Randall Wood’s biography “John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People” was published this summer. Woods is a Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas where he has spent his entire professional career. Woods is the author of “Fulbright: A Biography” as well as “LBJ: Architect of American Ambition.”
John Quincy Adams was one of the most intellectually gifted of our presidents and led an incredibly jam-packed life. But this presents a unique challenge to the prospective biographer. Does one skim the tops of the trees, compressing JQA’s eighty-year life into a few hundred fascinating pages…or laboriously review everything of consequence he did during his half-century of public service?
In this case, Professor Woods seems to have done neither – writing a biography of JQA which is much lengthier and more detailed than most, yet leaving some readers feeling there is still more color and context that should have been provided. History buffs will find a great deal to chew on – the 702 pages of text provide an excellent template for further study. But fans of gripping biography will find the narrative lacks the verve and vitality of an enthralling story.
The longest of the eight biographies of JQA I’ve read, Wood’s book proves comprehensive, thorough and refreshingly objective. But readers will find it more valuable for the author’s fresh perspectives and diligent reporting than for its unique insights. There seems to be little, if anything, newly uncovered or revealed about Adams’s life or legacy.
An astute historian, Woods is careful to ensure the reader never loses sight of the big picture. Accordingly, the narrative frequently zooms out from JQA’s perspective to add visibility to national or world affairs pertinent to Adams. But readers unfamiliar with early American history (or European history of the time) may occasionally find the added context raises more questions than it answers.
In addition, Woods often makes interesting introductions to characters within JQA’s orbit, such as Henry Clay, and he provides a particularly interesting comparison of the political and philosophical instincts of several founding fathers (notably John Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Alexander Hamilton). Finally, most readers will find Wood’s writing style refreshingly clear and comprehensible; largely absent are the hundred-dollar words which can add a layer of stuffy erudition to some texts.
But many readers will find this to be more an articulate-but-dull history text than an engaging biography. JQA’s uniquely fascinating life comes across surprisingly (and disappointingly) dull and flat. And while the famously dour Adams might approve of the narrative’s consistently gray cast, many readers will long for the sonorous literary voice of Chernow, Meacham or Doris Kearns Goodwin.
And despite the attentive inclusion of historical context throughout the book, the level of detail provided varies substantially…and not necessarily in proportion to the gravity of the event. Some less important moments receive significant time and attention (or even their own chapter) while others, seemingly more critical, are dispatched with cold efficiency.
Finally, introductions to chapters – or brief summaries at their end – would be helpful to include in a book of this length and density. But there is rarely an attempt to provide a roadmap of upcoming terrain or to ensure readers have absorbed the primary themes or lessons of a chapter.
Overall, Randall Woods has written a judicious and informative biography of one of the most extraordinary people ever to serve as president of the United States. Anyone seeking a thorough introduction to the man and his times will come away enlightened. But readers seeking a captivating narrative that explores the world through JQA’s eyes are likely to walk away disappointed.
Overall Rating: 3½ stars