The Adams Chronicles: Four Generations of Greatness

by Jack Shepherd

Linked to the award-winning tv series, this book chronicles the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams (signer of the Declaration, accomplished diplomat & 2nd President), his wife Abigail Adams, his son John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State, 6th President & abolitionist Congressman), grandson Charles Francis Adams, congressman & ambassador to Great Britain during the Civil War, & much-heralded members of the 4th generation Henry Brooks Adams, the historian & author of the novel Democracy, & Charles Francis Adams II, the industrialist.

Genres: Biography, History, American History, Nonfiction, Presidents, American Revolution, Politics

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Jack Shepherd (1937 -- )was born in Chatham, New Jersey, and enjoyed a global career as a journalist, writer and university professor. He worked principally as a Senior Editor at LOOK Magazine and as a writer in Newsweek's foreign department. He has also written for other US publications including Atlantic, Harper's, New York, Saturday Review, Outside, New York, and The Sunday New York Times Magazine. As a journalist Shepherd covered stories primarily in sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia) and the Middle East (Israel, Palestine). Shepherd is also the author of ten books, three of which made The New York Times best-seller list: Quotations from LBJ (with Christopher S. Wren); The Runner's Handbook (with Bob Glover); and The Adams Chronicles. Shepherd earned his Ph.D. at age 50 (Boston University) and then taught at Boston University, the University of Cambridge (UK) for six years, and, since 1988, at Dartmouth College. He retired in 2007 and has returned to writing full time. His tenth book, Hunger: The Biology and Politics of Starvation (with John Butterly), was published in October 2010. His eleventh will be published in 2013. [amazon.com]

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the Bicentennial I had a work-study job as a security guard for Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan, a job held during all four years there. New York was a good place to be during the 1976 events as an early part of the war was fought down what is now Broadway--an American retreat up the island and across to New Jersey--and a "Tall Ship" regatta occurred upon the Hudson. Broadway was just outside my window in Hastings Hall, while the Hudson and the Jersey pallisades were viewable just around the corner. With my job, however, and it being July fourth, I was offered double-time for "guarding" the roof of Van Dusen Hall overlooking the river in order to prevent patriots there to view the ships from being overcome by enthusiam and hurling themselves off. It was a lovely, sunny day. It was the extent of my participation in the grand celebration of the revolution of two centuries previous.

At the time of Bicentennial a whole host of books and other media celebrated the event. One of them was the television series, The Adams Chronicles, the dramatization of four generations of Adamses, including the presidents John and John Quincy. Although there was a tv in the tiny dorm lounge downstairs, a black-and-white one, I didn't see it or really much of anything during the years in New York. I still haven't seen it.

This book covers the material dramatized in the series, but without fictional reconstructions of conversations and the like. Instead, it's a straightforward series of biographies with enough historical background to carry the reader through.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book traces 4 generations of the Adams family: John & Abigail, John Quincy & Louisa, Charles Francis and Abigail, to John Quincy II/Charles Francis, Jr./Henry/Brooks. The saga takes you from colonial times to the early years of the 20th Century. Many of them were prolific writers who left volumes of histories, newspaper articles, diaries, and letters.

A good part of the book is covers John Adams. Abigail doesn't get her due in this book but she's worthy of her own biography. John Quincy is more notable for his accomplishments as a diplomat and as a member of Congress after he was President than he was as President. Charles Francis was the ambassador to the United Kingdom during the Civil War (read Amanda Foreman's A World On Fire). Charles Francis Jr. made his name running railroads. Henry was a noted journalist.

They were a very interesting family. Full of their own quirks and some of them battled alcoholism and mental illness. They're not easy people to warm up to, as they're quick to admit to themselves. But they left a remarkable legacy. I recommend reading this book.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shepherd has given us an impressive biography of four generations of the Adams family. The Adamses were the first political dynasty in the newly created United States. Shepherd spends the most time on John Adams,but he doesn't stint on giving us the stories of John Quincy, Charles Francis, Henry, John Q II, and Charles jr.

I would recommend this for all readers interested in US history, and political biographies.

[Jesse Ynclan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new historian is told to observe history through the eyes of those involved at the time. The perspective gives extraordinary insights, far beyond the typical 'dates and times' methods of instruction that were used for centuries. The stories of how one family exerted power and influence, to shape the greatest 'experiment' in self-government the world has ever known, are incredible, real, and poignant. This book has been a 'must-read' for as long as I have owned it.

[L. Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography, which had also been made into a 13-part mini-series. Read the book first!

[Charles M.]

Before the Kennedys and Rockefellers, the pre-eminent political family in America was the Adams. Here is their story with stunning picture plates depicting the times in which they lived.