The Letters of John and Abigail Adams [Paperback]

Abigail Adams (Author), John Adams (Editor), Frank Shuffelton (Editor, Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 2003

The Letters of John and Abigail Adams provides an insightful record of American life before, during, and after the Revolution; the letters also reveal the intellectually and emotionally fulfilling relationship between John and Abigail that lasted fifty-four years and withstood historical upheavals, long periods apart, and personal tragedies. Covering key moments in American history-the Continental Congress, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, and John Adams's diplomatic missions to Europe-the letters reveal the concerns of a couple living during a period of explosive change, from smallpox and British warships to raising children, paying taxes, the state of women, and the emerging concepts of American democracy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Adams (1735-1826) was the Massachusetts delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses. After serving as Vice President for two terms under George Washington, he was subsequently elected President. Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818) was one of the most influential women of her era. Frank Shuffelton is a professor of English at the University of Rochester, and he edited the Penguin Classics edition of Notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics; 4th edition (December 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142437115
• ISBN-13: 978-0142437117
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( A ) > Adams, John

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The loving letters of our second president and his wife abigail: brilliance in Braintree!, August 24, 2006

By 

C. M Mills "Michael Mills" (Knoxville Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams (Paperback)

John Adams was the first Vice-President and second chief
executive of the United States of America. He was also a brilliant lawyer, legislator, writer and diplomat for the fledging American nation in France and the Netherlands during
the Revolutionary War.
In this excellent collection of personal letters John and
Abigail share their thoughts on a wide variety of topics chiefly the struggle for our nation's independence. The letters in this
copious collection cover the years from 1774 to 1783 (the years
of the American Revolution).
These are two extremely intelligent persons! John's letters
let the reader look through the keyhole in Philadelphia as the
Declaration of Independence is approved; throughout the war
Adams was away from his Braintree farm for long stretches of
time. His life was in danger and he was worried about Abigail and
their young children. A few of the letters in this collection
were written by his parents to the young John Quincy Adams who
served as the sixth President of the United States.
Abigail lived long before the womens liberation movement but
she was the intellectual equal of her husband. Abigail kept the
farm going staying abreast of political affairs and raising a
great American family.
The patriotism and self-sacrifice of the Adams family is an
inspiration to all Americans. This is a wonderful collection
for anyone wishing to know these two American patriots on a more
intimate basis. Excellent resource for history classes and anyone wishing to know more about our history.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go for it!, October 24, 2007

By 

dave "aikodude" (Moscow, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams (Paperback)

If you're at all interested in American history, I HIGHLY recommend this book. I though it was going to be dry and tough to read with a lot of thees and thous etc., but it's surprisingly warm, easy to follow and gripping story told in the very words of one of our greatest Americans and his wife.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read, August 31, 2008

By 

Marjory M. Davis "Gwenedd" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams (Paperback)

I really loved being able to see into the lives of these great founders. It's great to see even during those times, a man respect the woman he loves and her opinion. I highly recomend this especially for those just begining intrest in the founding of our nation.