First published 2007
James MacGregor Burns traces how Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt evolved from New York's privileged Knickerbocker society into America's most influential political dynasty. The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, working with historian Susan Dunn, examines Theodore's dynamic leadership style and shows how it shaped the careers of his distant cousin Franklin and niece Eleanor. Burns follows their political philosophy as it developed across turbulent decades of American history. The author reveals how Theodore's example inspired Franklin and Eleanor to create a progressive legacy that influenced politics worldwide. Burns presents these transformative years through the Roosevelts' own perspectives, capturing their decisions and motivations during America's most challenging periods. The book offers an authoritative examination of three leaders whose forward-thinking politics generated as much controversy in their era as their legacy provokes today.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, political-science, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-saga, political-dynasty
Setting: New York
Period: 19th Century, 20th Century
708 pages · Kindle Edition · Grove Press