Adam J & Gerard G

John Adams, one of America’s Founding Fathers, left behind a wealth of insight into the Revolutionary era through his Diary and Autobiography. Though partially published in the 1850s, Adams’s Diary has remained a largely untapped source for understanding the rise of Revolutionary resistance in New England, the debates of the early Continental Congresses, and the diplomacy and financing of the American Revolution. Despite its historical significance, it has been unfamiliar to the broader public. Zoltán Haraszti aptly noted, “It is an American classic about which Americans know next to nothing.”

Yet the Diary’s true value extends beyond historical documentation. It is a work of profound literary and human interest, revealing Adams as an extraordinary figure—a master of robust, idiomatic language and a diarist in the great tradition. Now that the Diary is available in full, it provides the most comprehensive perspective on Adams’s complex and remarkable character.

In addition to the Diary, John Adams wrote an Autobiography, originally intended for his family. The Autobiography is divided into three major sections. The first recounts Adams’s early years, from his boyhood to his legal and political career, culminating in the movement for American independence. This section offers a vivid account of Adams’s rise as a key player in the founding of the United States.

The second and third sections delve into Adams’s diplomatic experiences, including his work in Europe to secure alliances and funding for the fledgling nation. These sections also serve as a reflective commentary on his Diary, providing additional context and depth to his earlier entries. They are filled with incisive and often prejudiced sketches of Adams’s contemporaries—associates, allies, and rivals alike. Some of these candid portrayals, omitted from Charles Francis Adams’s 19th-century edition, offer a fresh perspective on the personalities who shaped the Revolution.

Together, John Adams’s Diary and Autobiography not only chronicle the American Revolution but also illuminate the mind and character of one of its central figures. His writings present Adams as a passionate, complex, and deeply human individual whose literary talent and sharp observations ensure his enduring legacy as both a leader and a writer.