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A Biography of Henry Adams #3
Improvement of the World: A Biography of Henry Adams, His Last Life, 1891-1918
In the concluding volume of his biographical trilogy, Chalfant (English, Hofstra U.) discloses the third of Adams' three secret lives. His partnership with Elizabeth Cameron, alliance with John Hay, travel to distant parts of the world, returns to Washington, and considerable writing all contribute to the tale. The other volumes are Both Sides of the Ocean , covering 1838-62, and Better in Darkness , covering 1862-91. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
708 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2001
About the author
Edward Chalfant
7 books2 followersEdward Allan Chalfant was a Professor Emeritus of English at Hofstra University, where he taught until his retirement in 1988. He earned his A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1942, his M.A. from Columbia University in 1947, and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954.
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September 17, 2014
First, this is a library copy I ordered when I read a review of it; what caught my attention was HA's role as co-Secretary of State with John Hay at the point when the US was about to enter into the imperial path.
One thing that Chalfant's biography corroborates is William Allen White's advice, "First, kill the widow." HA edited John Hay's letter and a biography of George Cabot Lodge, both of which were badly bungled (according to Chalfant) by the wives in question.
Otherwise, I have long been a fan of HA, used THE EDUCATION as an extended example of US prose in writing courses, read his history of the Jefferson administration, etc, etc. I had much to learn about him, his work, and his political strengths, most of which he was very careful to elide in his writings.
This scholarly book suffers somewhat from the close attachment of the author to the subject so that, at times, it falls into excessive detail on matters a general reader, or even a fellow idolater, might find tedious. But I did hang with it, read every word, came with HA to despise the egotistical Henry Cabot Lodge about whom the limerick must have been written and HA's brother Brooks who tried to reduce HA to the size of his own limited intellect.
Fortunately, the LoA has published a nice volume of HA's writing, two novel, MONT ST MICHEL, and THE EDUCATION, plus poems, and Chalfant has graced us with a HA version of THE EDUCATION which had been lost because its owner was considered a nobody by HCL.
The volume offers a verity interesting view of the US upper-class society, their travels and relationships, and gives some insight into a very reticent, highly superior individual, HA.
One thing that Chalfant's biography corroborates is William Allen White's advice, "First, kill the widow." HA edited John Hay's letter and a biography of George Cabot Lodge, both of which were badly bungled (according to Chalfant) by the wives in question.
Otherwise, I have long been a fan of HA, used THE EDUCATION as an extended example of US prose in writing courses, read his history of the Jefferson administration, etc, etc. I had much to learn about him, his work, and his political strengths, most of which he was very careful to elide in his writings.
This scholarly book suffers somewhat from the close attachment of the author to the subject so that, at times, it falls into excessive detail on matters a general reader, or even a fellow idolater, might find tedious. But I did hang with it, read every word, came with HA to despise the egotistical Henry Cabot Lodge about whom the limerick must have been written and HA's brother Brooks who tried to reduce HA to the size of his own limited intellect.
Fortunately, the LoA has published a nice volume of HA's writing, two novel, MONT ST MICHEL, and THE EDUCATION, plus poems, and Chalfant has graced us with a HA version of THE EDUCATION which had been lost because its owner was considered a nobody by HCL.
The volume offers a verity interesting view of the US upper-class society, their travels and relationships, and gives some insight into a very reticent, highly superior individual, HA.
Displaying 1 of 1 review