John Adams and the American Revolution

by Catherine Drinker Bowen

John Adams and the Revolution, 1950 1st Edition, by Catherine Bowen. Hardcover with 699 pages, published by Little, Brown & Company.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, American Revolution, American History, Presidents, American Revolutionary War

699 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Catherine Drinker Bowen was born as Catherine Drinker on the Haverford College campus on January 1, 1897, to a prominent Quaker family. She was an accomplished violinist who studied for a musical career at the Peabody Institute and the Juilliard School of Music, but ultimately decided to become a writer. She had no formal writing education and no academic career, but became a bestselling American biographer and writer despite criticism from academics. Her earliest biographies were about musicians. Bowen did all her own research, without hiring research assistants, and sometimes took the controversial step of interviewing subjects without taking notes.

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bowen's combination biography and history of a critical time in American history is an exciting story brilliantly told, sometimes with the actual words of the participants. It's one of the most enjoyable, as well as wise, works of history I've read. Bowen transforms her research and the diaries and letters and documents she has used into vivid characterizations and a dramatic narrative. She builds suspense as we read, although we know much of the story already. Each detail she brings in adds to the power of the drama leading to the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the beginnings of what would become a new nation. John Adams and Abigail Adams are two of the great personalities not only of American history, but of world history, as well. This is both a fine history and a work of art. I'm glad that I finally read it, after years of seeing its green binding on my shelf.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super. I read this- like all biographies I read -for the history way more than for the person, but she deftly weaves the history into the Adams story. Stirring in parts- I find myself reading parts of it to whoever happens to be around at the time. No doubt this is in part due to her "controversial" inclusion of imagined dialog in certain situations- she is guesstimating his or another's thoughts and turning them in to a story telling dialog. I say: fine! if you trust the writer (and I do) this is just a technique to make the story come alive without the hypocrisy of supposedly objective history.

[Pankachu102 · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Adams: Farmer, Harvard Graduate, Teacher, Lawyer, Husband, Politician, Father, Member of the Continental Congress, and second president of the United States. This biography outlines John’s early life up to the ratification of the Declaration of Independence.

Overall this book was hard to get into, but once John became a lawyer things became more interesting. The juxtaposition of the earliest American politicians not being paid for their services and the current ones who are largely in politics for monetary game is staggering. Also, John’s struggle with anxiety and “melancholy” (depression) are of note since many think early people didn’t have these struggles.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Bowen, but it will certainly not be my last. The way she engages with primary sources (such as letters which John Adams wrote) while creating an engaging story which feels partly fictional is just brilliant. This book is creative non-fiction, taking the reader into the minds of the characters as we follow John Adams's life from his childhood to 1776 (this book does not cover his presidency and later years). The politics did get too dense for me at some parts, but for the most part this book did not feel like it was nearly 700 pages, and is a surprisingly quick read.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fourth book by this author and it will not be my last.
I came across this in a used bookstore and was already reading a popular book on John Adams that I had previously listened to on Audible. I couldn’t get into the book I was currently reading so I gave this one a go. Having enjoyed reading this author before I thought why not.
I loved this book. It really made me feel like I was there. The way she talks about people who are not the main focus of the story, but tells you things about them that make them memorable. She is very apt at setting the scene also.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book about John Adams, deeply detailed with a touch of 18th century style. Begins with his boyhood when he deplored schooling. Wonderful turn in how he came to enjoy learning, becoming one of the many geniuses behind the American Revolution.
The author's personal take on slavery was not well researched, explaining her opposition to the Founding Fathers.

[Michele Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally don't rate books above a 3 unless I have read them more than one time but I really liked this book. I have read several other books on John Adams, this one really drew me in.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lively and popular story of John Adams

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Great read. Great insight in to the birth of our nation.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my first read solely on John Adams and it read life fiction. This book was only a glimpse on certain years of his life.
John grew up in an environment that was deeply religious. Braintree was a town where a man would rather die that submit to the authority of the Church of England. As a child he was not a very enthusiastic student, and had a plans of being a farmer. Luckily his father had other plans, John was to go to Harvard. Once at Harvard his appetite for learning grew. In his sophomore year he read everything and would hide books under his cloak to read. He graduated Harvard and become a school teacher at Worcester. However during his year of teaching he decided to become a lawyer and became a law student there as well. Once he became an attorney he did not stop learning, he continued learning all aspects of the law. His practice and name grew.
Abigail Smith was the exact kind of woman John Adams needed. She completed his and was his utmost confident. The first conversation they had was with her holding a book - a fact that John never forgot. She taught John kindness - a trait he dearly needed. The couple had a 2 year engagement and had a total of 4 children, one dying in infancy. They shared the same philosophy of the state of the country and were devoted to one another. A true successful relationship.
Perhaps the two biggest cases Adams represented was Captain Preston and the trial of the British soliders. John was outraged that the Crown attorneys would not take the case, he took the case along with Josiah Quincy. Both cases had positive outcomes and Adams' name grew. Shortly after those cases he broke out to the political scene, not by choice, his arm twisted by cousin Sam Adams and others.
John became one of the four delegates of Massachusetts to meet with the other delegates of the 13 colonies. Traveling to Philadelphia was the furthest Adams has ever gone. His cousin Sam Adams was also among the group. John grew even more as a delegate - his opinion becoming more solid and openly argued his point of view - which other delegates would chimney in with agreement. John argued for a continental army and government and was the one who put the final vote for George Washington to be that leader of the Army.
This was a very interesting read - gave a view of the circumstances surrounding the time period.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUCH better than the overrated one by David McCullough. John Adams--though unpopular in his own time--has become the every man, the hero, the main character, of the American Revolution. People want to sympathize with him and feel he was their representative on the scene--not like lazy Franklin, hypocritical Jefferson, or remote Washington. This book is absolutely the best book available on John Adams and takes a reasonably impartial view of the Revolution.

[Dara Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bowen is gifted in painting feelings through words. I gained a deep appreciation for the early founders and an increased appreciation for the hand that God played in the making of this country. She obviously has a great love for Adams and I think he is her particular favorite, so this is a great place to learn about him.

[Michiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several years ago, I set myself the challenge of reading a biography of each US President. This one I happened to have on hand and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bowen writes so that I want to keep reading, and her subject, though living in a far removed time, is vibrant and engaging. I never knew before that John Adams could be so interesting!

[Marian]

*own first edition 1950 hardcover published by Little, Brown and Company

[Anne Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely THE BEST history book I have ever read!!!! Wish it had been a textbook when I took history in school; I would have loved history class!