John Adams, Vol 1: 1735-1784

by Page Smith

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Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

636 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Charles Page Smith, who was known by his middle name, was a U.S. historian, professor, author, and newspaper columnist.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Smith graduated with a B.A. degree from Dartmouth College in 1940. He then worked at Camp William James, a center for youth leadership training opened in 1940 by Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy, a Dartmouth College professor, as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Smith was awarded a Purple Heart for his service as a company commander of the 10th Mountain Division of the United States Army during World War II. (wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a while to read. It was very very detailed about John Adams and came highly recommended from a website I follow on presidential biographies. It is not for a casual reader of history. It is the first of two volumes, and I’ll need to take a break to finish the final volume (which begins presumably just as Adams leaves France for the shores of England). Despite all this, I have a great appreciation for biographies that tell a narrative story from death to birth. While this one is a long one, I definitely appreciated the depth this author brings to John Adam’s life and after a short break, look forward to reading the rest of the story.

[Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone that wants a one volume bio on John Adams, they would be hard pressed to find better than David McCullough's John Adams. But, if you are intrigued by the life of this founding father, first vice-president and second president of the United States, find this two volume set by Page Smith. Sadly, it is out of print but if you have patience and look hard enough you can find a copy. It is well worth your time. This first volume takes you to the end of the Revolutionary war and the peace treaty.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed book that expanded on what are O therwised glossed over periods of his life. I have read several Adams books and still learned much from this one.

[Mike Ehlers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyably detailed, even if a bit dry. I did think the following quote summed Adams up nicely: "If virtue was to be rewarded with wealth, it would not be virtue."