Customer Reviews

John Quincy Adams: A Personal History of an Independent Man (Signature Ser.))

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

 

 

This book is truly first rate. JQA played a major role in the early diplomatic history of this country- from negotiations with Britain to end the War of 1812 to stints as Ambassador to Russia and the Netherlands to his two terms as Secretary of State under Monroe. After his one term Presidency he returned to the House of Representatives where he fought the slave powers in Congress over slavery and the right of the people to petition their government. As this book makes clear he did all of this while being a man willing to stand alone for what he felt was right, a man like his father who had little use or need for political parties. If you have read McCullough's John Adams you will see that JQA was truly his father's son. If you enjoyed that book I think you will likewise enjoy this one. While most people only know of JQA as a failed one term President this book tells the whole story and it is a fascinating tale indeed peopled with all of the great men of our country's early history. For Adams worked with or fought against almost every historic figure from the Revolution until his death in the Polk Presidency. This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of this time period in America!

After seeing the movie Amistad I was curious about this president who was pretty much passed over in our history books. This Hecht book satisfied all my curiosities plus some I didn't think of. She covers the public and personal lives of JQA. All the public figures of the time, great and near great, American and European, walk through these pages. And, yes, the Amistad story is there. I have limited vision so I save wear and tear on my eyes each day in order to be able to read this great book in bed before I go to sleep. Minor criticism: I have to keep paging back to determine the year of given happenings. The author could have repeated dates a little more generously. Otherwise it would be a five-star!

While her book is the best I have found on this former President, I find she is the best on the politcal side and presents him in a much better light than Nagal does in his book. When I compare the two books Nagal tries and fails to present Adams as a malajusted man who blames all his problems on his mother. To get a true idea about him you must read both books.

After seeing the movie Amistad I was curious about this president who was pretty much passed over in our history books. This Hecht book satisfied all my curiosities plus some I didn't think of. She covers the public and personal lives of JQA. All the public figures of the time, great and near great, American and European, walk through these pages. And, yes, the Amistad story is there. I have limited vision so I save wear and tear on my eyes each day in order to be able to read this great book in bed before I go to sleep. Minor criticism: I have to keep paging back to determine the year of given happenings. The author could have repeated dates a little more generously. Otherwise it would be a five-star!