Know much about John Adams?

Ryan and I have recently finished watching the entire John Adams (HBO Miniseries). If you have read David McCullough's book, John Adams, this is the HBO 8-hour version of the book. Surprisingly, it didn't seem much like HBO! There were a few glimpses of over-dramatization, but most situations appeared pretty true to life.

The series was directed by Tom Hanks, but had a lot of involvement from David McCullough himself. Great attention to detail was paid, not only in the costumes and (lack of) makeup, but also including the degradation of the characters' teeth over the course of their life! This series is NOT for young children, as there are a few gruesome scenes intermixed with all the dialogue and history. It is a sobering series, realizing the hardships many of the founders and their families went through while building our great nation. We, with so much more comfort, often accomplish so much less.

John Adams is not nearly as well-known in current American history lessons as the more "popular" founders. Did you know, for example, that he was the defense attorney who represented the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre? Upholding the rule of law and offering anyone a fair trial was more important to him than public opinion (even though public opinion was so against him then that he could have been physically in danger). What an example for today's politicians... the opinion polls wouldn't have supported his actions, that's for sure. He was a flawed man (like us all) whose successes were largely due to his focus on what he believed to be right, even when he felt the world was against him.

The series also protrays the wonderful relationship between John and Abigail Adams quite well, including the great influence she was on him politically. It also gives some telling glimpses into the lives of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin. (People have said that more detail should have been shown for them, but the series is, in fact, called "John Adams"...)

Ryan has read McCullough's work and felt that the series was true to the book. The book, of course, provides a much deeper and richer picture in its 651 pages. It takes some digesting to really appreciate the detailed letters these well-educated folks wrote back and forth over the years. The depth of thought and use of language is incredible, just from the snippets Ryan has read to me. I plan to read the book, but am glad to have seen the miniseries.

Also, if you watch the series and start finding it too depressing after about episode five, hang on until the end. Somehow, seeing Adams and Jefferson through to the end of their days puts their lives in perspective and gives the series a more reflective tone. It also completes the picture of the power of a good marriage.