I would like to thank the author and publisher for the ARC of this book. It was a fantastic look into the years John Adams spent abroad and his correspondence with his wife Abigail. Her thoughts and his about Europe’s governments and people are part of what influenced their thoughts about the fledgling nation of America. It was a great book.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. a must read for any american history lover very well written i highly reccomend

What a excellent story that was told about the Adam's family in the 1800's as man and wife team go aboard to get support for the United States follow their travels from England to France and all the people they encounter.. You learn so much about these two people,their personalities and what they were willing to give up for this country. You can tell so much research went into writing this book and for me it never got dull. The adventures they encountered,the people the places they had seen.. Wonderful historical fiction book !! Received from Net Gallery!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this!

John and Abigail Adams are two of my favorite historical figures so I was very glad to given the chance to read this new work.

This was a joy to read! Very well researched and written - I learned so much from this! I did know very much of their time in Europe. What a great topic for a book. Highly recommend this!

This is an enjoyable and enlightening book about John and Abigail Adam's time in Europe. Anyone who likes American history will find it worth reading.

John Adam's diplomacy in Europe was extremely important to the young country. He negotiated loans with the Dutch, and negotiated on trade deals with the French and the British. He found his stay in Europe interesting but very difficult, because he found it hard to dissemble unlike Jefferson and Franklin, and he also missed Abigail very much when she couldn't be with him. He and Abigail associated with the aristocracy and even European royalty in France and England, but they were shocked by the disparity of wealth, loose morals and the general 'degeneracy' of society in Europe. Abigail longed to return to her home country.

America was an agrarian country in which people were more equal then. Adams was also shocked by the growing radicalism in France and he worried about the growth of an oligarchy in America and fighting between states. He was a moderate republican who believed in a strong executive government and the balance of powers.

They are certainly a fascinating couple and it is always a pleasure to read well-written, thoroughly researched articles about them.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
EDITION Other Format

ISBN 9781479802876

PRICE $27.95 (USD)

A View from Abroad was a nuanced assessment of John and Abigail Adams and their time both separated and abroad while John was serving as ambassador and peace negotiator during and after the American Revolution. The author argues that John and Abigail's experiences abroad were pivotal in their views regarding American identity after independence and what would create a good foundation for democratic government. I thought this was an interesting way to approach the storied Adams family using a time period not often discussed in the historiography of John's career and their marriage and their lives, and I thought the author proved her point very well. I found it interesting to learn about everything John and Abigail Adams went through abroad and their thoughts on some of the major historical actors and issues of their time. This is a valuable addition to the historical study of not just the Adams', but of the revolutionary era as well.

I get excited any time I see a book about John and Abigail, so I definitely had to pick this one up! This is the story of John and Abigail Adams during their time overseas. John was assigned several duties overseas while serving the Continental Congress (Ambassador in France, negotiated our first loans in Holland, Ambassador in England...), and this covers all of that. Two of his sons John Quincy and Charles, his wife Abigail, and his daughter Nabby all join him for various portions of his time, and it was just so fun to learn about this relatively small window of time before he served as our first VP.

Structure/formatting 4.5/5
There were a few times that the timeline and cause-and-effect jumped a bit. Times where the author would go "but that hasn't happened yet." While I don't mind that every once and a while, it happened a couple of times and it started to get to me a bit. The chapter divisions, while somewhat long, were fantastic and created clear shifts in what the focus of the section would cover.

Thoroughness of research 4/5
It's clear the author has read several other books on John and Abigail. While this didn't add any books I didn't already have on my radar to my TBR, I recognized most of the authors referenced and know of their work. With the Adamses though, I felt there could have been more of a focus on their writings and less on the work of others, or even with the overseas focus, I would have LOVED if the author had found some new source overseas or one that hadn't been used in this context yet. I appreciated the specialized focus of the book, but I wasn't wowed by the sources.

Storytelling/writing 3/5
Going off my last point, it is clear the author has read (or is at least aware of) other works by other historians. I know this because it felt like every paragraph had at least two instances of "According to (insert other historian's name)..." I'm exaggerating a little bit, but probably only a little bit. I didn't mind it at first, especially because before I dive in headfirst into the sources in the back, this is a preview of "Ooh! So-and-so has a book on this?! Let me add it to my TBR." It felt like it got out of hand after a while. This is probably an issue with writing on subjects about whom everyone else seems to have already written, but I started wondering if the author had any unique conclusions of her own. The language also seemed repetitive after a while. Some entire sentences I would read and say "Haven't I already read this sentence?" or "Didn't she already make this point?" This is already a pretty short book, but moments like this made me wonder if it could have been cut down a little bit.

Enjoyment 4/5
I definitely enjoyed this book. I adore the subjects, so that helps. I loved having the look into John Quincy and Nabby too. (Charles gets only a few side mentions. I probably would have enjoyed a little extra on his time abroad too.) Since the book is just about their time abroad, the ending felt like the conclusion you would expect for a family coming home after a long trip. I really enjoyed the wrap up.

Prior Knowledge Needed 5/5
This is a great book for beginners. Anyone, whether you know about the Adamses or not, can pick up this book and enjoy it and understand it. If you're new to the Adamses or the time period, this will probably explode your TBR with other books referenced. If you've been reading about them for a while, then it probably won't, but it's definitely something experienced readers in the time period can still enjoy.

This was such a fun book. It was awesome seeing what "American" meant to these people who were still trying to figure out their place. Abigail's snark in this seemed spot on, and I can’t wait to see how my friend who portrays Abigail uses this book for her Abigail in France performances.

At one point, in the middle of this magnificent account of John & Abigail Adams lives and travels in Western Europe during the last quarter of the 18th century, I asked myself why is it that this incredible people, probably the most influential & cosmopolitan American couple from the early days of the Republic, weren't that much known overhere in Europe, especially in France? And it's true that I wasn't able to unearth that much information about their stay in France between 1778 and 1788. Benjamin Franklin seems to have taken centre stage, leaving very little place to these two genial & sophisticated Americans whose endeavors greatly helped to anchor their recently born country on the world stage.
Hopefully this will be remedied soon if and when Jeanne E Abrams brilliant biography of their European adventures get translated into French. And it definitely should be translated.
How to be taken seriously by the European elite, how to be accepted as Americans, citizens of a newly independent Republic and no longer be perceived as pertaining to an uncouth group of British revolutionaries gone bonkers that successfuly gave Georges III a run for his money?
Fortunately John & Abigail Adams brilliantly managed to weave the first transatlantic ties between the Old World and the new World, putting the United States of America on the map and changing for ever people's perception of its place in the world. No small contribution if one considers that American diplomacy was well established & respected by the turn of the century.
A delightful portrait of a unique American couple, a brilliant addition to the history of American diplomacy and its long standing ties with Western Europe.

Many thanks to Netgalley and NYU Press for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book prior to its release date

Well-researched and accessibly written, this account of the European travels of US President John Adams and his wife Abigail is full of interest. It offers the reader a vivid and atmospheric portrait of the time and place, and of all the people the couple met during their stay. Extensive excerpts from their letters contribute to a compelling narrative and give a real insight into their thoughts, impressions and feelings. Abigail in particular comes across as a feisty, accomplished woman, and a warm and empathetic human being. I very much enjoyed travelling with the Adams as they criss-crossed Europe and sharing in their experiences. Essential reading for all those interested in American history, and the Founding Fathers in particular.

A solid overview of the European travels of John and Abigail Adams, written in a style accessible to scholars and casual readers alike. The book of course covers John's political interactions abroad, but I appreciated the attention given to Abigail's experiences and thoughts as recorded in her letters.

This book was a good overview of the Adamses time abroad and its impact on their vision for America. The author demonstrated broad knowledge of John and Abigail personal and political views and offered a balanced, accurate narrative.

Abrams provides an indepth analysis of the Adams' sojourn abroad and how it affected their beliefs and opinions. Abrams did solid research in this book with a thorough bibliography. I have always thought John Adams was woefully under appreciated for all of his talents. I have long as ores Abigail for her prudence, stalwart attitude, and her acerbic wit. I enjoyed her excepts from letters during her time in Europe. I love the Fierce devotion and loyalty the couple displayed toward the US. It was refreshing, compared to all the condemnation the US has received in recent years. The Adams served America well while living abroad.

My interest in John Adams was sparked when I saw the musical 1776 in elementary school. Since then I've devoured every book about him that I could get my hands on. And Abigail quickly became one of my most admired women in history. I think both of them are under appreciated 'characters' in the history of the US. Though I've read many a book about the two of them, this is the first one I've read focused solely on their time in Europe.

I found the book to be well-researched and drew from a number of sources. The author made sure to take any information and break it down for the reader so that they would know was going on. (Those newer to historical reading might appreciate this...and is done so smoothly that it won't bother a reader who is accustomed to the heavier language.) I thought the author drew sound conclusions and presented information that was new to me, too.

I found it especially interesting to hear Abigail's reaction to the Old World. The author mentioned a time where Abigail was shocked to see the opulence of Louis XVI's court compared to the poor, starving commoners. And the comfort of George III and the British Aristocracy versus the day laborer struggling to make money to eat. The former definitely stood out as the French Revolution followed quickly on the heels of her time in France.

One thing I find enjoyable when reading history books is seeing their hopes and fears for the future and comparing that to how things actually happened/are. Some things here were oddly appropriate to now and had me wondering what Adams would think. The author compares Adams' pragmatism and who saw the danger of American's being led astray by a charismatic leader versus Jefferson and his views of American exceptionalism. (Please note the author made NO comparisons to today - that was all me.) "What he feared most was a rising American oligarchy composed of wealthy or charismatic aristocrats who would prevail over those citizens who possessed genuine virtue of talent, a situation what he believed would put the future of his native land in serious jeopardy,' the author writes. This fits within my understanding of who Adams was, too.

Overall, this was a well-written book that was easy to read and well-informed. The language is clear and the writing style isn't dry. There were a couple shifts that I found a little jarring but felt that it was because the author was trying to include all the pertinent information. Though I read a digital copy, I can easily see myself buying the physical book to add to my "Founding" shelf.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A scholarly presentation, well presented, with the main ideas and insights easily grasped, The View from Abroad is a vivid study of the Adams, their time, and the formation of the American system of government.

John Adams lived in Europe over ten years, with his wife Abigail joining him his last four years. The experience gave Adams insight into the social and economic implications of monarchical governments, helping Adams to form his ideal American political system, one with a balance of power to contain both oligarchy and mobs.

John and Abigail remained staunchly attached to their homeland, rejecting the 'fripperies' and attachment to entertainment of the wealthy court and aristocratic life styles.

America would thrive, they believed, if the good New England values of virtue, cooperation, faith, and thrift remained foundational. Virtue was necessary for good government.

John had no idealistic view of human nature. He knew that people could be rallied by self-promoting, charismatic leaders, and that the lure of luxury would seduce many.

Revolutionary friends parted ways over the Constitution. Mercy Warren and Thomas Jefferson was critical of John Adams views.

As a Federalist, Adams believed in that a strong federal government was required to make trade agreements that would ensure America's economic growth and to levy taxes to support an army. Anti-Federalist Jefferson was influenced by the radial enlightenment view of humanity progressing toward perfection, and he feared the loss of individual and states rights.

Abrams highlights Adams concerns about America. He worried that short terms of office that might create instability, especially interference by foreign nations.

I especially enjoyed the excerpts from letters written by John and Abigail, hearing their opinions in their own voices.

I received a free galley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

this was a really riveting read, i got to learn about a topic I didn't know about before and I enjoyed getting to read about John and Abigail Adams.