Passionate Sage by Joseph J Ellis Phd
John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers of our nation and its second president, spent nearly the last third of his life in retirement grappling with contradictory views of his place in history and fearing his reputation would not fare well in the generations after his death. In an incomplete autobiography, and in numerous publications and voluminous correspondence with Thomas Jefferson and many others, he argued and railed against those who disagreed with him or made little of his contribution to our country's political foundations. And indeed, future generations did slight him, elevating Jefferson and Madison to lofty heights with Washington while Adams remained way back in the second tier. Now, in a witty, clear, and thoughtful narrative of Adams's later life at his home in Quincy, Joseph Ellis explores the mind and personality of the man as well as the earlier events that shaped his thinking. Readers will discover Adams to be both contentious and lovable, generous and petty, and the most intellectually profound of the revolutionary generation, a man who may have contributed to the earlier underestimates of his role in history, and whose perspective on America's prospects has relevance for us today.
"Ellis’s palpable affection lends a pleasing glow to his profile of Adams, which is why Passionate Sage is his best book" -- Judith Shulevitz - New York Times Book Review
"The best portrait of a Revolutionary-era statesman." -- Evan Thomas - Wall Street Journal
"The best portrait of a Revolutionary-era statesman." -- Evan Thomas - Wall Street Journal
Joseph J. Ellis is the best-selling author of twelve previous books, including American Sphinx, which won the National Book Award, and Founding Brothers, which won the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, and Plymouth, Vermont.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780393311334 |
| ISBN 10 | 0393311333 |
| Title | Passionate Sage |
| Author | Joseph J Ellis Phd |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | WW Norton & Co |
| Year published | 1994-09-28 |
| Number of pages | 288 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |