The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784

by Abigail Adams, John Adams, L.H. Butterfield

John and Abigail, Abigail and John - their names are as inseparably linked as those of any pair in history. The story of these lovers, domestic partners, and patriots comes to life in this collection of their intimate correspondence. The lives of this remarkable couple unfold alongside events of the Revolutionary War era, a time in which John left his family for prolonged periods to serve his colony and country. Their engaging exchanges follow John's career from provincial lawyer and farmer in Braintree, Massachusetts, to delegate to the Continental Congresses in Philadelphia, to diplomatic success in Europe. John reveals himself as an ambitious, determined, and self-doubting statesman with a trusting, deeply affectionate character and an earthy sense of humor. Abigail's lively and captivating letters show the trials of an intelligent, strong, and resourceful woman who managed the family's farm and business affairs and reared the pair's four children during her husband's long absences. Her missives to John are filled with outspoken remarks on politics, public figures, and world-shaking events. An independent thinker and advocate of equal rights for women, she urged him in one spiri

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Presidents, Memoir, American History, American Revolutionary War

411 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Abigail Adams was the wife and closest advisor of John Adams, the second president of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. She was a founder of the United States, and was both the first second lady and second first lady of the United States, although such titles were not used at the time. She and Barbara Bush are the only two women in American history who were both married to a U.S. president and the mother of a U.S. president.
Adams's life is one of the most documented of the first ladies; many of the letters she wrote to her husband John Adams while he was in Philadelphia as a delegate in the Continental Congress prior and during the American Revolution document the closeness and versatility of their relationship. John Adams frequently sought the advice of Abigail on many matters, and their letters are filled with intellectual discussions on government and politics. Her letters also serve as eyewitness accounts of the American Revolutionary War home front.
Surveys of historians conducted periodically by the Siena College Research Institute since 1982 have consistently found Adams to rank as one of the three most highly regarded first ladies by historians.

Reviews

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a little trouble with the language when I first started reading this book of letters. Once I got past that, I was completely enthralled with reading it. This is a compilation of letters mainly between John and Abigail Adams between the years of 1762 and 1784. I recently finished the biography of John Adams by David McCullough and this was a great companion to that book. The letters talked about everything from the mundane household things that most couples talk about to their feelings of loneliness when they had to be separated when John Adams was in Europe for several years. They talked about their fears and frustrations and their hopes for the future of their children and the newly formed country. I came away from the book feeling that this was a couple completely devoted to each other.. who loved each other immensely and were each other's best friend. The book was heart warming and made me long for the long lost art of letter writing.

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I accidentally read this book in its entirety. Was I meant to be mining it for information about smallpox for my thesis? Okay maybe, but no one told me John Adams was romantic like that! Why was I blushing and kicking my feet at some of these letters??? Times like these I wonder if I maybe picked a great career path because this was such a fun, informative read.

Oh and don’t worry, I actually pulled useful letters for my thesis. 🤓

3.5/5 trivia knowledge stars

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished it.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching the "John Adams" series on HBO, I became intersted in John & Abigail's interactions and found they hade a vastly published letter-writing habit. This is a fabulous insight into what one of our founding fathers and his wife were like. The letters are very personal and some quite intimate. Realising the human side of people so legendary makes their sacrifices, struggles and triumphs so real.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been brought up on a healthy love for everything Adams, I might be a little biased in saying how much I loved these letters. They're informative about the period, John's exasperated missives from Congress are hysterical and the letters going back and forth between the children and John are precious. Everything that is wonderful after the letters that used to be written are in here.

[Martin Bihl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely tremendous. When you think of how connected we are - cell phones and instant messaging - and then you think how these two would go YEARS without hearing from each other, as their letters were intercepted or lost, it boggles your mind. Great writing, great relationship and great minds. A must read.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more than simple words or even letters to family, this is the story of a great family committment to the founding of America and an example of the hardy stock that was the stuff or heroes and founding fathers.

[Craig Bolton]

The Book of Abigail & John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family 1762-1784 by Abigail Smith Adams (2002)

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting novel composed of the letters between this famous couple....loved the history and the banter between them especially when Abigail took John to task over not writing to her enough....

[Doris Raines · Rating 3 out of 5]

NICE BOOK.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of the correspondence between John Adams and his wife Abigail during the many years of their separation during the American Revolution and years immediately following.
It started out quite dry, but I only had to slog through about 70 pages before I was completely committed. Once you decifer the style of writing and the differences in spelling and grammar that they used, it goes much more quickly and turns out to be a compelling bird's eye view of our American Revolution and the immedate years after. Fascinating.
I liked it so much, I've moved on to a biography of John Adams so I can fill in the blanks, that is, the parts of the story not told in the letters between John and Abigail either because they did not know about certain events or because they held their information to the chest for fear of their letters being intercepted by the press and passed on to the enemy. Sounds a bit like how Bill Clinton feels about email.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

p.153 (A to J)
If you complain of neglect of Education in sons, What shall I say with regard to daughters, who every day expereience the want of it. With regard to the Education of my own children, I find myself soon out of the depth, and destitute and deficient in every part of Education.
...If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen and Philosophers, we should have learned women. The world perhaps would laugh at me, and accuse me of vanity, but you I know have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard the Sentiment. If much depends as is allowed upon the early Education of youth and the first principals which are instilld take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from litirary accomplishments in women.

[Jenalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who wouldn't want to learn more about this great man and woman? A fabulous book.

[Nick]

Inspiration to write Johanna while she's on the campaign trail.

[Marj · Rating 5 out of 5]

have read twice