Portia: The World of Abigail Adams

by Edith B. Gelles

" . . . best-of-all-biographies of Abigail Adams . . . " ―American Historical Review

" Portia , a new study of Abigail Adams―modern feminism's favorite Founding Mother―is a refreshing change of pace." ―San Francisco Chronicle

" . . . very well done, highly perceptive, and full of fresh ideas." ―Wilson Library Bulletin

" . . . Adams's strength, courage, and wit (as well as her bouts of depression and gender conservatism) emerge more fully than they have in any previous work. . . . a well-rounded portrait of a remarkable figure." ―Choice

"In this important and fascinating biography, Edith Gelles not only restores Abigail Adams to her rightful place at the center of her own story, she challenges the creaky conventions of 'traditional' male-defined biography." ―Susan Faludi, author of Backlash

Portia , the first woman-centered biography of Abigail Adams, details the issues, events, and relationships of Adams's life. It is as much a social and cultural history of Adams's time as it is her life story.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, American Revolutionary War

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 1992

Reviews

[Emily]

Although this is a pretty good bio of Abigail Adams, in which Gelles attempts to analyze the letters and life of Abigail Adams from the time in which she lived, not from the 21st century perspective (which is what many historians have attempted to do, failing to grasp the true identity of one of America's heroines). I have to say I was pretty disappointed, especially with the writing style. Gelles would write a paragraph making her claim, and not even 3 paragraphs later, would repeat her thesis basically word for word from a paragraph above. I understand re-iterating your points, but it got annoying. I also though some of her arguments, although made sense to me, were a bit weak, and at times I didn't really see where she was going with each chapter's main idea.

Overall, not too bad. Maybe I would have liked it better if I didn't have to read it for class...and take a quiz over it tomorrow morning...

[Donna Jo Atwood]

Very non-linear bio of Abigail Adams and how she fit into her world. Although written from a feminist's view point, Gelles makes clear that Abigail was very much a woman of her time--fitting most comfortably into the woman's role available to her at the time.
Gelles wants to separate Abigail from the men in her life, so she has choosen to portray her by a variety of "themes". This give chapters to each of her roles, including her relationships with her daughter and with Thomas Jefferson.
Although dry in places, the book does give a clearer picture of what Abigail was like as a person--charming, but not willing to suffer fools gladly. It also manages to humanize John a little more and makes you see what she saw in him.
15.3 What women want (to read and write) Biography

[Laura Petto]

Amazing! Edith B. Gelles - you are my new favorite historian!

[Janet]

Interesting life of Abigail Adams, wife & mother of US Presidents.

[Theresa]

This is my absolute favorite biography of Abigail Adams.