Abigail Adams is descended from one of the founding mothers of the United States of America. From humble beginnings and meager education he found a way to elevate himself and his family beyond the imaginations of men. He took seriously his duty to the family farm and nurtured his children, expending every iota of energy to provide for them. which he knew how best to prepare. Abigail spent 54 years married to the second President of the United States of America, encouraging and instructing him in everything he did. . Abigail raised four children with a strict sense of manners and decorum and wrote thousands of letters to friends and family expressing her political and religious views. well trained. Both John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams later said that they could never have risen to the presidency without him. this fiery, prudent wife and mother.
Strong women in history have always fascinated me – warrior queens, battle maidens – but I’ve never done much research on women in history US After watching the HBO mini-series John Adams in which Laura Linney played the part of Abigail Adams played to perfection, I knew I was more learn about this fascinating lady. Through this biography by Phyllis Lee Levin we can gather a very clear – and as close as possible, picture of Abigail from the time before John married until her death. It cannot but be that not much is known of his childhood, because he had not yet made many acquaintances for writing, and his life before the Revolutionary War was not remarkable in history.
Levin presents us with a portrait of Abigail through her letters and those of others who could describe her. It is amazing to see how someone could start from such obscure beginnings and adapt so well from family farms to become the crowned heads of Europe they were pleased to see that the tumult of the capital had been spent, and that he would return again to the country. At a time when women were expected to do their work, to be seen and not heard; and they thought that she would always be more excellent, Abigail being considered in the eyes of all to be eminently intelligent and powerful.
This biography is very well written and gives a good sense of Abigail’s life in tone and pace, complete with many excerpts from her letters. The only thing I can really complain about is that it sticks around a bit and became heavy after a while; Abigail had a very late life and Levin managed not to leave a major event. We are also very proud of such notables as Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and many other Founding Fathers.
It was not the author’s fault that he was born, like me. As fascinating as the book is, it’s hard not to tire of it after 500 pages. It is well researched, and much is expressed in Abigail’s own words in the manner of the aforementioned letters, and through anecdotes from friends. This letter format with specific information interspersed is much more interesting and engaging than a simple re-telling of events such as you’ll find in most biographies and non-fiction books.
Overall, this is one of the most complete stories I’ve ever read, with the exception of Abigail’s Little Life. If you want to know anything about this charming woman who played a big part in making two US presidents, this is a must read book.
