For the 250th anniversary of John Quincy Adams's birth; a landmark new selected edition of an American masterpiece: the incomparable self-portrait of a man and his times from the Revolution to the coming of the Civil War.The diary of John Quincy Adams is one of the most extraordinary works in American literature. Begun in 1779 at the age of twelve and kept more or less faithfully until his death almost 70 years later; and totaling some fifteen thousand closely-written manuscript pages; it is both an unrivaled record of historical events and personalities from the nation's founding to the antebellum era and a masterpiece of American self-portraiture; tracing the spiritual; literary; and scientific interests of an exceptionally lively mind. Now; for the 250th anniversary of Adams's birth; Library of America and historian David Waldstreicher present a two-volume reader's edition of diary selections based for the first time on the original manuscripts; restoring personal and revealing passages suppressed in earlier editions.Volume 2 opens with Adams serving as Secretary of State; amid political maneuverings within and outside James Monroe's cabinet to become his successor; a process that culminates in Adams's election to the presidency by the House of Representatives after the deadlocked four-way contest of 1824. Even as Adams takes the oath of office; rivals Henry Clay; his Secretary of State; John C. Calhoun; his vice president; and an embittered Andrew Jackson; eye the election of 1828. The diary records in candid detail his frustration as his far-sighted agenda for national improvement founders on the rocks of internecine political factionalism; conflict that results in his becoming only the second president; with his father; to fail to secure reelection. After a short-lived retirement; Adams returns to public service as a Congressman from Massachusetts; and for the last seventeen years of his life he leads efforts to resist the extension of slavery and to end the notorious "gag rule" that stifles debate on the issue in Congress. In 1841 he further burnishes his reputation as a scourge of the Slave Power by successfully defending African mutineers of the slave ship Amistad before the Supreme Court. The diary achieves perhaps its greatest force in its prescient anticipation of the Civil War and Emancipation; an "object;" as Adams described it during the Missouri Crisis; "vast in its compass; awful in its prospects; sublime and beautiful in its issue."
#9659951 in Books 2006-08-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 11.02 x .74 x 8.27l; 1.76 #File Name: 1596637625356 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Captivating Account of Life at SeaBy Chad FillmoreThis book presents an interesting account of a young Merchant Marine that heads to sea as World War 2 is winding down. The author recounts in vivid detail shipboard life; his round-the-world travels including various port calls and insight into the shipping business in general. This was an exciting time in history and through a colorful cast of characters that span the globe; the reader becomes part of the excitement and danger that comprised this young Officer's life. I found it to be a book that was difficult to put down!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Dozen Years in the Merchane MarineBy John MatlockIn high school when World War II started it was clear that Mr. Murray was going to be involved in the war. He chose the merchant marine; entered the New York State Maritime Academy; graduating in 1945 with a license as a third mate and a commission in the US Naval Reserve.I was a little surprised to find that at that time he was able to find work as a ships officer. I would have thought that with the draw down of the Navy and the Merchant Marine at that time there would have been a great surplus of men going after relatively few jobs.But he did go to sea; and worked on a series of ships in all the oceans of the world for the next dozen years. This book is basically a diary of his travels; along with stories of living at sea.This was a life that was unusual at the time; and with today's very small American merchant fleet is almost impossible (for a more current story read 'Looking for a Ship' by John McPhee).Mr. Murray left the sea; to sail no more because he had a young family. He would up working for Westinghouse Oceanic Division as project engineer on Deepstar and Trieste II submersible programs. That would make another interesting book.
