Abigail Adams : Witness to a Revolution

Rating:
Summary: Well-written and very involving.
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, which I purchased on a visit to the Adams National Historic Site (sorry, amazon.com!). Abigail Adams was remarkable in so many ways, not least of which was her ability to convey the issues and tenor of her times through her letters. Natalie Bober does an exceptional job of bringing Abigail's world to life - not just the big ideas, but the small emotional details come to light, making these historical figures seem very real. I had always been an admirer of the Adamses and their extraordinary romantic and intellectual partnership - this book increased my admiration tenfold.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written and very involving.
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, which I purchased on a visit to the Adams National Historic Site (sorry, amazon.com!). Abigail Adams was remarkable in so many ways, not least of which was her ability to convey the issues and tenor of her times through her letters. Natalie Bober does an exceptional job of bringing Abigail's world to life - not just the big ideas, but the small emotional details come to light, making these historical figures seem very real. I had always been an admirer of the Adamses and their extraordinary romantic and intellectual partnership - this book increased my admiration tenfold.

Rating:
Summary: Are you sure it's the 21st Century?
Review: This book really takes you back in time. It is the most interesting biography I read, ever. It's a bit longer then most biographies at this reading level, but believe me it will go by fast. I learned information that I will keep for the rest of my life. I really felt I was a fly in the wall of Abigail Adam's many homes. The pictures also give you more for your imagination to build upon. Also in the book there are some of Abigail's letters. This shows what is really going on in Abigail's life. I found out that Abigail Adams was more then first lady and mother of a president she did some pretty courageous things. I felt like I was reading a fictional book, when really I was reading a quite informative, book.

Rating:
Summary: A compelling subject
Review: Without a doubt, Abigail Adams is one of the most compelling historical figures to emerge from our Revolutionary period. A complex person, she balanced both passion and intellectual pursuits in an era when just daily life and survival could be all-consuming. I think it is important, however, to separate the wonder of this subject from the actual book itself, the first half of which I found less than smoothly written or easy to follow. Bober's documentation naturally stems from the wealth of letters and diaries of the main figures but I often felt like I wasn't getting the full story through her editing. Her use of "dramatization" of events and scenes can be excused since the audience is a young readership, but it was a little disconcerting. Nevertheless, she has produced a good book (particularly the sections on Adam's vice-presidency and presidency).

Rating:
Summary: A compelling subject
Review: Without a doubt, Abigail Adams is one of the most compelling historical figures to emerge from our Revolutionary period. A complex person, she balanced both passion and intellectual pursuits in an era when just daily life and survival could be all-consuming. I think it is important, however, to separate the wonder of this subject from the actual book itself, the first half of which I found less than smoothly written or easy to follow. Bober's documentation naturally stems from the wealth of letters and diaries of the main figures but I often felt like I wasn't getting the full story through her editing. Her use of "dramatization" of events and scenes can be excused since the audience is a young readership, but it was a little disconcerting. Nevertheless, she has produced a good book (particularly the sections on Adam's vice-presidency and presidency).