Without a doubt, Abigail Adams is one of the most compelling historical figures to emerge from our Revolutionary period. A complex person, she balanced both passion and intellectual pursuits in an era when just daily life and survival could be all-consuming. I think it is important, however, to separate the wonder of this subject from the actual book itself, the first half of which I found less than smoothly written or easy to follow. Bober's documentation naturally stems from the wealth of letters and diaries of the main figures but I often felt like I wasn't getting the full story through her editing. Her use of "dramatization" of events and scenes can be excused since the audience is a young readership, but it was a little disconcerting. Nevertheless, she has produced a good book (particularly the sections on Adam's vice-presidency and presidency).

I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, which I purchased on a visit to the Adams National Historic Site (sorry, amazon.com!). Abigail Adams was remarkable in so many ways, not least of which was her ability to convey the issues and tenor of her times through her letters. Natalie Bober does an exceptional job of bringing Abigail's world to life - not just the big ideas, but the small emotional details come to light, making these historical figures seem very real. I had always been an admirer of the Adamses and their extraordinary romantic and intellectual partnership - this book increased my admiration tenfold.

This book really takes you back in time. It is the most interesting biography I read, ever. It's a bit longer then most biographies at this reading level, but believe me it will go by fast. I learned information that I will keep for the rest of my life. I really felt I was a fly in the wall of Abigail Adam's many homes. The pictures also give you more for your imagination to build upon. Also in the book there are some of Abigail's letters. This shows what is really going on in Abigail's life. I found out that Abigail Adams was more then first lady and mother of a president she did some pretty courageous things. I felt like I was reading a fictional book, when really I was reading a quite informative, book.

In our post Hilary-Clinton world, we assume that the First Lady will influence the President to some degree or another.

John and Abigail Adams, however, were a couple like no other. Their partnership was amazing and John could not have been the man he was (revolutionary, founding father, statesman, president, friend, husband and father), without Abigail. She helped balance him, shared her intelligent and insightful views with him in ways that were supportive and helpful, gave up much of the life she probably envisioned with him so that he could serve his country in a variety of ways, managed his domestic and financial life alone for much of their marriage, and truly loved down to her core this sometimes difficult man.

This book is a great addition to our knowledge of this complex woman. It is worth reading just to understand her better, aside from her well-biographied husband.

Gelles presents for us Abigail Adams in a new light...the domestic woman. By telling her story thematically (one chapter devoted to her and her sisters, one devoted to her daughter and Abigail jrs fight with breast cancer) we meet a new Abigail...one who is not weighed down by proto-feminist thought, nor is she trying to dominate the home. Abigail was an unusual woman in a few ways, but keep in mind that she kept a family togehter by herself for the many years when John Adams was in Philadephia or England or France. She acted within social norms as a "deputy husband" (to use the language of the times). Although at times I question if Gelles isn't slightly underestimating the second first lady of the US...she presents a new counterpoint to the large body of Abigail Adams scholarship out there. For those scholars of Abigail Adams, her first chapter basically presents in a historiographical manner the various types of Abigail scholarship out there, offering a critique of many of the well-known authors. It is a bit dry at times, but is not at all painful to read.

I think Abigail Adams is one the greatest and most interesting women in American history.

This book gives us a picture of her as a young woman, as the wife and confidant of John, as a mother, as a manager of farms and homes, and as a friend to many.

It also gives us a window into her life as a woman with a rich and interesting life of the mind and the heart.

A great read!

This was a very interesting book showing the way a women saw the start of a new country. It also shows the sacrifice that both John and Abigail both had to make to still be together while John was helping the colonies. John tells Abigail all of the political happenings that have been going on not including deaths etc... Abigail is very much into politics and reminds John to "remember the ladies" when writing the Declaration of Independence. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about the war at a different perspective than what just the history books say.

This was a great book to really get to see what went on in the life of a great American heroine, Abigail Adams. After reading this book to help with a school project on women in history, I thought, "Who was really wearing the pants in the Adams family?"

Akers is limited by the series he is writing for so very little can be blamed on him, in fact he does a good job with what little he is allotted but his use of her first name throughout is not only taboo for historians but could also be considered sexist -- would you call Thomas Jefferson, "Tom" in a biography? Also, major figures in Adams' life have merely the depth of cardboard cutouts. Possibly suitable for the high school freshmen, probably not undergraduate and certainly not for the graduate level.

Akers does a great job of placing the information from Abigail's letters into a story, without directly quoting the letters line by line. A story is presented to the reader through the eyes of the First Lady. It was a required text for an American History class, though I did enjoy reading it. The story itself; however, can be deeply depressing while still communicating the accounts of the famous political family. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about the other side of politics.

HI H

Nagel starts his book with a discussion of how happy he is to write another book on the Adames, specifically on the women. He then proceeds to tear the best of them, Abigail Sr., to shreds. Portraying her as shrewish, domineering, and just distasteful, he paints an inaccuratly biased view of an amazing woman who was far before her time. Although I don't know enough of the other women to critque his evaluations of them, I have read Abigails letters at the Mass Historical society and have read countless books on her during the last six months in relation to an intensive research project. I have seen many different "reads" of Abigail from feminist to domestic to maternal...but none so blatantly anti-Abigail. I suppose the world needs dissent to continue to have interesting discourse, but Nagel quite obviously hates Abigail Adams. If you read his book, please temper it with something like Portia, which is admittedly dry, but will give you a good counterpoint to Nagels criticisms.

Another winner for Nagel. This book is as good as his other two about the Adams family. I still don't find Abigail very likeable. The pressure she put on her children to achieve broke 3 of them and the lone successful child (John Quincy) turned around and did the same with his children. I really enjoyed the writer's descriptions of Louisa. I hope to see a full blown biography of her someday...she deserves it! I gained a true understanding why John Quincy had the personality he did. Abigail was extremely intelligent and ahead of her time. I enjoyed reading of her true partnership with husband John.

Author Nagel has done a wonderful job of bringing the lives of the Adams women to life. The first part of the book concentrates on Abigail Smith, wife of John Adams and her sisters. Their letters describing their daily lives are fascinating. The various daughters of these women are also highlighted. The only daughter of John and Abigail, Abigail (nickednamed Nabby) is a particularly heartbreaking story. Pushed by her mother to marry a "promising" young man, she becomes the abandoned wife of a cruel alcoholic, living in near poverty. Unable to break away because of the strict moral codes of the time, she succombs to cancer, dying in her father's arms. Almost all of the women of the family were tortured by the alcoholism of either their husbands or sons. Louisa Johnson, the wife of John Quincy Adams is also highlighted. Her unhappy marriage to a difficult man is portrayed sympathetically.

Even though thiese women lived almost 200 years ago, their stories are timeless. Unable to contol their own destinies, these women nevertheless contributed greatly to their families and communities.

this book was a very disturbong experience and I would not recommend it to anybody