Comments on: On the Greatness of John Adams & Paul Giamatti

By: Deborah

Deborah — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:06:30 +0000

I am so glad you mentioned “Those Who Love,” Peter. I was a young miss of 13 when Irving Stone’s book on John and Abigail Adams was published. I read it and was hooked on the Adamses. I MUST get the videos to this series.

By: Peter Hughes

Peter Hughes — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:49:58 +0000

#3 – Rachel, correct. However, in the states south of Maryland, there was a burgeoning “Southern” type accent due to the influx of British colonists from Jamaica, Bermuda, Barbados and the other parts of the West Indies where a Creole “patois” was spoken.

Also, for anyone who wants to learn more about Abigail Adams, please read the book “For Those Who Love.” She was a force in her own right.

Regards,
Peter H.

By: MariettaJim

MariettaJim — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:52:06 +0000

I agree on the whole with your analysis. However, I found the accents to be fully in keeping with the time period. Most “Americans” thought of themselves as Englishmen. I think their accents would reflect that. Even today you will find artifacts of various regional English dialects in American speech, especially in New England, the Virginia tidewater and in the Appalachian mountains.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:32:33 +0000

They have British accents because they were British colonists. People didn’t start talking like Foghorn Leghorn as soon as they got off the boat. An “American accent” would have barely existed back then.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:51:47 +0000

Dan, have you read David McCullough’s bio of Adams? It’s quite good. I got re-interested in reading more about the Founding Fathers after reading Jeff Shaara’s Rise to Rebellion series, and picked up McCullough’s book shortly after. Highly recommend it if you have not read it.

By: Colocelt

Colocelt — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:33:50 +0000

:insert blissful dance here:

Some more additions for the Netflix Queue