The Education of Henry Adams

The Education of Henry Adams is simultaneously an insightful autobiography written in the third person and a damning critique of modern educational theory and practice. Originally written in 1907, but not published until 1918 after the death of the author, it won the 1919 Pulitzer Prize. It was also recently named the #1 book on Modern Library's 100 Best Nonfiction Books list.

Context

Henry Adams' story is rooted in the political aristocracy of the late 1800s in America. Himself being the great granchild of John Adams and the grandchild of John Quincy Adams, and his father having served as a diplomat and senator, Henry Adams' entire life was lived out among the aristocracy. He received the finest schooling and had every opportunity available to him.

Related Topics:
1800s - America - John Adams - John Quincy Adams

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It is this social context that makes the work so important. Rather than take these opportunities and promote them for the name value that they had, he instead took much of what had been provided to him and deemed it a failure. Henry Adams was an individualist, and such the trappings of success handed to him on a silver platter did not mean much. He sought to learn things himself, and an individual provided with such self-direction is bound to be a man worth learning about.

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