American statesman John Adams (1735–1826) was a key player in the early days of the American Revolution, and the second President of the United States (1797–1801). He was involved in drafting the 1776 Declaration of Independence, and as a Congress representative in Europe negotiated peace with Great Britain. First published in 1841, this two-volume book brings together the letters Adams wrote to his wife Abigail between 1774 and 1801. Spanning twenty-five years crucial to the creation and development of the United States as a nation, these letters reveal Adams' reactions to world events and his political views, as well as his daily life and concern for his family. Edited by Adams' grandson, the letters were largely left in their original form, in order to preserve the vitality and character of Adams' style. Volume 2 covers the later years of Adams' political career, from 1777 to 1801.