Diane Jacobs

Dear Abigail is the biography of Abigail Adams and her two sisters. The sisters were the daughters of a poor Congregational minister and his well-off wife. The correspondence between the sisters began when the oldest, Mary, married and left the family home. Abigail was the next to marry but Betsy did leave the parental home until her parents had died. Their letters were frequent, twice weekly.The letters discussed their husbands, children, pregnancies, illnesses, their social lives and their political ideas. All supported freedom from England and were advocates for the educational equality if the sexes.

The book coves the sister's lives from 1766 until 1801. Abigail's letters were, naturally, more prominent as she was the wife of our second president John Adams. All three of the sister's were progressive for their era. Mary was basically in charge of her village and Betsey founded a co-ed school.

An interesting fact that was revealed in the letters is that when George Washington was president he lived in a Phildelphia mansion that had an oval room. It was his favorite room. We now call the oval room that was built into the White House as the "yellow oval room" which is on the second floor of the Executive Mansion. It was built out of reverence for Washington. I am presuming that the oval office in the West Wing where modern presidents work was also constructed out of reverence for him but I do not know for sure.

When I picked up the book I knew that i would relish the history within its pages. I read slowly to savor the words and I was not disappointed. I highly, highly recommend this book.… (mais)

A good, honest biography of this courageous woman, pulled from her letters, writings, and the journals of her friends and compatriots during her lifetime. And after her lifetime - her influence is felt long past her untimely death.

While born into an abusive family where the primogeniture of her older brother, Ned, excluded everyone else from receiving their parents' love and good attention, Mary as the oldest daughter saw that the world of the intellect was the most open one for her. Her schooling was spotty but still she learned spelling and grammar from her close childhood friend; her first set of short stories was illustrated by William Blake; and she had the financial freedom and personal opportunity to live in Paris during the French Revolution.

Ms. Jacobs brings the writings to life by including those of her publisher, Joseph Johnson, her sisters, and her increasing circle of friends without modern changes to grammar or spelling. I was often struck while reading these passages of how difficult it must have been to pull this vast bit of knowledge in and consolidate it into an observation or to make a point.

The world was changing quickly during Mary's lifetime and she was fully available to meet it. Her obsession with her first love is all the more refreshing for those of us who have been through a difficult break-up and can't seem to shake off the feelings of the beloved for another suitor. Her masterpiece Vindication of the Rights of Women resonates through the centuries, and she is able, as shown through her various writings, to incorporate her various life changes (shunning love, falling in love, finding her own way after the love) while still remaining true to her personal journey.… (mais)

I just finished reading, "Dear Abigail: The Intimate Lives and Revolutionary Ideas of Abigail Adams and Her Two Remarkable Sisters," and heartily recommend this book to anyone who would like a female perspective on the interesting times in American history leading up the the Revolutionary War throughout John Adams presidency. We learn so much about the great men of these times (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, etc) yet nary a word about the women of these times who made it possible for many of the political heroes to accomplish what they did for the newly born United States of America. This book provides a keen insight into what their lives were like, not only in those historic moments, but day to day, throughout many trials, tribulations and personal losses. The strength, accomplishments, and trying times of these three sisters and everyone who was close to them via a blood relationship or friendship makes for fascinating reading and provides an additional dimension and depth to the story of those intimately involved in the American Revolution and the birth of a nation. The day I was awarded this book by Library Thing was indeed a fortunate one for me.… (mais)