“The Lives of Abigail Adams and her Sisters: Threefold Cord” – discussion of a Work-in-Progress
Biographer Diane Jacobs will discuss her work-in-progress The Lives of Abigail Adams and her Sisters: Threefold Cord, the story of three strong and unusually intellectual sisters living during the American Revolution and its aftermath. The book begins in 1765, just before the repeal of the British Stamp Act and ends when John Adams is voted out of the Presidency in 1800. Jacobs’ presentation will discuss the obstacles she has confronted, first, finding a voice for each of her protagonists; second, finding a way to distribute her attention between the one famous and the two unknown sisters; and third, dealing with John Adams, who is not a main character and yet so profoundly affects everyone else. American History also inevitably becomes a character, and Jacobs will describe the difficulties she has faced, insinuating events and philosophical questions into the narrative.
CUNY Graduate Center – Room 9204
October 29th , 4- 5:30 p.m.
The Women Writing Women’s Lives Dorothy O. Helly Works-in-Progress Lecture
Co-sponsors:
CUNY Graduate Center’s Department of History, Department of English, Center for the Study of Women and Society, The Leon Levy Center for Biography, The Center for the Humanities and the MA Program in Liberal Studies
