Title: The Secret Diary of Mrs. John Quincy Adams: Wife of the Sixth President of the United States
Author: Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer
Publisher: Writers Branding
ISBN: 978-1-953048-18-9
Pages: 250
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Nicole Olson
Pacific Book Review
Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer rewrites Louisa Catherine (Johnson) Adams diary in The Secret Diary of Mrs. John Quincy Adams. She begins the diary in Louisa’s childhood – Benjamin Franklin and George Washington are friends of her father. She meets her future husband as a young girl, though she has very little interest in him and unfortunately for having both of them form a life together; she never falls in love either. Their marriage is more of an arrangement by their parents than a romantic relationship. This book nods to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, where marriage is not a salvation but a life sentence.
Cayzer’s book contains a wealth of information about early American history as well as European relations. I highly recommend this book to any fans of historical fiction. This book does contain adult and mature topics, and would best be for older teens and above. I learned a great deal not only about John Quincy Adams but also from his father and George Washington. While their marriage is rocky, it is possible to take away some love advice too! I would not call this a romantic book, as Louisa describes there was very little love and romance in their marriage, yet it details other aspects of a marriage partnership.
I never considered myself a history buff, however this book inspired a new curiosity in me; as now I am looking forward to reading more about Louisa Adams and her husband, as well as other historical leaders in that time period who opposed slavery. While they were still the minority, there existed a group of people who did oppose the idea of slavery. This detail is often overlooked in history books, should slavery be mentioned at all.
Cayzer’s writing style is incredibly entertaining – she captures the voice of a foreign European living in America perfectly. While the relationship between Louisa and John is loveless and sometimes harsh, The Secret Diary of Mrs. John Quincy Adams Wife of the Sixth President of the United States pokes fun at her husband’s approach to his role in many situations.
Cayzer’s take on Louisa’s diary of her life and offers a fun read, despite the morose and brut character of John Quincy Adams. While the pair makes quite an odd couple – there are times where the two reveal a fondness for each other that only a husband and wife could share. Other historical aspects of the novel include the couples’ disdain for slavery as well as their difficulties in conceiving children. Poor Louisa suffers several miscarriages as well as the loss of a child under one year of age.
Cayzer tells the story of Louisa Adams with care and grace, without overlooking some ugly aspects of the history of the United States. This book is impressively and professionally researched and written for the average reader with both character and history in mind. The Secret Diary of Mrs. John Quincy Adams by Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer is an extremely enjoyable book that once you begin you will not want to put down.
