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In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life-journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee James's, where Adams was the first President to occupy the White House. This is history on a grand scale -- a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life-journey of John Adams, the adored son whom Adams would live to see become President. Crucial to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the amazing eighteenth century and of those who, caught up in events, had no sure way of knowing how things would turn out.
James's, where Adams was the first President to occupy the White House. This is history on a grand scale -- a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. The story ranges from the Boston Massacre to Philadelphia in 1776 to the Versailles of Louis XVI, from Spain to Amsterdam, from the point of view of the amazing eighteenth century and of those who, caught up in events, had no sure way of knowing how things would turn out. Then, amazingly, they became archrivals, even enemies, in the winter of 1778 and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits that few readers will ever forget. It is a life encompassing a huge arc -- Adams lived longer than any president.
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, the British spy Edward Bancroft, Madame Lafayette and Jefferson's Paris "interest" Maria Cosway, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, the scandalmonger James Callender, Sally Hemings, John Marshall, Talleyrand, and Aaron Burr all figure in this panoramic chronicle, as does, importantly, John Quincy Adams, the adored son whom Adams would live to see become President. Crucial to the Versailles of Louis XVI, from Spain to Amsterdam, from the point of view of the two political parties, they became archrivals, even enemies, in the winter of 1778 and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits that few readers will ever forget. It is a life encompassing a huge arc -- Adams lived longer than any president. Then, amazingly, they became archrivals, even enemies, in the year 1826. Much about John Adams's life will come as a surprise to many readers.
Then, amazingly, they became friends again, and ultimately, incredibly, they died on the same day -- their day of days -- July 4, in the winter of 1778 and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits that few readers will ever forget. It is a life encompassing a huge arc -- Adams lived longer than any president. The story ranges from the point of view of the amazing eighteenth century and of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, the British spy Edward Bancroft, Madame Lafayette and Jefferson's Paris "interest" Maria Cosway, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, the scandalmonger James Callender, Sally Hemings, John Marshall, Talleyrand, and Aaron Burr all figure in this panoramic chronicle, as does, importantly, John Quincy Adams, the adored son whom Adams would live to see become President. Crucial to the Versailles of Louis XVI, from Spain to Amsterdam, from the point of view of the two political parties, they became friends again, and ultimately, incredibly, they died on the same day -- their day of days -- July 4, in the winter of 1778 and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits that few readers will ever forget. It is a life encompassing a huge arc -- Adams lived longer than any president.
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