What do you think?
Rate this book
Henry Adams on the Road to Chartres
Book by Mane, Robert
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 17, 2025
Before we dive into this book, it may be helpful to define who Henry Adams (1838-1918) was. He was the great-grandson of our 2nd US president and the grandson of our 6th US president. The Adams clan hailed from Quincy, Massachusetts and proved to be political insiders in American history for close to a century.
Sadly, his wife, Marion "Clover" Hooper Adams (1843-1885) fell into a deep depression after the death of her father in April, 1885. She subsequently took her own life in December of the same year by ingesting photographic chemicals that she had used as a practicing amateur photographer.
The tragic loss of his wife plunged childless Henry into a decade of mourning and listless global travel. It was during his visits to Mont Saint-Michel on the coast of Normandy and later, the well-regarded cathedral at Chartres that his imagination was ignited and a new literary project initiated. Adams' book, published in 1904, is entitled "Mont Saint-Michel and Chartres." This is thoroughly discussed by Robert Mane in his work here.
Author Mane is under no illusion that Adams' discovery of these two French landmarks marks that of a faithful believer's pilgrimage. "Adams is careful to insist that he is not interested in orthodox theology." (pg. 195) Indeed, Henry Adams steadily displays the heritage of New England non-orthodoxy first embraced long before during the later lives of John and Abigail Adams.
Rather, we see Henry Adams embracing Old French culture in the 12th and 13th centuries which he (Adams) believes to be the high point of Western development and culture. "Whatever else this period of the flowering of the Gothic [was] . . . according to Adams the greatest moment in the history of mankind." (pg. 208)
Adams' book, Mont Saint-Michel and Chartres, was never intended to be a travel guidebook or accurate description of either of these famous French landmarks. Adams' visits kindled his imagination through parts of the 12th century architecture and above all, the light and colors cast by their windows within each structure.
Even though Adams taught history for a short while at his Alma Mater, Harvard College, "Henry Adams was at heart an artist first, an historian second." (pg. 223)
This scholarly work takes discipline to steadily read but the investment will prove worthy once you finish author Mane's fine work. Keep at it.
One interesting bit of trivia: Henry Adams' will donated the continuing proceeds from the sale of his book to the American Institute of Architects. In 1959, the AIA took some of that continuing revenue stream and contributed to the building of a stained-glass window in a side isle at Chartres. The main subject of this window is St. Fulbert who is said to have had a church on the original site at Chartres. A passing reference to Henry Adams is reportedly a representation of American skyscrapers in a lower corner of this small window. Henry Adams would have been pleased at this gesture given his immense subjective appreciation for the 13th century glass work in this famous cathedral. When you visit Chartres, seek out this window. (Alas, I have yet to visit Chartres.)
Sadly, his wife, Marion "Clover" Hooper Adams (1843-1885) fell into a deep depression after the death of her father in April, 1885. She subsequently took her own life in December of the same year by ingesting photographic chemicals that she had used as a practicing amateur photographer.
The tragic loss of his wife plunged childless Henry into a decade of mourning and listless global travel. It was during his visits to Mont Saint-Michel on the coast of Normandy and later, the well-regarded cathedral at Chartres that his imagination was ignited and a new literary project initiated. Adams' book, published in 1904, is entitled "Mont Saint-Michel and Chartres." This is thoroughly discussed by Robert Mane in his work here.
Author Mane is under no illusion that Adams' discovery of these two French landmarks marks that of a faithful believer's pilgrimage. "Adams is careful to insist that he is not interested in orthodox theology." (pg. 195) Indeed, Henry Adams steadily displays the heritage of New England non-orthodoxy first embraced long before during the later lives of John and Abigail Adams.
Rather, we see Henry Adams embracing Old French culture in the 12th and 13th centuries which he (Adams) believes to be the high point of Western development and culture. "Whatever else this period of the flowering of the Gothic [was] . . . according to Adams the greatest moment in the history of mankind." (pg. 208)
Adams' book, Mont Saint-Michel and Chartres, was never intended to be a travel guidebook or accurate description of either of these famous French landmarks. Adams' visits kindled his imagination through parts of the 12th century architecture and above all, the light and colors cast by their windows within each structure.
Even though Adams taught history for a short while at his Alma Mater, Harvard College, "Henry Adams was at heart an artist first, an historian second." (pg. 223)
This scholarly work takes discipline to steadily read but the investment will prove worthy once you finish author Mane's fine work. Keep at it.
One interesting bit of trivia: Henry Adams' will donated the continuing proceeds from the sale of his book to the American Institute of Architects. In 1959, the AIA took some of that continuing revenue stream and contributed to the building of a stained-glass window in a side isle at Chartres. The main subject of this window is St. Fulbert who is said to have had a church on the original site at Chartres. A passing reference to Henry Adams is reportedly a representation of American skyscrapers in a lower corner of this small window. Henry Adams would have been pleased at this gesture given his immense subjective appreciation for the 13th century glass work in this famous cathedral. When you visit Chartres, seek out this window. (Alas, I have yet to visit Chartres.)
Displaying 1 of 1 review