Having studied an extensive variety of archived documents, including the Adams Family Correspondence housed at the Massachusetts Historical Society, Woody Holton delivers an elegant account of American history from 1744 to 1818 and the life of a fascinating, intelligent and historically overlooked first lady. In Abigail Adams, he paints a coquettish yet spunky portrait of Abigail as a young woman. A free spirit with a strong mind, she never stopped lamenting over the lack of equanimity between the sexes when it came to education. Well known for advocating women’s rights, she implored her husband to “Remember the Ladies” as he was drawing up new laws after the British evacuation of Boston in 1776. She opined that women should be involved in politics and allowed to hold public office. And in spite of the laws of coverture which made women the legal property of their husbands, she expressed the need for “a legal check on husbands who used their wives with cruel and indignity” referring to women who were abused by their husbands which, she made clear, did not include herself.
In fact, Abigail and John Adams enjoyed a romantic courtship and loving marriage. He considered her “unladylike” upon meeting her, but eventually found her wit “saucy”, appreciating the challenge of her forward manner and intelligence. Abigail often referred to their relationship as a “threefold cord” meaning they were linked together as lovers, friends and obliged by humanity to be “affected with the distresses and Myserys of our fellow creatures”. They were – and remained – a perfectly matched couple, her one complaint being the long separations they endured due to John’s professional responsibilities. Many of their letters to each other have survived in which John called her “Diana” after the moon goddess. In turn, she referred to him as her “Lysander”, the Spartan general who defeated the Athenians in 405 B.C. He began his letters “Miss Adorable” and she addressed him as “My Friend”.
Abigail's contributions to family, country and the advancement of women have been somewhat under appreciated. With his extraordinary new biography, Abigail Adams, Woody Holton finally gives her a proper place in American history. Highly recommended.
Abigail Adams by Woody Holton
Free Press, November 3, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4165-4680
512 pp
Read the full review at Associated Content or The Raabe Review.
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Comments: 72
I enjoy history now that the truth is more of a focus than romanticism!
PS I noticed that you were writing for Associated Content as well. I wondered if you had considered our Socialwrite program and, if so, if you might message me some feedback. Thanks!
Tom Hanks' HBO series based on McCullough's book was so well done, especially with Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney as John and Abigail Adams. Just the other night we were flipping through the channels and stopped on the silly movie, the Nanny Diaries. How fun to see Giamatti and Linney as a modern couple -- though that one is definitely not a love story!
Diana, your review was light on what you felt about the writing itself, but seems that the subject is so absorbing, the writing was secondary?
Regardless, I hope to pick this one up at the library when it lands there. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
I enjoyed the book very much - and highly recommended it. There is so much to discuss regarding this book, for instance John Quincy's morphing political leanings - and how his mother fit into that. And there's Abigail's "influence" on her grandchildren - and whether or not she crossed any lines there.
Then there's the question of whether Abigail actually engaged in what we now call "insider trading" -- she did have information via her husband (and connections) that informed some of her securities purchases. She also had opinions about legislation that would affect the value of the securities while her husband was involved in voting on said legislation -- just fascinating stuff!
(P.S. I would never highly recommend a book that wasn't written well!)
I will check out the book again, though. Thank you.
I agree with Susan's comment about wondering how you liked the actual writing. I've read both well and poorly written historical biographies. It can be difficult to strike a balance between regurgitating factual information and telling an interesting story.
Also, if you click on my link to the excerpt of the actual book (it's the first chapter), you can decide for yourself if it's the kind of writing that suits you.
Having said that - the writing is very good and Holton has won awards for his previous work.
Thanks for the heads up on an interesting book. I'm always anxious for fresh perspectives on history.
I was interested in what you had to say -- and no doubt will be on what the book has to say -- about John and Abigail's marriage. Sounds like a partnership both in step with and ahead of its time.
It's fascinating stuff, Diana. I think that the only problem with it is that it is written for bright people to read- not a PROBLEM really, it's just that someone expecting a light read is not going to stay with it to the end. Which is a shame, because this is a really well written biography which will help people understand the era of the Founders. The bottom line is, some of them were brilliant people but they were still people, they were not Gods.
Then there was the nepotism, but - yes - the Founders (and their wives!) were "still people" just like everyone else.
I got Woody Holton to visit my library a month ago and only 18 people came to see him. It was so embarrassing, this man is one of the best contemporary writers of American history. he is up there with Goodwin and McCullough.