#AFoundingMother #NetGalley
The U.S. will note 250 years as a country soon. I imagine that this means that there will be many new books published that look back at the country’s early years. I was intrigued to read this one, in particular, because I very much enjoyed an earlier book by Dray (Becoming Madam Secretary).
Here Dray and her co-author look at the U.S., beginning before the Revolution, through the eyes of Abigail Adams. She is portrayed as forthright, intelligent, an able manager of her family, a woman willing to move out of her small community for the sake of the country (of course, she enjoyed some of these travels), a wife, a daughter, a sister, a mother (one who faced losses), both the wife and mother of a president. Her roles were many and varied. All come to life in these pages.
One thing that readers might look out for as they read is the ways in which Abigail’s past and our present resonate with each other. To give one example, Abigail lived during the time of smallpox and decided to inoculate her family and herself. More recently many faced Covid and decisions about that vaccine, and others are again arousing some controversy. Another to ponder is how Boston was treated in terms of issues that seem similar to some with ICE in the present. For example, soldiers entering homes without permission. These connections made reading this book feel immediate even though the time was many years past.
The authors of this title tell their story well. Even those who have read other books about Abigail Adams will, I think, enjoy this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 05 May 2026
Post first published on 23 February 2026
Description:
from the publisher
In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams—wife of one president and mother to another—whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications from the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton.
In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.
When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.
From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.
My earlier review:
Miss Benson’s Beetle is by the author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a book that I very much enjoyed. So, I was excited to receive this e galley from the publisher. The book does not disappoint.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 