How to Handle Henry

Most striking to me about the Education of Henry Adams is its almost plotless narration style. Most autobiographies I've read have more detailed vignettes with dialogue and imagery. Henry Adams reveals his past with very little by way of stories and anecdotes. His style is to mention an obscure historically important member of his society and then explain in 4 paragraphs why this person was important to his education. I was very surprised by this -- I almost am angry with him that he does not want to sit down and regale me with his travel stories in Europe or his friendships with greats like Charles Sumner and Governor Seward. I would have liked to hear his personal opinions on individual events, not time periods of 2-5 years.

Is this approach the result of an author's oversight to the reader's curiosity, affected modesty, or merely the mundane events that happened in his life? Did Henry Adams not realize how important his social circle was; he does admit early on in the book that he thought every family had a President and that it was quite natural to live in the White House. So far in this book, I'm just not sure how to handle Henry Adams' and his very humble storytelling.