Bibliograph

Type

Label

The wars of the Roosevelts, the ruthless rise of America's greatest political family, William J. Mann

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 535-590) and index

resource.biographical

collective biography

Illustrations

genealogical tablesplatesillustrationsportraits

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The wars of the Roosevelts

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

964448632

Responsibility statement

William J. Mann

Sub title

the ruthless rise of America's greatest political family

Summary

Drawing on historical documents and interviews with the long-silent 'illegitimate' branch of the family, celebrity biographer William J. Mann paints a group portrait of this legendary family. Mann argues that the Roosevelts' rise to power and prestige was driven by a series of intense personal contests that at times devolved into blood sport. Eleanor Roosevelt experienced this brutality firsthand, witnessing her uncle Theodore cruelly destroy her father, Elliott -- Theodore's brother and bitter rival -- for political expediency. This 'worshipful niece,' Mann contends, in fact bore a grudge against TR for the rest of her life. A new understanding of Eleanor, as well as of her relationship with Franklin, emerges. Mann also brings into focus Eleanor's cousins, TR's children -- Alice, Ted, and Kermit -- whose stories propelled the family rivalry. We also learn the story of Eleanor's illegitimate half-brother, Elliott Roosevelt Mann, who inherited his family's ambition and skills without their name and privilege, and whom TR did his best to exile. Illustrated with never-before-seen photographs from Elliott's archives, The Wars of the Roosevelts is a deeply psychological history, illuminating not only the enviable strengths but also the profound shame of this remarkable and influential family

Table Of Contents

Prologue: The larger picture, 1960 -- Cain and Abel, 1890-1891 -- Everything to fear, 1893-1894 -- Popular and powerful, 1903-1905 -- A shot, 1912 -- Believing more than ever before, 1918-1920 -- Rough stunts, 1924-1925 -- The future and the past, 1932 -- Changing the world, 1936-1938 -- Terrific responsibility, 1943-1945 -- Epilogue: The last sortie, 1962

Target audience

adult

Classification