The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams (Paperback)

by John Adams (Author), Lester J. Cappon (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The publication, in full and integrated form, of the remarkable correspondence between these two eminent men is a notable event." -- Dumas Malone, New York Times Book Review --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
The publication, in full and integrated form, of the remarkable correspondence between these two eminent men is a notable event.

Dumas Malone,

New York Times Book Review

[This] is a correspondence that covers all topics; . . that reveals both of these statesmen and philosophers at their most felicitous.

Henry Steele Commager

A major treasure of national literature.

C. Vann Woodward, Key Reporter

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 690 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (September 30, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807842303
• ISBN-13: 978-0807842300
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,275 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( A ) > Adams, John
  #9 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Letters & Correspondence
  #10 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( J ) > Jefferson, Thomas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two of Americas greatest minds in their own words, January 2, 2001

By	Karl Dettmer (Staten Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a joy it is to read the correspondence between two of America's greatest founding fathers. Through this collection of letters we begin to get into the minds of men who created and shaped this nation. We read of their dreams, expectations and fears for this new nation as well as typical correspondence between friends. That is when they were talking to each other. When the two men weren't, Abigail continued to write Jefferson to try and heal the breach. My favorite letter is from John Adams to Jefferson to tell him to stop writing his wife. This is a book for anyone who loves the human side of history and enjoys getting to know the real people behind the legends. I first read it in college, and then spent ten years trying to find it again. Now that I have, it will never leave my bookshelf.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All passion spent, but wisdom remains..., August 12, 2002

By	M. A Newman (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When Jefferson and the Adamses retired from public life, the result was the basis for this wonderful little book. Lester Cappon has produced one of the gems of scholarship on the autumn relationship of Adams and Jefferson. Perhaps the greatest testament to the scholarship and skill of the editor is the fact that this book has remained in print continuously since 1959. Though unlikely ever to score the impressive sales record of the recent biography of John Adams, this work is for those interested readers who want to learn more about the early days of the republic. One warning, the participants were all products of the 18th century. One should not be misled by the formality of the prose (any more than one should be misled by the gushy emotionalism of the victorian era). Adams reveals himself (this was his justification for his life and beliefs) in a straight forward manner. Jefferson, tells us more about himself by his personality by his lack of candor.

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy of Plutarch, January 8, 2002

By	Douglas Harper (Lancaster, Pa., U.S.A.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Adams-Jefferson Letters could be our modern Plutarch. Thomas Jefferson carried on a lifelong correspondence with John and Abigail Adams, and the collected letters show three brilliant but unlike minds shooting sparks of wit, philosophy, politics and friendship. They join forces in a great cause, they bicker and fall out, they make up, and at the end they look back on their remarkable generation from the grave's edge. What more could you want? This book ought to be in every public library in America, and if an American owns three books, this should be one of them.