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Has anyone read it? If so, was the book historically accurate? Do you think it will be a challenging task to create on film?
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(21 of 21)
Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 30, 2008 11:54 AM
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> I am going to pick up Founding Mothers soon. I
> understand that the story of Dolley Madison is even
> better than the grade school story we all know about
> her saving White House treasures from the British as
> they invaded DC during the war of 1812.
>
> Did you know that Dolley Madison was first lady years
> before her husband was president? Since our third
> president, Thomas Jefferson's wife had died, he was
> a President with no wife. So Dolley served as first
> lady during his terms as President.
Now if they would only take the women from Founding Mothers (FANTASTIC book, btw) and made it into a new series here on HBO! It would be incredible, don't you think?
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 22, 2008 2:25 PM
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I'm very familiar with Henry Adams but not with JQA. What are some of the best books out there about him. The more literary the better. He was one of only two Presidents who ever published any verse.
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 18, 2008 2:52 PM
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> The JQA book I read was John Quincy Adams: (The
> American Presidents Series) by Robert V. Remini and
> Arthur M. Schlesinger. Obviously I enjoyed it.
>
> At the risk of sounding sexist, but especially for
> you women out there, are you familiar with Cokie
> Robert's recent books about the wives of the founding
> fathers? One is called Founding Mothers and the other
> is Ladies of Liberty.
Not sexist at all! I have not read these books, but I will look for them. Several years ago I played Mamie Eisenhower in a play about the first ladies entitled "First Lady Suite" and I did some research on her. It gave me some insight into the life of a first lady, and how even the ones who seem insignificant or frivolous have fascinating stories filled with sacrifices made for their husbands' careers. Mamie was much more than the seemingly frivolous partygiver that she is seen as. She actually persuaded Ike to get involved in the Civil Rights movement in Little Rock after the Brown vs. Board of Ed decision.
> I think the series we are watching and Laura Linney's
> acting give us a decent impression of Abigail Adams.
> She was an unbelievable woman. For all the years John
> was serving in the continental congress then in
> Europe, she single handedly kept the farm going and
> raised the kids.
Yes, I have been a "fan" of her since seeing the movie 1776 as a child. One of the things that makes the John Adams story so moving is the almost unprecedented partnership that John and Abigail shared, and how far ahead of its time their relationship was. . . .
> She also managed to find the time to tutor a young
> black man to read and write and then use her
> influence to get him into school although she had
> substantial opposition to this.
Yes, I had heard this story -- once again, she was so far ahead of her time.
> I am going to pick up Founding Mothers soon. I
> understand that the story of Dolley Madison is even
> better than the grade school story we all know about
> her saving White House treasures from the British as
> they invaded DC during the war of 1812.
>
> Did you know that Dolley Madison was first lady years
> before her husband was president? Since our third
> president, Thomas Jefferson's wife had died, he was
> a President with no wife. So Dolley served as first
> lady during his terms as President.
Yes, I remember hearing that! So many books, so little time. . . . Right now I'm reading "His Excellency" about George Washington. I'd had the book a long time, but hadn't yet read it. This series convinced me to. But the first ladies will be next on my list! Thanks so much for your considered and considerate reply.
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11
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4/12/08
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 17, 2008 11:35 PM
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Thank you ginnysue and Lisa.
The JQA book I read was John Quincy Adams: (The American Presidents Series) by Robert V. Remini and Arthur M. Schlesinger. Obviously I enjoyed it.
At the risk of sounding sexist, but especially for you women out there, are you familiar with Cokie Robert's recent books about the wives of the founding fathers? One is called Founding Mothers and the other is Ladies of Liberty.
I think the series we are watching and Laura Linney's acting give us a decent impression of Abigail Adams. She was an unbelievable woman. For all the years John was serving in the continental congress then in Europe, she single handedly kept the farm going and raised the kids.
The farm was very near bankrupt especially during the continental congress days as John received little to often no salary. Funding was a constant issue during the revolution.
Abigail was offered the free use of a friend's slaves during one of these hard times. She turned it down. A simply amazing woman. John was a very head strong man. There was only one living person who could keep him grounded to any degree. It was of course Abigail.
She also managed to find the time to tutor a young black man to read and write and then use her influence to get him into school although she had substantial opposition to this.
I am going to pick up Founding Mothers soon. I understand that the story of Dolley Madison is even better than the grade school story we all know about her saving White House treasures from the British as they invaded DC during the war of 1812.
Did you know that Dolley Madison was first lady years before her husband was president? Since our third president, Thomas Jefferson's wife had died, he was a President with no wife. So Dolley served as first lady during his terms as President.
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 17, 2008 5:22 PM
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That IS very interesting. I took some notes to begin some research tonight. I am always looking to learn more about our history and the amazing figures that shaped it.
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 17, 2008 2:46 PM
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>
> I was thinking about how successful and well-received
> the Adams series has been, and it got me to thinking
> about other historical figures of our country.
> People who made a difference then, that resonates
> s today, but their stories have yet to be told. Or
> maybe the telling of their stories didn't reach far
> enough. I'd like to see a Teddy Roosevelt series
> done like the Adams series for one.
You may find it interesting that Henry Adams (John Adams's great grandson) was friendly with Teddy Roosevelt. They spent some time together in Cuba before the Spanish American War.
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 17, 2008 11:49 AM
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> I have become a big fan of the founding fathers and,
> although I am no scholar, I have now read several
> books about these men. John Adams by McCullough was
> maybe the third book I read and it is very good.
> Anything by Joseph Ellis is also very good. Someone
> mentioned him earlier. His American Sphinx was the
> first of the books I read then Founding Brothers also
> by Ellis.
>
> I have since read books about Madison and Hamilton
> and Franklin.
>
> Lastly, the Adams book piqued my interest in John
> Quincy Adams. Mostly what interested me to begin with
> was that young man literally witnessed the Battle of
> Bunker Hill and later was in Paris with his father
> where he was essentially tutored and became very
> close with Jefferson and to a lesser degree Franklin.
> But just imagine that. At the age of 12 this young
> man lived in Paris under the same roof as three of
> the great men of our history.
>
> So I then read a book about John Quincy. I remain
> fascinated. At 14 he was secretary to our emissary to
> Russia. At a young age he was an ambassador. He was
> one of the greatest secretaries of state. Did you
> know JQA is the one who formulated the Monroe
> Doctrine?
>
> He later defended the Amistad defendants.
>
> But also did you know that John Quincy Adams
> formulated the argument that a President could use
> his War powers to abolish slavery? This was picked up
> by Lincoln years later and became the basis of the
> emancipation proclamation.
>
> In my somewhat valueless opinion, John Quincy Adams
> is the most overlooked and under appreciated figures
> in American History. I would love to see a long
> series about him. Although I would probably be the
> only one to watch which is why it will never be done.
That is such awesome information. It really makes you see what a young adult at 14 really is capable of. I will be checking out those books for myself and my oldest to read. I think he will enjoy them as much as I will. Thank you!
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 17, 2008 11:42 AM
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Stephen, what a fascinating post. You have piqued my interest in JQA. Can you tell me the name of the book you read?
I'm looking forward to seeing episode 7, where he becomes president.
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 17, 2008 12:12 AM
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I have become a big fan of the founding fathers and, although I am no scholar, I have now read several books about these men. John Adams by McCullough was maybe the third book I read and it is very good. Anything by Joseph Ellis is also very good. Someone mentioned him earlier. His American Sphinx was the first of the books I read then Founding Brothers also by Ellis.
I have since read books about Madison and Hamilton and Franklin.
Lastly, the Adams book piqued my interest in John Quincy Adams. Mostly what interested me to begin with was that young man literally witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill and later was in Paris with his father where he was essentially tutored and became very close with Jefferson and to a lesser degree Franklin. But just imagine that. At the age of 12 this young man lived in Paris under the same roof as three of the great men of our history.
So I then read a book about John Quincy. I remain fascinated. At 14 he was secretary to our emissary to Russia. At a young age he was an ambassador. He was one of the greatest secretaries of state. Did you know JQA is the one who formulated the Monroe Doctrine?
He later defended the Amistad defendants.
But also did you know that John Quincy Adams formulated the argument that a President could use his War powers to abolish slavery? This was picked up by Lincoln years later and became the basis of the emancipation proclamation.
In my somewhat valueless opinion, John Quincy Adams is the most overlooked and under appreciated figures in American History. I would love to see a long series about him. Although I would probably be the only one to watch which is why it will never be done.
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 16, 2008 2:35 PM
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> I was thinking about how successful and well-received
> the Adams series has been, and it got me to thinking
> about other historical figures of our country.
> People who made a difference then, that resonates
> s today, but their stories have yet to be told. Or
> maybe the telling of their stories didn't reach far
> enough. I'd like to see a Teddy Roosevelt series
> done like the Adams series for one.
>
> Any one have any ideas of whom they'd like to see
> brought to life in series form?
I know we've seen a lot of him in this series, but I would love to see a mini-series like this about Thomas Jefferson. Abraham Lincoln would be a good one, IMHO.
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514
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 16, 2008 11:59 AM
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> I read 1776 after John Adams and found it just as
> enjoyable. Also for those interested in the most
> masterful work ever done on the early development of
> the American nation I recommend the recent book by
> Gary Wills called "Henry Adams and the Making of
> America".
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have to check it out. 
I was thinking about how successful and well-received the Adams series has been, and it got me to thinking about other historical figures of our country. People who made a difference then, that resonates today, but their stories have yet to be told. Or maybe the telling of their stories didn't reach far enough. I'd like to see a Teddy Roosevelt series done like the Adams series for one.
Any one have any ideas of whom they'd like to see brought to life in series form?
--
*********
Host_Ginna
HBO Forums Host
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 2, 2008 1:16 PM
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I read 1776 after John Adams and found it just as enjoyable. Also for those interested in the most masterful work ever done on the early development of the American nation I recommend the recent book by Gary Wills called "Henry Adams and the Making of America".
Henry, who was JA's great grandson, wrote the definitive history of our young nation during the crucial Jefferson and Madison administrations and Wills contends in his 2006 book that HA's masterpiece has been greatly misunderstood and vastly underestimated ever since.
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Edited by SirDonald at 04/02/2008 10:17 AM PDT
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Apr 2, 2008 11:36 AM
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> Once I got ahold of David McCullough's masterpiece, I
> could not put it down. It took me two weeks to read
> it cover to cover.
Same here! Once in awhile, you will run across such a great read that you want to simply savor it, make it last as long as possible. McCullough definately delivers! I also quite enjoyed reading his Truman. Has anyone read any of his other works?
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Mar 19, 2008 7:55 PM
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> This book is fantastic and I hope you get one in your
> hands real quick.
>
> David McCullough is one of my heroes because he
> brings to life in his writing each of his subjects.
>
>
> When I saw that he was part of the project for John
> Adams, I started to cry because I thought, finally,
> something good will be shown on television - our
> history and the true grit and determination these men
> had in forming our great country.
>
> Paul Giammati (sic) is the perfect person to play
> Adams, as well as Morse as Washington.
>
> Bravo, HBO!!!!!!
David McCullough always made his biographies and histories live for me. Sometimes that doesn't make for the absolutely best history, but it does, in my view, make for the best reading.
He might not be a historian's historian, but he was a very fine writer for us common people, and the production is just superb.
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Jane
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Re: The Book by McCullough
Mar 19, 2008 11:41 AM
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I read the book a few years ago, which was loaned to me by a man who collects books. I treasured so much reading about John Adams.
Once I got ahold of David McCullough's masterpiece, I could not put it down. It took me two weeks to read it cover to cover.
The book describes so much in details about life in John and Abigail Adams' times, like surviving the harsh winters, the trip aboard the clippers on the Atlantic, their letter writings, etc.
I visited John Adams' birthplace in Quincy last September, a day after arriving from San Diego. It was there the National Park administrator told me about the series on HBO. I am very anxious to be getting my DVD of John Adams, which will come later this spring.
As I do not have HBO, I can't judge how accurate the film would be compared to the book, but I would hope that the producers do it the way the book was written.
Even though Adams has long been dead, he is a man that I most admire. And I certainly do adore Abigail as well.
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Edited by william5419 at 03/19/2008 8:42 AM PDT
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Edited by william5419 at 03/19/2008 8:42 AM PDT
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