Both European and Japanese traditions have contributed mythology to Adams's story. Older accounts can preserve useful details while also repeating embellishments. Comparing them with his own letters reveals that many later claims do not appear in his account. The correspondence also shows that he wrote to his English wife. Careful terminology and comparison between sources are therefore needed when reconstructing his career and family life.
Notable Point · 1:49:52-1:51:34
Reading Adams's letters against later mythology
Adams's letters offer a check on embellished accounts, including evidence of correspondence with his English wife.