It is ironic that the thing that reflected poorest on John Quincy Adams, his tenure as president, is what he is today remembered for. In fact, his most outstanding achievements were in the field of foreign affairs and civil liberties. Professor Bemis's book addresses the first of these (the second is handled in vol. 2).

Because of his father's career as a diplomat during the American Revolution, John Adams probably had the best education in foreign affairs of any statesmen in early America. While charges of nepotism haunted Adams, it was money well-spent in terms of results. Adams was posted to Prussia, Russian and Great Britain during the Napoleonic War. He managed to secure a peace treaty with Britain which was threatening to send over the Duke of Wellington to resolve the war of 1812.

As Secretary of State, Adams established the principles that later became enshrined as the Monroe Doxtrine. His vision of Western Hemispheric solidarity was designed to allow the new American Republic to stand up to the more powerful nations of Europe. Adams did much to establish anti-colonialism as the hallmark of American Foreign Policy up to the Second World War.

The job of Secretary of State was seen as the springboard to the presidency in the "Era of Good Feelings." Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe had held this office. The rise of Adams was overshadowed by that of Andrew Jackson. However, given the nature of politics at the time neither he nor Adams were able to achieve a clear victory in electoral college. The inconclusive results of the election of 1824 led to the ultimate decision resting with the House of Representatives. When the fourth runner up and Speaker of the House, Henry Clay was in a position to decide the outcome.

The result was the famous "corrupt bargin" in which Adams came in as president and Clay was appointed to be secretary of state. The hint of "political hanky panky" undermined the presidency of John Quincy Adams. There were a number of good ideas proposed, a national university, a system of observatories, internal improvements featuring a national network of canals and roads that would have opened up the west and promoted greater regional ties and interdependence. Unfortunately these good ideas were ineffective against the charisma of Jackson and the political machinations of Van Buren, the first national political boss. The presidency of John Quincy Adams was ineffective against well-organized congressional opposition.

Beemis is excellent on all points. He correctly assesses the highlights of his career. This is intended to be a scholarly biography, not a popular representation. The level of detail and the flow of the narrative may drag at times, but this book is well worth the effort.

This book is the second volume of a two volume biography of John Quincy Adams and it is the definative study of the subject.

The book takes up in the midst of his presidency. Beemis wisely assesses Adams's presidency as a low point in his career as an American statesman. The focus of the book is career as a congressman, his one foray into the world of popular politics and he performed magnificently.

While in congress the crucial issue was slavery. Adams, like his father, detested the institution. While not an abolitionist, Adams's concern was the effect that this "peculiar institution was having on the politics of the republic.

The justification of slavery seemed to occupy the focus of the southern delgations to Washington during this period. One of the innovations designed to halt discussion was the so-called "gag order" which prevented any petition addressing the subject of slavery to be automatically tabled. While not having the reputation as a popular politician, Adams realized what was at stake by this measure. To maintain slavery, fundamental rights were being sacrificed. To this son of the revolution this endangered all that had come before. If congress could limit the right of petition, it could limit other rights granted by the constitution, something that all branches of government were willing to accept.

Luckily for the future of the United States, Adams was a stubborn fighter who relished the conflict. This book charts his efforts to overturn this measure and to make the government accountable to its citizens.

During this period Adams also defended members of Amistead revolt, fought for the establishment of the Smithsonian Instition (congress had predictably squandered the original bequest), opposed the growth of slavery. Ironically Adams's reputation was more effective as a congressman than he ever was as president. He died in 1848 denouncing the Mexican War. He was carried from the chamber of the House of Representatives by his fellow congressmen, among them Abraham Lincoln, a moment of great symbollism.

Professor Beemis again demonstrates his mastery of his subject. While a distiguished scholar of American diplomatic history, he displays a great grasp of domestic affairs that his often lacking in those who are specialists in this subject.

Gerry and Janet Souter's juvenile biography of "John Quincy Adams: Our Sixth President" is an excellent book for young students to find first person to follow their own father to the Presidency. If there is any chance for a renaissance of interest in the life and career of John Quincy Adams, then it is during the Presidency of George W. Bush that is might actually happen. This book offers four chapters on Adams's life: In His Father's Footsteps, A Career in Politics, The Bitter Presidency, and Duty to the End. It is important that the four years Adams spent in the White House are probably the least significant of his career. Young readers will learn about how Adams spent his early career in the diplomatic service, all because he learned to speak French when he was 10 years old and serving as his father's secretary when John Adams was sent to French to ask for help during the American Revolution. Eventually John Quincy Adams because Secretary of State, which led to him becoming President in a disputed election (sound familiar?) that was thrown into the House of Representatives. It was as a Congressman, known as "Old Man Eloquent" for his speeches attacking slavery, that Adams proved there was a life of public service after the Presidency.

This book focuses on providing basic information about the second Adams to be President, with "Interesting Facts" about his life and times added to the margins. Each chapter has a page devoted to details about his life: sailing on the "Boston" to France, his wife Louisa, his troubled family with regards to his sons, and the "Amistad" affair. There are a couple dozen illustrations in the book, all of which are in color. The back of this volume includes a time line of John Quincy Adams's life, a glossary of three dozen words, information on all of the Presidents form Washington to Bush, Presidential facts, and internet sites and books for finding further information. Older students or those looking for more detailed information about Adams in a juvenile biography should turn next to Zachary Kent's biography in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series. The "Our Presidents" books are part of the "Spirit of America" series, which focuses on the American experience in terms of history, culture, and politics.

John Quincy Adams blends history and biography in presenting a new study of the statecraft and life of John Quincy Adams, policy-maker in the early American republic. It's recommended reading for high school and college undergraduate students, as well as any non-specialist general radeing studying early American history and politics.

Zachary Kent provides a more than solid introduction to John Quincy Adams in this volume in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series. The story begins with Adams as the most hated man in Congress because of his insistence on presenting the House of Representatives petitions by citizens demanding an end to slavery. Kent then covers Adams's distinguished career as a diplomat which saw postings in Prussia, Russia and Great Britain before he became James Monroe's Secretary of State. His one term as President actually becomes the least important part of his political career. Adams actually died in the House of Representatives, collapsing before a vote in 1848.

Kent does a nice job of making it clear that for John Quincy Adams duty and character were more important that popularity. When he was elected to the Senate as a Federalist, Adams often supported the policies of President Thomas Jefferson, such as the Louisiana Purchase. When his party actually nominated somebody else to run for the Senate in his place, Adams immediately resigned. This episode is certainly representative of the quality of the man.

This is not a slick looking book but it does provide more than adequate coverage of the life of its subject, which is supposed to be its purpose. There are better looking juvenile biographies of Adams, but they do not provide the amount of information students will find here. This volume is illustrated with dozens of black and white illustrations, mostly engravings and paintings from Adams's lifetime, as well as maps, pamphlets and signatures. The book contains a detailed Chronology of American History that lists virtually ever year from the birth of Washington in 1732 to the crash of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986, when this book was published.

At last, John Curry has a book in print worthy of his art. Ms. Junker has suceeded in paying a noble yet sadly overdue tribute to this unique and often neglected artist. Curry's paintings capture the emotion and natural force of American scenes in a way that was very much his own. Works like "Tornado over Kansas" and the scene of John Brown in "A Tragic Prelude" embody some of the greatest expressions of conflict to be found in American art.

This dictionary/encyclopedia is indispensable for any study of the ancient world. Without a doubt its accompanyment will broaden the scope of understanding for any student of Antiquity. Bibliotheca Classica: or, A Dictionary of all The Principal Names and Terms Relating to the Geography, Topography, History, Literature, and Mythology of Antiquity and of the Ancients, with a Chronological Table, by J. Lempriete, D.D., the title, sums up the main topics covered. The book is divided into three main parts; I. Geography, Topography, &c., II. History, Antiquities, &c., III. Mythology.

If you have ever read or studied the ancient world and have found yourself at a loss for names places and misc. this is the book for you.

If you are looking for the book that is easier to tote around than this one, I would like to suggest, "Dictionary of Classical Mythology" by J.E. Zimmerman. Coverage is extensive, but lacking the completness of much larger text by Leimpriere.

In 1835, an extraordinary series of articles appeared in the New York "Sun," one of the city's newspapers. The articles told how astronomer John Herschel, with the aid of an advanced new telescope, had discovered life on earth's moon. Of course, the articles were pure fiction, and the story has become known as the Moon Hoax. The articles, written by Richard Adams Locke, were published in book form under the title "The Moon Hoax; Or, A Discovery That the Moon Has a Vast Population of Human Beings." A reproduction of an 1859 New York edition, with a new introduction by Ormond Seavey, was published by Gregg Press in 1975.

Locke's Moon Hoax is one of the most remarkable works of 19th century U.S. literature. Ormond Seavey's intro to the 1975 edition does a good job of placing the hoax in literary and cultural perspective. Seavey notes, for example, that the hoax appeared at "a time when the tall tale was first recognized as a characteristically American narrative" (p. xxiv). Seavey also makes note of the reaction of showman P.T. Barnum to the hoax, and draws a parallel between the Moon Hoax and Edgar Allan Poe's 1844 "Balloon Hoax."

The text of the hoax itself is a charming piece of literature; it could be seen as a pioneering work of science fiction. The text's flavor of authenticity is enhanced by the many technical details about the new telescope; Locke even names the glassmaking firm that allegedly created the lens for the device! Locke's descriptions of Herschel's bogus discoveries are delightful. We learn about the lunar oceans; trees; gigantic, obelisk-like amethysts; unicorn-like creatures; tailless beaver-like humanoids; and most wonderfully, "Vespertilio-homo," the winged human-like species alluded to in the book's title. "The Moon Hoax" is a marvelous book that deserves to be rediscovered by new generations of readers.

This little book is as much fun to read as watching one of your favorite films. Not only is it entertaining and informative, but it manages to be comprehensive and highly discriminating at the same time. The authors are fully aware of the "auteurs" who count, of the films that matter. I've read hundreds of film books, and I can guarantee that you won't find a better value.

The authors allow the readers to take a close look into the history of electoral socialism....Highly recomended to political science students & others who wish to know more aboute the intriding world of politics.