Thomas F. (hardtack) -
The author's premise is that the Russian Emperor Alexander, by accepting John Adams credentials as an ambassador, and becoming friendly with John and his wife Louisa, was the start of the world's acceptance of the United States as a nation with significance.
This book started off rather slow. The author insisted on relating, again and again and again, how Louisa Adams hated leaving two of their three sons in the United States when John Q. Adams was posted to Russia as the American ambassador.
So you need to wade through several chapters before it really gets interesting. Then the pages seem to fly by, as their adventures in Russia and other parts of Europe are very interesting.
One such episode which fascinated me was when Louisa Adams journeyed from St. Petersburg to Paris to rejoin her husband. Turns out Napoleon had left Elba and was marching on Paris. Louisa's tried to avoid him, but her coach was intercepted by his Imperial Guard. Since the coach had Russian markings, people called for her death. Fortunately, one of Napoleon's generals examined her passport and told the crowd she was an American.
This book started off rather slow. The author insisted on relating, again and again and again, how Louisa Adams hated leaving two of their three sons in the United States when John Q. Adams was posted to Russia as the American ambassador.
So you need to wade through several chapters before it really gets interesting. Then the pages seem to fly by, as their adventures in Russia and other parts of Europe are very interesting.
One such episode which fascinated me was when Louisa Adams journeyed from St. Petersburg to Paris to rejoin her husband. Turns out Napoleon had left Elba and was marching on Paris. Louisa's tried to avoid him, but her coach was intercepted by his Imperial Guard. Since the coach had Russian markings, people called for her death. Fortunately, one of Napoleon's generals examined her passport and told the crowd she was an American.
