Adams Family Correspondence

After retiring in Quincy, John and Abigail Adams remained active in American politics. A new generation emerged, with John Quincy Adams supporting the Louisiana Purchase. The family commented on various events, including Jeffersons dismantling of judicial reforms, the US Navy's mobilization for the Barbary wars, British impressment, and the duel that killed Alexander Hamilton. The correspondence also includes family stories, such as John Quincy financing his parents' retirement and Thomas Boylston Adams carving out his public persona. Abigail Adams, who survived a near-fatal fall, continued to provide insightful and witty letters, making the Adams Family Correspondence a national treasure.

Format: Hardback
Length: 584 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

After retiring to Quincy, John and Abigail Adams remained deeply involved in American political affairs. A notable highlight of Volume 15 of Adams Family Correspondence is a series of letters between Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson, which delved into fundamental issues of the nation's tumultuous early years. During this period, a new generation emerged, with John Quincy Adams returning from abroad to join the United States Senate, just in time to break with the Federalists and support the Louisiana Purchase. The family also commented on other events of the era, such as Jefferson's dismantling of John Adam's judicial reforms, the mobilization of the US Navy for the Barbary wars, the growing problem of British impressment, and the tragic duel that resulted in the death of Alexander Hamilton.

In addition to these political narratives, the volumes also contain equally compelling family stories. The failure of a British banking firm had a catastrophic impact on the family's finances, leading John Quincy to quietly finance his parents' retirement. Thomas Boylston Adams, serving as an occasional editor of the Port Folio, crafted a public persona as a man of letters. Louisa Catherine Adams, meanwhile, wrote about motherhood and adapting to a new country, while offering a spirited perspective on Washington society.

As always, Abigail Adams remains the central figure in Adams Family Correspondence. Despite surviving a near-fatal fall, she continued to provide letters of insight and wit, showcasing why the correspondence of the Adams family is considered a national treasure.

Dimension: 248 x 165 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674247734