Catherine Drinker Bowen (1897–1973)

This book has some great day-by-day information on those pivotal four months in the summer of 1787 when the US Constitution was being created and debated. But the author's style really threw me to the point where I nearly quit on this book several times. Some of the phrasing was confusing. I'm not sure if it's just her style or that was how academic writing was produced in the 1960s but it was annoying. I'm glad, however, I soldiered on as again, the information was interesting and well researched.… (mere)

Super. I read this- like all biographies I read -for the history way more than for the person, but she deftly weaves the history into the Adams story. Stirring in parts- I find myself reading parts of it to whoever happens to be around at the time. No doubt this is in part due to her "controversial" inclusion of imagined dialog in certain situations- she is guesstimating his or another's thoughts and turning them in to a story telling dialog. I say: fine! if you trust the writer (and I do) this is just a technique to make the story come alive without the hypocrisy of supposedly objective history.… (mere)

5785. Family Portrait, by Catherine Drinker Bowen (read 7 Apr 2022) This is the fourth book by this author I have read. It is an account of her remarkable family. She had 4 brothers and a sister, all older than her. Her father was president of Lehigh University.. Her oldest brother, Harry Drinker, was a lawyer but also intensely interested in classical music. Her other siblings were also accomplished people and the book tells of them, warts and all. One was an incurable alcoholic but nevertheless accomplished much. I found the book passingly interesting and was amazed by the account of the family.

5785. Family Portrait, by Catherine Drinker Bowen (read 7 Apr 2022) This is the fourth book I've read by this author--the others bein biographies of justice Holmes… (mere)