GOLD COUNTRY MINI-RETREAT

Great Books Council of San Francisco Presents the Third Gold Country Nonfiction Mini-Retrest

John Adams

Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Auburn Great Books group invites you to discuss David McCullough’s John Adams.  In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as “out of his senses”; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the most moving love stories in American history.

       This is history on a grand scale---a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas.  Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.  The Adams biography earned McCullough his second Pulitzer Prize.

       We ‘ll discuss Parts I and II, through page 385 of this epic biography, Including the revolution, independence, Adams’ mission to France, and to the Court of St. James.

       We start at 9:30 a.m. at the Mercy Center, 535 Sacramento Street, Auburn, CA 95603.  Lunch will be served on location.  In the afternoon we will view the first sections of the award-winning film, starring Paul Giamatti as John Adams, and Laura Linney as Abigail Adams, and we conclude by 4:30 p.m.

       Buy the David McCullough book published by Simon & Schuster, 2001.  There are often used copies available through Friends of the Library and Amazon.com.

       Contact Donna Reynolds, Registrar, before May 12, at (916) 797-8561.  Cost is $35 per person including lunch.  Mail your check, name, and contact information to Donna at 1133 Ravine View Drive, Roseville, CA 95661.