Customer Reviews

Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

I find that when one reads a biography of this size, one also reads "little" biographies of other people in their life.

Here, Natalie S. Bober has minimized the little biographies and kept the focus on Abigail Adams.

I think that for the average person, this book is the only one you'll ever need to know. It has just the right amount of information to write a fully-informed report or paper, but Bober has kept it fresh and interesting.

A good place to begin or continue research on one of the greatest American women in history.

This book in many ways reminded me of Lynne Withey's biography of Abigail Adams. The writing was forthright and easy to understand. However, sometimes the subject matter seemed more appropriate to an older audience and I often wondered why the book was aimed at a youth audience. Certainly, as an adult reading this book, I took great enjoyment from and interest in it. The inclusion of Abigail's letters certainly indicate the complexity of the woman and of the times she lived in, and there were many times where I felt my heart break for this woman who so loved her family, but outlived 2 of her children. Bober's attention to detail added much interest -- how many trunks of tea were tossed overboard during the Boston Tea Party, why Boston's streets were paved with cobblestones, etc.
Bottom line: This is not just a youth book. If you love American history, pick it up.

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).

Abigail Adams was a lady far ahead of her times. While she never thought women should run the most important things, she did feel that everyone should have certain rights-thoughts shared with her friend Thomas Jefferson. Bober does a wonderful job of showing the pain of separation Adams felt, her wanting for her husband of sons, and the sorrow she felt as all those she loved slowly passed away. But through it all, Abbey was willing to sacrifice it all for her country. Abbey should stand as a role model for us all.

While this is definitely a popularized account, this is a great biography of Abigail Adams. It is easy to ready and very accurate. It is a great book to use in class at an introductory level.

I cannot even begin to tell you how disappointed I am in the quality of the printing of this book. The pictures are very, very poor quality for a new book. The book itself is fine, the binding is fine, it is a new book....but the quality of the printing is low. I'm angry and would return it, but we need to start reading it now. I am not a happy camper.

This was a very readable and enjoyable biography of Abigail Adams for the child who reads on about the 6th grade level and up, or the adult who doesn't want a super-scholarly biography. Abigail Adams is really brought to life and becomes a real person, in large part through the judicious use of excerpts from the many, many letters she wrote.

My main complaint is that the book was a bit too shallow at times about the surrounding events (e.g. Revolutionary War or politics, etc). An example: "Then, just two and a half months later, on the clear, cold morning of Wednesday, April 19, 1775, the first shots of the American Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord. The war with England had begun." Who fired the shots? What were the circumstances? It would have only taken two or three sentences and the information offered about the Revolutionary War would have been greatly improved. These sorts of occurrences (where a few sentences more would have made a huge difference) happen periodically throughout the book. The focus is just a bit too tight on Abigail.

A biography of Abigail Adams is a worthwhile endeavor. This is a valuable tool to learn about women's role in society during these times. Of course, it's not necessary that it be a biography of her specifically, but of some woman of this time. This book also sheds great insight on the character of her husband and to a lesser extent of her son. For those who are interested, there are plenty of footnotes.

Overall this is a worthwhile book to have, especially for homeschooling families. I do not, however, consider it a "must-have." It would have benefitted greatly from a bit more information about surrounding events, without significantly lengthening the book.

It touched my inner soul and heart. The authors tender care and indicated admiration for Mrs. Adams truly shines through. The author presents her lovely and harsh at the same time life in a way that gives you a new way of thinking. You have to truly admire Abigail Adams and reserve a place in your heart and in your mind for the caress of Abagail Adams pen to paper.

I think the book was very interesting. It told you all about her life,accomplishments,fears,and goals. I think you should read this book because it was interesting and exciting.