The Last American Aristocrat - by David S Brown (Paperback)

About the Book

"A revelatory biography of literary icon Henry Adams-one of America's most prominent writers and intellectuals of his era, who witnessed and contributed to the United States' dramatic transition from a colonial society to a modern nation. Henry Adams is perhaps the most eclectic, accomplished, and important American writer of his time. His autobiography and modern classic The Education of Henry Adams was widely considered one of the best English-language nonfiction books of the 20th century. The last member of his distinguished family-after great-grandfather John Adams, and grandfather John Quincy Adams-to gain national attention, he is remembered today as an historian, a political commentator, and a memoirist. Now, historian David Brown sheds light on the brilliant yet under-celebrated life of this major American intellectual. Adams not only lived through the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution but he met Abraham Lincoln, bowed before Queen Victoria, and counted powerful figures, including Secretary of State John Hay, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and President Theodore Roosevelt as friends and neighbors. His observations of these men and their policies in his private letters provide a penetrating assessment of Gilded Age America on the cusp of the modern era. The Last American Aristocrat details Adams's relationships with his wife (Marian "Clover" Hooper) and, following her suicide, Elizabeth Cameron, the young wife of a senator and part of the famous Sherman clan from Ohio. Henry Adams's letters-thousands of them-demonstrate his struggles with depression, familial expectations, and reconciling with his unwanted widower's existence. Presenting intimate and insightful details of a fascinating and unusual American life and a new window on nineteenth century US history, The Last American Aristocrat shows us a more "modern" and "human" Henry Adams than ever before"--

Book Synopsis

A "marvelous...compelling" (The New York Times Book Review) biography of literary icon Henry Adams--one of America's most prominent writers and intellectuals, who witnessed and contributed to the United States' dramatic transition from a colonial society to a modern nation.

Henry Adams is perhaps the most eclectic, accomplished, and important American writer of his time. His autobiography and modern classic The Education of Henry Adams was widely considered one of the best English-language nonfiction books of the 20th century. The last member of his distinguished family--after great-grandfather John Adams, and grandfather John Quincy Adams--to gain national attention, he is remembered today as an historian, a political commentator, and a memoirist.

Now, historian David Brown sheds light on the brilliant yet under-celebrated life of this major American intellectual. Adams not only lived through the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution but he met Abraham Lincoln, bowed before Queen Victoria, and counted Secretary of State John Hay, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and President Theodore Roosevelt as friends and neighbors. His observations of these powerful men and their policies in his private letters provide a penetrating assessment of Gilded Age America on the cusp of the modern era.

"Thoroughly researched and gracefully written" (The Wall Street Journal), The Last American Aristocrat details Adams's relationships with his wife (Marian "Clover" Hooper) and, following her suicide, Elizabeth Cameron, the young wife of a senator and part of the famous Sherman clan from Ohio. Henry Adams's letters--thousands of them--demonstrate his struggles with depression, familial expectations, and reconciling with his unwanted widower's existence.

Offering a fresh window on nineteenth century US history, as well as a more "modern" and "human" Henry Adams than ever before, The Last American Aristocrat is a "standout portrait of the man and his era" (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Review Quotes

"Marvelous...provides a compelling account of America's transformation in the space of one man's lifetime, from a Republic where the Adams name meant everything, to an industrialized behemoth that had left him behind." -The New York Times Book Review "Thoroughly researched and gracefully written...[Henry Adams] was more comfortable on the sidelines than he ever would have been in the arena. And, as Mr. Brown reveals, Adams was a brilliant observer." -The Wall Street Journal "The book proceeds less day by day than idea by idea, theme by theme, and this approach works particularly well." -Boston Globe "I vicariously enjoyed the varied life of Henry Adams, America's greatest memoirist." -Ed Glaeser, The Wall Street Journal's "Books of the Year" "Well-written and enthralling . . . [Brown] makes the case for Henry as the most interesting of the Adamses." -Chronicle

About the Author

David S. Brown teaches history at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. He is the author of eight books, including In the Arena: Theodore Roosevelt in War, Peace, and Revolution; A Hell of a Storm: The Battle for Kansas, the End of Compromise, and the Coming of the Civil War; The First Populist: The Defiant Life of Andrew Jackson; The Last American Aristocrat: The Brilliant Life and Improbable Education of Henry Adams; and biographies of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Richard Hofstadter.