, I highly recommend that you look for her.
Anyway, Abigail Adams. What an amazing woman she was. This book presents the other side of the the John Adams story. How she coped and ran the family during his extended absen...more
Anyway, Abigail Adams. What an amazing woman she was. This book presents the other side of the the John Adams story. How she coped and ran the family during his extended absen...more
Abigial Adams was doctor, therapist, teacher, entrepreneur, politician, mother, and wife, in no particular order at any particular time. She was everything. She was nothing. And she knew it. And it made me a bit sad for one main reason: in this age of the crappily short emails, texts, whatever, I thought of the lost art of letter writing. I learned an immense amount of really interesting, meaty stuff about the revolution and the people in it, specifically the women and how this war profoundly af...more
An interesting view of Abigail Adams based mostly on letters that she sent and received. The thread that Holton used to tie it together is how Adams controlled money in a time when married women didn't have any legal right to do so.
Thoughts:
It is amazing how much American English has changed in 250 years. Holton defines for us words that have almost come to mean the opposite today.
How heart wrenching it is to have children die.
Again the myth of the nuclear American family is destroyed as parent...more
Thoughts:
It is amazing how much American English has changed in 250 years. Holton defines for us words that have almost come to mean the opposite today.
How heart wrenching it is to have children die.
Again the myth of the nuclear American family is destroyed as parent...more
I am enjoying this so far! I enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed reading the biography of husband John. Quite a bit of the book talks about Abigail's working to secure her family financially, and how all wives of her time were prohibited from owning any land, furniture, or cash. All financial transactions she made were ostensibly in the name of her Uncle Tufts, her "trustee." Reading about Abigail, her relationship to her husband and children as well as the rest of society, really highligh...more
this one was hard to listen to. maybe reading it I would have enjoyed it more. I just don't love history. Not my genre. but i am glad i read it as with all history. i feel smarter and have a desire to read more. it is always amazing to me how much history i wasn't taught. there is so much that is so interesting and important and yet our schools teach none of it as far as i was concerned and i don't see my kids learning it either. I had no idea Abigail Adams was such a feminist. she was very comp...more
A nicely written biography of Abigail Adams, the "saucy" wife of President John Adams (and mother of President John Quincey Adams). Abigail was about as New Englandy as you can get, and the story of her life takes us through the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, the signing of the Constitution, and the first decades of the new country. Adams was a proponent of female education, a shrewd investor, and closely followed the politics of the day (and wasn't shy about giving advice t...more
In this vivid new biography of Abigail Adams, the most illustrious woman of the founding era, Bancroft Award–winning historian Woody Holton offers a sweeping reinterpretation of Adams’s life story and of women’s roles in the creation of the republic.
Using previously overlooked documents from numerous archives, Abigail Adams shows that the wife of the second president of the United States was far more charismatic and influential than historians have realized. One of the finest writers of her age,...more
Using previously overlooked documents from numerous archives, Abigail Adams shows that the wife of the second president of the United States was far more charismatic and influential than historians have realized. One of the finest writers of her age,...more
Abigail Adams was a fascinating woman – one that I surely would like to meet in person for only one day (I wouldn’t want to live without air conditioning). In many ways she was a head of her time; women’s right to own property, women’s educational rights, and anti-slavery to name a few. But in many ways she was also a product of her time. This book gave wonderful insight in her life as a woman and wife in the 1700s but also as the wife of John Adams, our first Vice President and our second Presi...more
This was a very loooooong biography of Abigail Adams. I listened to it as an audio book and the reader was fabulous. It was very easy to listen to. I easily became engaged in the telling of her story and couldn't wait to drive again so I could hear more. The book is told over the course of TWENTY CDs, so buckle up for a long ride if you choose to listen to this one. I am very interested in Adams' life and have read two other biographies on her life. This one was far more comprehensive and touche...more
Woody Holton artfully shapes vast archives of documents and correspondence into an intimate portrait of a freethinking, clever and articulate visionary navigating the narrow perimeters of her time. Though the word did not yet exist in the late 1700's, Abigail Adams may well have been the country's first feminist. One can only imagine her nod of approval if she could see how far her "female sex" has come. (Reviewed by BJ Nathan Hegedus): http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/ind...
Sep 02, 2010
Jill
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biographies-memoirs,
history
I gave this four stars for content more than structure or excellent writing. It is remarkable how personal this book became while listening to it in the nation's capital. I have always been intrigued by the Adams family and their lives' intertwining with the birth and early history of our nation. Abigail herself is someone I think I would have really gotten on with, but what a meddler! She really stepped over the line a lot - particularly with John Quincy. He, however, seemed very quick to forgi...more
Abigail Adams was an exemplar woman, Colonial American and Founding Mother! I can't believe all that she accomplished. Would John Adams have been so great without her? Hmmmm...not sure! She truly could do it all!! It sounds like her charm, flattery and humor could always be counted on to help her get her point across. Most often her point was that women should be treated equally. I marveled at her skill to educate herself, run her household and farm, become an entrepreneur, a skilled Bonds-woman...more
I have long been a fan of Abigail Adams so I was excited to read this new book and learn more about her. I was hoping for a McCullough's "John Adams" styled work but was somewhat disappointed. Holton is no McCullough (you can tell I really like the latter). This book is packed with facts and quotes from Abigail numerous letters to John and others, and emphasizes her wit, savvy and wisdom, but lacks, as I see it, a deeper look into her soul, into her passion, into her heart. Over and over again t...more
Biographer Woody Holton is definitely an Abigail Adams fan. This is a good thing, because if he were not a fan, he never would have waded through the Massachusetts Historical Society archives to prepare this book. He also did a very good job of bringing the second First Lady to life. Unfortunately, being a fan also means that some of his writing was very close to fawning over Mrs. Adams. I do understand this as I have long been an admirer of her myself. Still, the writing did drag at times and t...more
Abigail Adams was an early person expressing her thoughts on women need to have equal rights. I liked her in the beginning of the book but towards the end I am not sure that I would have liked her as much. She had her share of tragedy in her life, but she managed to overcome it and was surrounded by her family except for John Quincy in the end. She was a prolific letter writer which gives a good base to the book.
There is one conflict in her book that I have had with other books from the same er...more
There is one conflict in her book that I have had with other books from the same er...more
I really enjoyed this book. I had read John Adams and this was a complimentary book to that. It portrayed the strong, intelligent and compassionate woman that was the wife of such a powerful man. I felt that it brought out the strong feelings about the civil rights of women of their time. She and John were an amazing couple. John respected her wisdom and she knew about how hard she could push in her independence. Great book for understanding life during the birth of the USA.
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Feb 19, 2010 02:05pm