Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams

Book Description

This is the life of Abigail Adams, wife of patriot John Adams, who became the most influential woman in Revolutionary America. Rich with excerpts from her personal letters, Dearest Friend captures the public and private sides of this fascinating woman, who was both an advocate of slave emancipation and a burgeoning feminist, urging her husband to "Remember the Ladies" as he framed the laws of their new country.

John and Abigail Adams married for love. While John traveled in America and abroad to help forge a new nation, Abigail remained at home, raising four children, managing their estate, and writing letters to her beloved husband. Chronicling their remarkable fifty-four-year marriage, her blossoming feminism, her battles with loneliness, and her friendships with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Dearest Friend paints a portrait of Abigail Adams as an intelligent, resourceful, and outspoken woman.

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Dearest Friend is the biography of Abigail Adams, the unschooled minister's daughter who became the most influential woman in Revolutionary America. Rich with excerpts from her incomparable letters and alive with the ferment of a new nation, Dearest Friend captures both the public and the private sides of this fascinating woman. She was a keen observer of the politics of her time and fully grasped the Revolution's implications for women and slaves. She was an advocate of black emancipation and urged her husband to "Remember the Ladies" as he framed the laws of their new country. John and Abigail Adams married for love, and their passion for each other endured for the fifty-four years of their marriage. They lived apart for more than a decade while John traveled in America and abroad to help begin a new country. Abigail remained at home for most of that time, writing letters to her "Dearest Friend," raising four children, managing a farm and the family finances, and keeping John informed of the political mood at home. This book chronicles their remarkable marriage, her blossoming feminism, her battles with the loneliness of separation, and her friendships with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other giants of her time. Intelligent, resourceful, and outspoken, Abigail Adams lived an uncommon life for a woman of her time. First published in 1981, Dearest Friend brings her legacy to our century.

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat disappointing.......2007-07-12

This is a somewhat disappointing book about a fascinating woman during a fascinating period of our history. The book was highly recommended to a friend of a member of my book club, but the women in my club agreed that the author failed to make Abigail Adams "come alive." The writing was tedious, especially in the first half. I read "The Summer of 1787" just before this, and "Dearest Friend" pales by comparison, especially in the richness of the story telling. Nonetheless, the book contains history I didn't know or had forgotten, and I'm glad I read it.

Ambiguous.......2004-05-17

I assigned this book to college freshmen and sophs.... in US History.

I did not like how it portrayed Abigail as "long suffering," yet strong. The two did not mesh well.

An amazing woman!.......2003-06-11

During the history of the United States there have been many women who have sacrificed just as much or more for their country than did Abigail Adams, but not many. Thanks to the voluminous correspondence of Mrs. Adams this book was made possible and should stand as a monument to all of these women.

In recent years the life of John Adams has been reexamined and his role in American history has again come to the forefront. Without Abigail, Mr. Adams could never have accomplished what he did. For unlike many of the other leaders of the Revolution, Adams was not a man of means. When he was away, someone had to look after the family's domestic concerns. That someone was Abigail. John became so accustomed to having Abigail to take care of home and hearth that when he did have time to see to such matters he seldom did.

This book details the work Abigail did behind the scenes to allow John to make his vital contributions to American independence. We see a strong woman who is more than willing to take charge of a given situation and make a decision. We also see however a wife who misses her husband. Abigail and John Adams are one of the true love stories of history. Their complete devotion to each other is amazing, especially in that the longer they were together the more in love they became. In the end becoming almost one soul in two bodies. Abigail's worst hardships didn't involve the work she did but the separations from John. Separations that lasted months and then years at a time.

Abigail is also shown in this book as a woman of strong conviction but also a woman of great contradiction. She and her husband helped make the American Revolution but she detested revolution as a threat to the social order. She believed strongly in a good education for women but still thought a woman's place was in the home. She believed the election of a Republican President would destroy the republic, but eventually became a Republican herself. Mrs. Adams was also probably a better politician than her husband was and while she had much influence on her husband, there were times when he paid no attention to her and ended up wishing he had. For example, it was Abigail who first saw the danger posed by Alexander Hamilton and it was Hamilton who in the end cost John the Presidency.

An excellent book but not complete. A much larger volume would be required to do this great lady justice. Still, it is wonderful that there is such a book at all for the women of that era are often forgotten. Abigail once advised John to not forget the ladies. Advise we should remember in the 21st century.

The Woman Behind the Man.......2002-08-22

While in college I took an American History class because I wanted to, not because I had to. In the process of writing a paper on the role of women in the American Revolution, I found so many references to Abigail Adams, that I knew at some point in the future I would have to read her biography. Well, I just completed this book and I can't recommend it more highly!

With so many books regarding the Founding Fathers being touted at the bookstores recently, it's wonderful to read the story of one of the Women behind one of the Men. Though not traditionally educated Abigail's knowledge of politics, curiousity about everything, and affection for family and friends is well-documented through excerpts from her numerous letters. The sacrifices both she and her husband made for the fledgling America are a sober reminder of the courage and bravery required of our ancestors.

In a time when woman were subservient to men, she stood head and shoulders above other members of her gender. Her husband wisely depended on her counsel, love and care.

This is a wonderful biography that takes the reader back in time and place so vividly as to feel present at the birth of a nation and a voyeur into the unfolding political career of the second President of the United States and the woman who loved him.

I, too, wish American History had been presented this richly in my grammar and high school years.

After reading this book I would suggest reading "John Adams" by David McCullough, though quite lengthy, it is worthwhile to read the other half of the "conversation".

Remember the Lady.......2002-08-11

This is a beautifully written tale of an extraordinary 18th century woman. She was the wife and dearest friend of one US President and the mother of another. Her husband depended on her political acumen, and trusted her judgment. She was sometimes referred to as the old lady in the politics. She corresponded on business and politics with many men including Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps our first American feminist, Abigail Adams was full of contradictions.

As a staunch revolutionary, she foresaw the need for independence from England perhaps even before her husband, John. She advocated education and political freedom for women long before it was respectable to do so.

As practical homemaker, she worked the farm, raised the children, and handled the family finances including investments. Abigail liked investing in securities; John preferred land. They made investments in both. Her dependability in these matters secured the home front. This allowed her husband to attend the Continental Congress, sign the Declaration of Independence, serve as minister to France and then England, as well as serve as the first vice president, and then 2nd President of the fledgling USA. Without her shepherding the family finances, either the family would have been ruined; or the United States would have lost one of its great founding fathers.

As a post-revolution political conservative, she hated the republicanism of Jefferson, although she respected him as an honorable man. She foresaw the problems with the French Revolution before Jefferson and his Republican cohorts. She did not understand the criticism of the free press. She strongly advocated the Alien and Sedition Act, passed by congress during her husbands presidency. It addressed the two of what she thought were the serious threats to the security of the USA& that of foreigners and criticism of the government by the press.

The paradox of Abigail Adams is that she had always established her identity through her husbands achievements. The author tells us that Probably Abigail would have been astonished to find herself transformed into something of a celebrity one hundred fifty years after her death. Yet surely she would have approved of the reasons for her fame: the interest of a later age in the history of family and domestic life, as well as the history of politics, and above all its interest in the emancipation of women and the discovery of women in the past who spoke out on behalf of their sex.

The beauty of this book is that Lynne Withey presents Abigail Adams as a real human being, not an icon. It is easy to understand why Abigail was Johns Dearest Friend.

I highly recommend this book.

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Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams

Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 073668607X

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Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams
Lynne Withey
Manufacturer: Collier Macmillan Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O94BVG

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Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams
Lynne Whithey
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K9VX5C

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Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams Audio Unabridged
Lynne Withey
Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000R81VLM

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9 tapes unabridged

Dearest Friend : A Life of Abigail Adams [ Signed First ]

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Dearest Friend : A Life of Abigail Adams [ Signed First ]
Lynne Withey
Manufacturer: Free Press/Collier Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K1JM6C

Book Description

Although skeptics claim that the Necronomicon is a fantastic tome created by H. P. Lovecraft, true seekers into the esoteric mysteries of the world know the truth: The Necronomicon is the blasphemous tome of forbidden knowledge written by the mad Arab, Abdul Alhazred. Even today, after attempts over the centuries to destroy any and all copies in any language, some few copies still exist, secreted away.

Within this book you will find stories about the Necronomicon, different versions of the Necronomicon, and two essays on this blasphemous tome.

Now you too may learn the true lore of Abdul Alhazred.

This book is part of an expanding collection of Cthulhu Mythos horror fiction and related topics. Call of Cthulhu fiction focuses on single entities, concepts, or authors significant to readers and fans of H.P. Lovecraft.

Customer Reviews:

Overly Complete is Feature, not Bug.......2005-11-13

To begin with, this is the NECRONOMICON published by Chaosium as part of their Mythos fiction line. It is, of course, a fictional work. This anthology does not purport to be anything BUT fiction, so if you are looking for a real grimoire of ancient evil, yeah, good luck with that.

Second, this is absolutely huge. There are 5 "Necronomicons" included, plus some pseudo-Necronomica added as commentary. I agree with previous posters that this is overkill. And truth be known, you will probably do as I did and read the first two and skip the rest, so chronology trumps merit in this case. I am surprised, though, that any reviewers complained about this "feature" - surely more material for the same price is a good thing, right? I am happy knowing that if I ever need a Necronomicon, I have 5 to choose from (or perhaps the reviewers are worried about a "Nine Gates"-esque dilemma?).

The fiction section of THE NECRONOMICON is quite enjoyable, beginning with Manly Wade Wellman's "The Parchment" and ending with Fed Chappell's "The Adder". These stories cover 185 pages, which would make a respectable book on their own. My favorite is by far "Settler's Wall", which is the mental equivalent of living in a world of rational numbers and then running into the number "pi".

Finally, THE NECRONOMICON opens and closes with pieces by editor Robert Price. I have labored through enough editor's introductions and story notes expounding his theories of higher criticism and his religious opinions that I have finally cracked and decided to become his arch-nemesis. However, I feel I must give him credit where it is due for his materful introduction discussing the Necronomicon, postmodernism, higher-criticism, and holy scriptures. Never before have I read such a clear and obvious testament of a cultist who has studied arcane texts to the point that his brains have turned to cottage cheese and run out his ears. Really, I think I was driven insane halfway through his twenty page postmodernist critique of the existence of the concept "book" (fortunately, the next ten pages drove me further to the point of being sane again. Who knew the mind is a moebius strip?). The scary thing is, that I'm not sure if Price meant it as a satire, a fictional account by a crazed cultist, or if he really believes this stuff? I think the ambiguity only adds to the genius.

So, congratulations Robert Price, you have compiled an outstanding anthology. And, if I may say so, you'd make a dam fine cultist.

The necronomicon.......2003-04-16

I have been a student of the five elements and ninjutsu since I was nineteen. I studied anything that revolved to the rising, or ARRA star. I encountered the Necronomicon when I was 25, and Heaven and Earth shook inside of me. I am not saying that it is true to the last detail, but I must admit that the conjuration of the Fire God was legitimate. I even went as far as to summmon
Zaghurim. All I am saying is that if one does not believe in magic, or the idea that if one wants something to happen strong enough it may come to pass, then do not read this book. For those among us who do believe that(whatever name one may call them by) there are beings known as watchers, angels, demons, spirits, then this is a book for those that believe in meditation moreso than those who follow the path of mantra. My experiences with this book have led me to believe that one's greatest thoughts can be manifested by summoning these spirits,
but everything that is great has a great price. "It is thy risk".

How ignorant some can be.......2002-12-23

First off this is a book that offers the chance of a lifetime. I myself have practiced these rituals and saw the truths that are in it. Though i doubt anyone will read this i ask you to even try the rituals with belief that it will work then tell me how wrong it is. I only tried a few rituals and have not found the courage to try more. Sometimes you can study something for so long before you realize how wrong or frightningly true it is!! But remember "Be careful what knowledge you seek, for in the end you still will not Know"

Very colorful book but not for lightweights.......2002-03-06

I noticed that this magnificent anthology has garned a few poor reviews. Having read it, I can see way. It may not be an entertaining collection for casual or half-hearted readers. Oh, they will enjoy the pastiche stories, but then find the "translated" passages of "ye booke by ye Arab" to be rough going. This is actually deliberate. If Lovecraft had a chance to review these translated passages, he might concur. The uninitiated should find these pages difficult, but the genuine fan will detect the clever nuggets of wit, rather pokerfaced, and many wil pass right by them. A solid, colorful book. I also enjoyed the description of Abdul Alhazred's demise. In Charles Mitchell's THE COMPLETE H.P. LOVECRAFT FILMOGRAPHY, he cleverly notes how the creature in the film "Sound of Horror" was based on the story of Alhazred's death. It is great that this collection included it. 4 out of 5 stars. Recommended!

A mixed bag.......2002-02-23

This collection offers the reader a very mixed bag. Pulling off an anthology like this is extremely difficult because the stories threaten to be repetitious, tedious, or both. Robert Price has only moderate success here.

The stories are remarkably varied; Price has taken a good cross-section of stories about the Necronomicon and has avoided the repetition problem for the most part. Despite this, some of the stories are quite predictable.

The strength of this collection indeed lies in its variety. When was the last time you read a Mythos story by John Brunner? His story is one of the best of the book. For that matter, Silverberg and Pohl are not well known for Mythos contributions, but they make contributions to this volume.

The real tedium in the collection comes in the versions of the Necronomicon. There's only so much archaically-written gobbledygook a reader can stand. After a page of it, the rest looks like more of the same. Thus, "The Sussex Manuscript" and Lin Carter's contribution are of little interest to the reader. Carter's repeats the same themes again and again, showing some creativity but soon losing the reader's interest.

Book Description

Naturalism refers to the naturalism of the Scottish school of "Common Sense" philosophy. Contrary to popular belief which regards Hume primarily as an empiricist, Mounce regards him as a naturalist, and shows how his philosophy combined both empiricist and naturalist tendencies.

This book provides an overall perspective of Hume's work, and deals specifically with his masterpieces, The Treatise on Human Nature and The Dialogues On Natural Religion. H. O. Mounce's interpretation is clear, and written in an elegant style.

The History of American Constitutional or Common Law With Commentary Concerning: Equity and Merchant Law

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Constitutional and Common Law and U.S. Citizenship
An informative introduction to Common Law
If you don't know your rights, you don't have any rights
What we were not taught in the state run schools!

The History of American Constitutional or Common Law With Commentary Concerning: Equity and Merchant Law
Dale Pond , Howard Fisher , Richard Knutson , and North American Freedom Council
Manufacturer: Message Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Law | Subjects | Books

Non-US Legal Systems | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1572820101

Book Description

With the continuing deterioration of our rights and personal freedoms, here at last is a manual on what can be done to regain the Rights that our country was founded on. This book contains practical steps that anyone can take. Includes 75 pages of testimony and documentation that can be used to regain what our Founding Fathers fought for. Learn what our Common Law rights are and how to protect and assert them. Learn what a "Sovereign Citizen" is and how to become one. This is not an issue of "right-wing" or "left-wing" to many of those involved. This movement transcends the usual labeling of the political spectrum.

Customer Reviews:

Constitutional and Common Law and U.S. Citizenship.......2002-05-19

this book is one of the most significant books available. it should be required reading for everyone of all ages. so much information which is not commonly known but should be is in this short, easy to read book. this book provides the real meaning of being an American as intended by the Founding Fathers.

An informative introduction to Common Law.......2002-04-24

I highly recommend this book as an introduction to anyone interested in how "Our" government really functions and how it continually violates the Constitution of the united States of America. If you want to retain your "Rights" as a Citizen" this is a must.

I have been researching this, and related subjects for almost twenty-five years and it is an eye opener even for me. I would also recommend Cracking the Code, 3rd Edition from BBCOA. Visit them at their website ... (I am not on their payroll.)

Not for the faint of heart or the typical "government school mis-educated" person. If you are not able or willing to think for yourself you should leave this book where you find it.

If you don't know your rights, you don't have any rights.......2001-07-20

This book explains how the U.S. government is operating OUTSIDE of the Constitution and the Common Law -- the supreme law of the land. It explains how the government has moved us out of common law jurisdiction and into statutory law (merchant law) jurisdiction. It tells what you, as a freeborn, sovereign individual can do to reclaim your common law rights to life, liberty, and property. It also explains the difference between rights and privileges. It is a must read for anyone who fears the usurpation of power by the federal government via the abrogation of common law rights of citizens -- "we the people."

What we were not taught in the state run schools!.......2000-10-21

Until I had been out in the work force for 20 years I thought I had a fair education. It was not until I visited Russia in 1995 that I met and talked to some educators who could not believe my ignorance of history. Remember, this was 5 years after the fall of communism. They politely suggested I do some reading and gave me some ideas where to look. The result of 4 years of part-time study led me to question everything I had been taught about US history but especially the last 100 years.

If I had found Dale Pond's book 4 years ago I could have saved myself a lot of work. He has provided references and case studies for his work. In my expert opinion, having also done it the hard way, he has created an excellent primary reader for anyone who wants to learn the truth about our current "Administrative" legal system and why we are now "subjects," where once we were "Sovereigns."

When you finish reading this book you won't look at the US government the same way, ever again. Then you will want to know what is the secondary reader.

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Gentlemen of Misfortune

Howard Pyle's Book of pirates;: Fiction, fact & fancy concerning the buccaneers & marooners of the Spanish Main
Howard Pyle
Manufacturer: Harper & Brothers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Classics by Age | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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The Story of the Grail and the Passing of Arthur (Cosimo Classics Literature)

ASIN: B0006AIKCE

Customer Reviews:

Gentlemen of Misfortune.......2005-11-11

I was thrilled when my parents found their 1921 hardcover edition of Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates! There are seven chapters, each of about 30 pages in length, thirteen beautiful paintings, and countless sketches that were included for the first time.

The confusing thing is the title: is the book fiction, or does Pyle relate the facts of certain pirates? By the second chapter, it is evident the book is fiction loosely wrapped around real-life elements and historical characters. For example, "With the Buccaneers" utilizes Henry Morgan and some of his affairs, while "Jack Ballister's Fortunes" is about the downfall of Blackbeard. Both are fictionally portrayed while containing elements and dialogue reportedly true to the events of the time.

The first chapter, Buccaneers and Marooners of the Spanish Main, is probably a reprinting of Pyle's article (or an excerpt from the book) of the same name. In it, Pyle breezes over Pierre François, Bartholomew Portuguese, and Roch Braziliano, all of whom are several minor characters who helped instigate, in their small way, the piracies of the 17th century. Pyle continues by recounting brief histories of Captain Henry Morgan, who was knighted by King Charles II, and Captain Avary, whose exploits twisted against him. Captain Kidd gets but one paragraph asserting (and correctly so) he was never a true pirate. Pyle then focuses on tales regarding Blackbeard in and around the Carolinas; Captain Low, who revenged against Yankees; and Pyle then concludes by mentioning the likes of "Ned" England, Captain Howell Davis, and of course the great Bartholomew Roberts.

The chapters that follow are merely short stories that disappoint when it comes to swashbuckling affairs, but are entertaining nevertheless, and more so, probably, for younger readers. My favorite yarn in this book is "Tom Chist and the Treasure Box," where a young lad espies Captain Kidd burying a treasure chest late at night. The tale is so simple and so romantic that I enjoyed it immensely. "Blueskin" is perhaps the most mature story and most readers will relate to the struggles of lost love found here. The story is the darkest and most frightening of the collection.

The compilation leaves out many of Pyle's greater paintings, and the stories simply aren't as well written or as imaginative as I had hoped. But the book can be read quickly while your crew careens the ship.

Autographed Letter Signed, concerning a portrait for which he'd receiv

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Autographed Letter Signed, concerning a portrait for which he'd receiv
Howard Chandler CHRISTY
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MXCT86

Claims of American Citizens. Apia, in the Samoan Islands. Message from the President of the United States, transmitting report from the Secretary of State concerning claims of American citizens growing out of joint naval operations of the United States a

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Claims of American Citizens. Apia, in the Samoan Islands. Message from the President of the United States, transmitting report from the Secretary of State concerning claims of American citizens growing out of joint naval operations of the United States a
William Howard, et al. Taft
Manufacturer: Washington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IUW80W

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Concerning Howard
Virginia J. Miller
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1413426174

Concerning the Disciples: A brief resume of the movement to restore the New Testament church

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Concerning the Disciples: A brief resume of the movement to restore the New Testament church
Pearl Howard Welshimer
Manufacturer: Standard Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00088X8R6

Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates : Fiction, Fact & Fancy Concerning the Buccaneers & Marooners of the Spanish Main

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Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates : Fiction, Fact & Fancy Concerning the Buccaneers & Marooners of the Spanish Main
Howard ; Compiled By Merle Johnson Pyle
Manufacturer: Harper & Brothers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KEQY8I

Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates. Fiction, Fact & Fancy concerning the Buccaneers & Mariners of the Spanish Main

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Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates. Fiction, Fact & Fancy concerning the Buccaneers & Mariners of the Spanish Main
Howard Pyle
Manufacturer: New York: Harper & Brothers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LGMMFE

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