Comments on: Abigail Adams, Junk Bond Dealer http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2009/12/abigail-adams-junk-bond-dealer.html A Community for Curious Minds who love History, its Odd Stories, and Good Reads Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Audra http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2009/12/abigail-adams-junk-bond-dealer.html/comment-page-1#comment-5693 Audra Mon, 02 Aug 2010 01:10:03 +0000 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/?p=3145#comment-5693 Oh, I need to read this book! My wife and her family live by the Abigail Adams house, and I'm often regaled with stories about her. Now I can return the favor! Oh, I need to read this book! My wife and her family live by the Abigail Adams house, and I’m often regaled with stories about her. Now I can return the favor!

]]> By: Alexandra http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2009/12/abigail-adams-junk-bond-dealer.html/comment-page-1#comment-3792 Alexandra Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:02:45 +0000 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/?p=3145#comment-3792 Just wanted to say thank you to Mr. Holton for writing this book. I'm not too far into it yet, but I like its even-handedness and its ability to go beyond simply glorifying the Adamses' marriage in itself. I think too many books supposedly about her still unintentionally fall into the trap of not making her the single protagonist. I really agree with your opinion of the Abigail character in the HBO series - I loved the series overall but thought a lot the characterization of a lot of the characters was a bit off, with Franklin reduced to spouting off his famous aphorisms, Jefferson being far more forceful than he seemingly was, and Hamilton reduced to a dull caricature who lacked charisma. I haven't read the Nagel JQA biography in question, but I'd just like to mention that it's unfortunate that she apparently comes across as a "shrew" in that book. I know I'm playing the "gender card" to some extent, but I think some would see her "controlling" behavior in less of a negative light if such behavior was perpetrated by a man - when Abigail was forceful in her advice, she's shrewish, but when a father of that time was, he was simply being dutiful. Just wanted to say thank you to Mr. Holton for writing this book. I’m not too far into it yet, but I like its even-handedness and its ability to go beyond simply glorifying the Adamses’ marriage in itself. I think too many books supposedly about her still unintentionally fall into the trap of not making her the single protagonist. I really agree with your opinion of the Abigail character in the HBO series – I loved the series overall but thought a lot the characterization of a lot of the characters was a bit off, with Franklin reduced to spouting off his famous aphorisms, Jefferson being far more forceful than he seemingly was, and Hamilton reduced to a dull caricature who lacked charisma.

I haven’t read the Nagel JQA biography in question, but I’d just like to mention that it’s unfortunate that she apparently comes across as a “shrew” in that book. I know I’m playing the “gender card” to some extent, but I think some would see her “controlling” behavior in less of a negative light if such behavior was perpetrated by a man – when Abigail was forceful in her advice, she’s shrewish, but when a father of that time was, he was simply being dutiful.

]]> By: Woody Holton http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2009/12/abigail-adams-junk-bond-dealer.html/comment-page-1#comment-3778 Woody Holton Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:51:23 +0000 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/?p=3145#comment-3778 Hi, Steve. I think your reading of Nagel and McCullough is exactly right: and that's what makes Abigail Adams such a fun topic - different authors see her differently. McCullough is certainly right that she was often the family's Rock of Gibraltar, but I think the depiction of her (esp. in the HBO version of McCullough's book) is too benign. Actually she was at least as passionate as John. I think Nagel may have pushed his point a tad to far, but he is certainly correct that she could be quite controlling (of her kids, grandkids, husband, and others)--and Nagel deserves credit for being the first to make that controversial point. One thing I think Nagel (who was very generous to my own book in a Boston Globe review) should have emphasized more was that if AA was sometimes passive-aggressive, it was because women of the time were never allowed to be simply aggressive. Hi, Steve. I think your reading of Nagel and McCullough is exactly right: and that’s what makes Abigail Adams such a fun topic – different authors see her differently. McCullough is certainly right that she was often the family’s Rock of Gibraltar, but I think the depiction of her (esp. in the HBO version of McCullough’s book) is too benign. Actually she was at least as passionate as John. I think Nagel may have pushed his point a tad to far, but he is certainly correct that she could be quite controlling (of her kids, grandkids, husband, and others)–and Nagel deserves credit for being the first to make that controversial point. One thing I think Nagel (who was very generous to my own book in a Boston Globe review) should have emphasized more was that if AA was sometimes passive-aggressive, it was because women of the time were never allowed to be simply aggressive.

]]> By: Steve Ulfelder http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2009/12/abigail-adams-junk-bond-dealer.html/comment-page-1#comment-3776 Steve Ulfelder Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:14:33 +0000 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/?p=3145#comment-3776 Mr. Holton, I just finished Paul C. Nagel's John Quincy Adams biography and read David McCullough's John Adams bio earlier this year. The authors' views on Abigail Adams couldn't be more different: while McCullough paints her affectionately as the rock who held the family together while her husband was off founding a country, I don't think it's too strong to say she comes across as shrewish and domineering in Nagel's book. Do you agree, and if so, how do you reconcile the differing treatments? Mr. Holton, I just finished Paul C. Nagel’s John Quincy Adams biography and read David McCullough’s John Adams bio earlier this year. The authors’ views on Abigail Adams couldn’t be more different: while McCullough paints her affectionately as the rock who held the family together while her husband was off founding a country, I don’t think it’s too strong to say she comes across as shrewish and domineering in Nagel’s book. Do you agree, and if so, how do you reconcile the differing treatments?

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