About this item
Highlights
- Has John Adams been forgotten?
- About the Author: Marianne Holdzkom is an associate professor of history at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, and specializes in the colonial and revolutionary periods of United States history.
- 250 Pages
- History, United States
Description
About the Book
"Has John Adams been forgotten? He is the only Founding Father without a major memorial in the nation's capital. When he lamented that "monuments will never be erected to me," he predicted as much. His pessimism was understandable, but it was unjustified: Adams has since been portrayed in numerous biographies, plays, musicals, poems, novels, and television shows. This is the first comprehensive overview of John Adams in scholarship and popular culture. The second president is one-dimensional at times, and perhaps best known to the public as "obnoxious and disliked," but he is always fascinating. The varied ways in which biographers and artists represented Adams provide a glimpse into his character. These portrayals also provide insight into the various ways in which people continue to find meaning in the American Revolution and its aftermath."--Book Synopsis
Has John Adams been forgotten? He is the only Founding Father without a major memorial in the nation's capital. When he lamented that "monuments will never be erected to me," he predicted as much. His pessimism was understandable, but it was unjustified: Adams has since been portrayed in numerous biographies, plays, musicals, poems, novels, and television shows.
This is the first comprehensive overview of John Adams as he appears in scholarship and in popular culture. The second president is one-dimensional at times, and perhaps best known to the public as "obnoxious and disliked," but he is always fascinating. The varied ways in which biographers and artists represented Adams provide a glimpse into his character. These portrayals also provide insight into the various ways in which people continue to find meaning in the American Revolution and its aftermath.
Review Quotes
"a worthy addition to your library. It is especially valuable for those interested in 'humanizing' a founder and learning how Adams's present-day reputation evolved. ...engaging."-Researching the American Revolution
"An amalgam of historiography, annotated bibliography, and literary and cultural analysis...comprehensive, jargon-free...meticulous and discerning analysis... This study makes for lively reading. ...highly recommended"-Choice
"Perhaps the most extensive study of how Mr. Adams has been presented over the years since his death... A unique and interesting book."-Journal of the American Revolution
About the Author
Marianne Holdzkom is an associate professor of history at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, and specializes in the colonial and revolutionary periods of United States history.