Title: A passionate usefulness : the life and literary labors of Hannah Adams /
Authors: Schmidt, Gary D.
Publisher: University of Virginia Press,
Year: 2004
Subjects: Adams, Hannah,; Women and literature New England History; Women and literature New England History; Authors, American Biography.; Authors, American Biography; Historians New England Biography.; New England Historiography.; New England Biography.
Abstract: "In a literary environment dominated by men, the first American to earn a living as a writer and to establish a reputation on both sides of the Atlantic was, miraculously, a woman. Hannah Adams dared to enter - and in some ways was forced to enter - a sphere of literature that had, in eighteenth-century America, been solely a male province. Driven by poverty and necessity, and aided by an extraordinarily adept mind and keen sense of business, Adams authored works on New England history, sectarian history, and Jewish history, using and citing the most recent scholarly works being published in Great Britain and American. As a female writer, she would always remain something of an outsider, but her accomplishments did not by any means go unrecognized: embraced by the Boston intelligentsia and highly regarded throughout New England, Adams came to epitomize the possibility in a democratic society that anyone could rise to a circle of intellectual elites." "In a Passionate Usefulness, a biography of this remarkable figure, Gary D. Schmidt focuses primarily on the intimate connection between Adams's reading and her own literary work."--BOOK JACKET.
Contents: With gloomy prospects before me -- The strength and vivacity of her understanding -- An alphabetical compendium -- Gloomy in my situation -- The benefit of his patronage -- A view of religions -- Efforts of a female pen -- Obliged to lay aside reading -- A summary history of New-England -- Ancient histories of New-England -- Modern information -- Truth and the facts of history -- A new view of religions -- The truth and excellence of the Christian religion exhibited -- Avowing her firm belief -- To make some new acquaintance -- Ruinous competition -- Abridgement of the history of New-England -- Her alluring and powerful assistance -- Corrections and additions -- The parties in this controversy -- Business out of the female line -- I wish to learn the truth of this report -- The undefined nature of the claims -- I shall avail myself of the information -- The history of the Jews -- The exact fulfillment -- Any written communication -- The amount of compensation -- The "painful affair" ended -- I know I am very awkward -- A dictionary of all religions and religious denominations -- Attention awakened -- You are at the head quarters -- Letters on the Gospels -- Not alone in her exertions -- Affection fervent and enthusiastic -- A memoir of Miss Hannah Adams -- Willing to remain.