JOHN ADAMS

As president, John Adams was sandwiched between two Virginians of wide renown, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. But as historian and writer David McCullough shows, Adams was able to stand his own ground, and any neglect of his contribution is our fault, not his. McCullough, the author of the widely acclaimed and eminently listenable biography TRUMAN, writes to be heard as well as read. This makes his books a joy to listen to. While the distinctive-voiced McCullough isn’t heard on John Adams, he is replaced by Edward Herrmann, a veteran reader. His New England accent adds just the right flavor, and his excellent diction makes the material easy to understand. Adams left a diary, journal, and thousands of letters. McCullough quotes from them to great effect, and Herrmann reads them as if he had written them himself. R.C.G. 2002 Audie Award Finalist. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 01]