"Impassioned and erudite....A captivating portrait of this Massachusetts native as a wonderfully contrary genius possessed of an uncommon moral intelligence and farsighted political wisdom." ―Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
A fresh look at this astute, likably quirky statesman, by the author of the Pulitzer Award-winning Founding Brothers and the National Book Award winning American Sphinx.
"The most lovable and most laughable, the warmest and possibly the wisest of the founding fathers, John Adams knew himself as few men do and preserved his knowledge in a voluminous correspondence that still vibrates. Ellis has used it with great skill and perception not only to bring us the man, warts and all, but more importantly to reveal his extraordinary insights into the problems confronting the founders that resonate today in the republic they created." ―Edmund S. Morgan, Sterling Professor of History Emeritus, Yale University
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were once considered equally important fathers of the American Revolution, but over time Jefferson's reputation became enshrined and Adam's faded. In this thoughtful study of Adams in retirement, Joseph J. Ellis takes a fresh look at this astute, likable quirky statesman and his achievements.
