American Phoenix: John Quincy and Louisa Adams, the War of
1812, and the Exile that Saved American Independence by Jane Hampton Cook is an accessible, entertaining, and
informative narrative.
The early 1800s – years of
cultivation and characterization for the United States – are told through the
story of John Quincy and Louisa Adams. Cook tells American history largely from
the perspective of Louisa Adams when she is on European soil. The location of
the American diplomats allows for the War of 1812 and the events leading up to
it to be told with a European slant: The reader gets inside information about
what was going on across the ocean. Cook spends ample time discussing Napoleon
and other significant figures in Europe, and the bits of conversation recorded
from the Adams’ journals enliven the story.
The excerpts of journal entries are
expertly intertwined with the narrative and add authenticity to the story Cook
is telling. However, often Cook makes assumptions about what may have been happening at the time, and
while her claims are undoubtedly researched, the language used to include them removes
the reader from the setting and causes the book to be read more as a textbook
and less as a narrative.
Nonetheless, the book intrigued me
and sparked desires for further research. The way in which Cook portrays Louisa
is inspiring. I want to read more about her story. Also, the excerpts Cook
included about Abigail Adams made me want to read more about her too. Cook’s
prose (she composes beautiful sentences) and research successfully entertains,
educates, and inspires her readers.
I recommend this book to other
readers.
The
publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through
BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.
