A review by bowienerd_82
John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life by Paul C. Nagel
2.0
John Quincy Adams lived such an interesting life, from his childhood on up to his old age, even to the moment of his death. The years of 1767-1848 were such a fascinating time for American history, from the end of the colonial era to the American Revolution, to the War of 1812, through the rumblings that led to the Civil War. He lived through the American Industrial Revolution, going from wind power to steam, from horses to trains, from painting to early photography.
And JQA lived all over the world, first during his childhood accompanying his father to the courts of France, of Holland, and the UK, and then in his own right, as a diplomat serving in Holland, the UK, Germany (Prussia), and Russia.
This book makes a brief joke about the fact that probably no other president's biography devotes only a single chapter to their actual presidency, but that's all that JQA's really needed.
And then there is his singular post-presidency life as a member of the House of Representatives, and his work on the defense in the Amistad case.
And yet, with such a fascinating and full life, I'd expect a better book. While the style of this one was fairly readable, it definitely lacked the polish and finesse that a better writer would have provided. The author often went on for long periods of time about pointless tangents and uninteresting subjects, while glossing over or completely skipping major events in the world and in Adams' life. With the life JQA led, this book should have been fascinating; instead it was fairly mediocre.
There was also a complete lack of footnotes, and only a brief list of sources. I know the author was working mostly off of JQA's diaries, but still, I expect way more in the way of citation, especially for a modern book.
And I doubt I would have finished this book anywhere near as quickly as I did but for the fact that I had two long train rides in two days.
Anyway, I debated between 3 stars and 2, and wish again that I could give half stars, because I think this one deserves 2.5.
And JQA lived all over the world, first during his childhood accompanying his father to the courts of France, of Holland, and the UK, and then in his own right, as a diplomat serving in Holland, the UK, Germany (Prussia), and Russia.
This book makes a brief joke about the fact that probably no other president's biography devotes only a single chapter to their actual presidency, but that's all that JQA's really needed.
And then there is his singular post-presidency life as a member of the House of Representatives, and his work on the defense in the Amistad case.
And yet, with such a fascinating and full life, I'd expect a better book. While the style of this one was fairly readable, it definitely lacked the polish and finesse that a better writer would have provided. The author often went on for long periods of time about pointless tangents and uninteresting subjects, while glossing over or completely skipping major events in the world and in Adams' life. With the life JQA led, this book should have been fascinating; instead it was fairly mediocre.
There was also a complete lack of footnotes, and only a brief list of sources. I know the author was working mostly off of JQA's diaries, but still, I expect way more in the way of citation, especially for a modern book.
And I doubt I would have finished this book anywhere near as quickly as I did but for the fact that I had two long train rides in two days.
Anyway, I debated between 3 stars and 2, and wish again that I could give half stars, because I think this one deserves 2.5.