“Unger captures the many sides of Adams and his era in the superb John Quincy Adams…Eloquent, irritating, and fiercely committed to his work, John Quincy Adams lived an extraordinary life, and Unger tells his story convincingly in this compelling narrative.” “A neglected president receives his due as a statesman and practical politician…A fine examination of a life, well deserving a place alongside David McCullough’s study of Adams père.” “Unger’s well-presented portrait merits American-history readers’ attention.”

Although there are other books on John Quincy Adams, American history and political history buffs will find this stirring work irresistible.” In all, he succeeds in making clear why JQA was the first subject of John F. Unger makes use of many years of JQA’s diaries and expertly dissects intricate political and (potentially confusing) family relationships. The reader comes to know John Quincy Adams intimately as a son, father, statesman, and patriot…The individuals encountered in the narrative are familiar, but-in the best tradition of David McCullough’s biographies-the pace and plotting pull readers forward even though they may know the ending. “Spare prose clarifies the overview of political complications and intricate family dynamics, revealing Adams as a historically overlooked yet key transitional figure who witnessed the birth of the nation and endured its nearly irreparable geographic squabbles of the 1840s.” Overweeningly intelligent, clever, headstrong, insecure, brave, and insightful Adams comes close to becoming an inspiring character…Unger makes him seem as

John quincy adams by harlow giles unger