An intimate portrait of Louisa Catherine Adams; the wife of John Quincy Adams; who witnessed firsthand the greatest transformations of her timeBorn in London to an American father and a British mother on the eve of the Revolutionary War; Louisa Catherine Johnson was raised in circumstances very different from the New England upbringing of the future president John Quincy Adams; whose life had been dedicated to public service from the earliest age. And yet John Quincy fell in love with her; almost despite himself. Their often tempestuous but deeply close marriage lasted half a century. They lived in Prussia; Massachusetts; Washington; Russia; and England; at royal courts; on farms; in cities; and in the White House. Louisa saw more of Europe and America than nearly any other woman of her time. But wherever she lived; she was always pressing her nose against the glass; not quite sure whether she was looking in or out. The other members of the Adams family could take their identity for granted—they were Adamses; they were Americans—but she had to invent her own. The story of Louisa Catherine Adams is one of a woman who forged a sense of self. As the country her husband led found its place in the world; she found a voice. That voice resonates still. In this deeply felt biography; the talented journalist and historian Louisa Thomas finally gives Louisa Catherine Adams's full extraordinary life its due. An intimate portrait of a remarkable woman; a complicated marriage; and a pivotal historical moment; Louisa Thomas's biography is a masterful work from an elegant storyteller.
#459199 in Books 2012-02-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.56 x 1.41 x 5.96l; 1.61 #File Name: 1592642462438 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Informative but missing somethingBy Les BnThis is a wonderful introduction to the early Talmudic sages between the two Jewish revolts against Rome (about 70 to 135 CE); mostly in Yavneh. Gleaned from various classical sources -- who were they; what can be learned about their life stories and personalities; and their views and teachings. Who were allies and friends; and who disputed ideas that impacted the following 2;000 years of Judaism. All that was well presented and highly informative for those not immersed in the world of Talmud; but somewhat familiar with the names of key individuals.The huge negative is a lack of index; or actually two or three indices. It is almost impossible to come back to this book and its sister volumes as references. It needed a names index; a normal index of key words or phrases; and an index of referenced classical sources with a few words of description. The table of contents is not sufficiently detailed to make up for that shortfall.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must reasBy Donald J GoldsteinProfessor Lau has written a history of the early Rabbis that rivals E.E.Urbach's classic history. Lau arranges his presentation chronologically; instead of topically; as did Urbach. A key contribution of Dr. Lau is his extensive use of t Palestinian Talmud; whereas most scholars ave relied on the Babylonian Talmud exclusively. Lau's three volume study is translated from its original Hebrew and the English reader thus gains access to his extensive list of Hebrew citations; many of which are not available in English. Perhaps his key contribution is his explanation of how contemporary economic and political forces; especially Roman ruling practices; had an impact on early Rabbinic thinking. He also does a splendid job log contrasting Rabbinic theology in the land of Israel as opposed to Diaspora developments especially in Persia (Babylon). He also delineates how the early Rabbis reacted to the challenges of Christianity.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerExcellently written - see comment for Volume IV
