The Adams Women: Abigail and Louisa Adams, Their Sisters and Daughters [Paperback]

Paul C. Nagel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1999

From his vast storehouse of knowledge about the Adams family. Nagelpulls out the feminine threads of that tapestry to write all about the Adams women, from Abigail to daughter Nabby, from Louisa Catherine Adams, wife of John Quincy, to Clover Adams, wife of Henry, with others making more than cameo appearances. They all lived exceptional, if not extraordinary, lives, in different ways.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Having written about the presidential Adamses in Descent from Glory, Nagel now focuses on the women, who, although hampered by societal strictures, often equalled and sometimes surpassed (albeit less publicly) the acumen and talents of even the most illustrious Adams men. In resurrecting them, the historian pays fitting tribute to these women, immersing us in their domestic concerns and marital relationships so totally that we feel a confidant's intimacy and unabashed admiration: for first ladies Abigail, the managing matriarch, and sorely-tried Louisa, wives of John and John Quincy; Abigail's sisters Mary, community do-gooder, and parson's wife Elizabeth; Abigail's benighted daughter Nabby; and the many other fecund Adamses who produced a dynasty. The scenes shift from the family seat in Quincy, Mass., to the nation's capital and other U.S. locales, abroad to England and Russia. The lives of the Adams women, aristocrats of the spirit, were tested by priggish, boorish husbands, offspring and brothers who died of alcoholism and an era that would not acknowledge their quality. Yet first lady Louisa's motto found expression in virtually each: "Under all circumstances we must never desert ourselves." Photos not seen by PW. (September
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Nagel portrayed four generations of Adams men in Descent from Glory. Here the historian examines Adams women. At the heart of this book, in its most accomplished portions, are the chapters revealing the relationship between the three Smith sisters, Abigail, Mary, and Elizabeth. Abigail's well-known, forceful, and forward-looking opinions about women's equality shaped her sisters' lives as well as her own and were echoed in the beliefs and actions of Adams women who followed her. Nagel makes a completely new contribution with brief discussions of Abby Brown Brooks, the wife of Charles Francis Adams, and others. Collections supporting the study of the Adamses, of early American social history, and of women's studies generally will want this. Susan E. Parker, Harvard Law Sch. Lib., Cambridge, Mass.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (April 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674004108
• ISBN-13: 978-0674004108
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Study, December 31, 2000

By 

Dana Keish (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Adams Women: Abigail and Louisa Adams, Their Sisters and Daughters (Paperback)

Author Nagel has done a wonderful job of bringing the lives of the Adams women to life. The first part of the book concentrates on Abigail Smith, wife of John Adams and her sisters. Their letters describing their daily lives are fascinating. The various daughters of these women are also highlighted. The only daughter of John and Abigail, Abigail (nickednamed Nabby) is a particularly heartbreaking story. Pushed by her mother to marry a "promising" young man, she becomes the abandoned wife of a cruel alcoholic, living in near poverty. Unable to break away because of the strict moral codes of the time, she succombs to cancer, dying in her father's arms. Almost all of the women of the family were tortured by the alcoholism of either their husbands or sons. Louisa Johnson, the wife of John Quincy Adams is also highlighted. Her unhappy marriage to a difficult man is portrayed sympathetically.

Even though thiese women lived almost 200 years ago, their stories are timeless. Unable to contol their own destinies, these women nevertheless contributed greatly to their families and communities.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another winner for Nagel & the Adams!, October 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Adams Women: Abigail and Louisa Adams, Their Sisters and Daughters (Paperback)

Another winner for Nagel. This book is as good as his other two about the Adams family. I still don't find Abigail very likeable. The pressure she put on her children to achieve broke 3 of them and the lone successful child (John Quincy) turned around and did the same with his children. I really enjoyed the writer's descriptions of Louisa. I hope to see a full blown biography of her someday...she deserves it! I gained a true understanding why John Quincy had the personality he did. Abigail was extremely intelligent and ahead of her time. I enjoyed reading of her true partnership with husband John.

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nagel takes another potshot at the Abigail Adams, April 11, 2000

By 

Crystal - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adams Women: Abigail and Louisa Adams, Their Sisters and Daughters (Paperback)

Nagel starts his book with a discussion of how happy he is to write another book on the Adames, specifically on the women. He then proceeds to tear the best of them, Abigail Sr., to shreds. Portraying her as shrewish, domineering, and just distasteful, he paints an inaccuratly biased view of an amazing woman who was far before her time. Although I don't know enough of the other women to critque his evaluations of them, I have read Abigails letters at the Mass Historical society and have read countless books on her during the last six months in relation to an intensive research project. I have seen many different "reads" of Abigail from feminist to domestic to maternal...but none so blatantly anti-Abigail. I suppose the world needs dissent to continue to have interesting discourse, but Nagel quite obviously hates Abigail Adams. If you read his book, please temper it with something like Portia, which is admittedly dry, but will give you a good counterpoint to Nagels criticisms.