Product Description

A chronicle of the US and its leaders during the period when modern America was created. It narrates the interrelationships between the inner workings of the Roosevelt White House and the destiny of the US, painting a portrait that fills in a historical gap in the story of America under Roosevelt.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84100 in Books
• Published on: 1995
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 768 pages

Customer Reviews

The Roosevelts as real people.
Goodwin does an outstanding job showing the Roosevelts as the mortal human beings they were, while adding substantially to the mystique surrounding the administration. FDR's extraordinary ability to build coalitions and make weighty decisions under pressure are nothing short of extraordinary, and Eleanor's dogged adherence to principle stand out against the empty pragmatism we see in the modern world. However, the personalities of less discussed figures, like Harry Hopkins and Sara Roosevelt add flesh to the story, and Goodwin's candid analysis of FDR's relationship with Lucy Rutherford is done as tastefully as possible. As one who read this outstanding book during the impeachment trial, I must admit, I longed for the days Goodwin describes, those in which the President seemed to believe America was really the greatest country in the history of the world.

A Peek into One Family's Life
We may think we know all there is to know about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, but Doris Kearns Goodwin shows in this well-written and fascinating book that we only *thought* we knew the whole story.

This book is full of intimate moments, as told by those who were present to see them. Beautiful detailed, interesting and colorful, this is a layered and nuanced description of life in the Roosevelt White House during those turbulent years between 1940 and 1945.

What I wasn't expecting, and what turned out to be a delightful surprise, was the discussion of what life was like on the Homefront for average Americans during this time. This made extraordinary reading.

For those who are interested in history, this must be added to your list of titles. Highly recommended.

a well-deserved pulitzer prize winning historical tale
An incredibly thorough historical account of a remarkable couple that reads like a novel. The research was exhaustive--right down to the first couple's appointment books. You will walk away from this book confirmed of FDR's greatness (as a President, not as a husband) and thoroughly impressed at the too often unheralded accomplishments of Eleanor. Her civil right's record is greater than almost any other resident of the White House. Goodwin tells the story through the voices of those who lived it (with quotes from presidential advisers, internment camp residents, soldiers, factory working wives and mothers, etc...). This style proves very effective.