A prodigiously researched and exuberantly told political biography/history.
A robust chronicle of Franklin Roosevelt’s quest to stay in the White House.
After recounting Roosevelt’s rise to the presidency in 1932, historian Pietrusza creates a brisk, spirited narrative, abundantly populated and bursting with anecdotes, revealing the president’s trials and turmoil as he faced reelection. Despite the considerable achievements of the New Deal, Roosevelt’s win was not a foregone conclusion. The nation was beset by racism, antisemitism, and a fear of importing socialism or communism. Roosevelt also faced a host of formidable opponents. As one was overcome (Roosevelt’s fierce opponent Huey Long, Louisiana’s feisty governor and senator, was assassinated in 1935), another challenger popped up. Among Roosevelt’s detractors were Georgia Gov. Eugene Talmadge, who thought FDR was on a “mad course of socialism”; Dr. Francis E. Townsend, ardent promoter of old age pensions, who hated FDR’s social security plan; Father Charles E. Coughlin, a powerful and influential “Detroit radio priest,” who fomented dissension; Socialist candidate Norman Thomas; and fearsome newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. Hearst, the author notes, “hated internationalism and dictators (although, some ominously said, not all dictators), but also taxes, unions, and anyone telling him what to do with his prized newspapers.” Pietrusza follows the aspirations of possible Republican candidates and the unlikely emergence of “lackluster” Kansas Governor Alf Landon as the party’s choice. Landon promised fiscal responsibility, and because “New Deal spending had lost its charm,” Roosevelt’s policies were ripe for criticism. Poll numbers showed a close race throughout the campaign. “As 1936 commenced,” notes the author, “Franklin possessed at least half the vote, though not nearly as solidly as he liked. If Republicans surged and third parties rumbled, he might fall into an Electoral College trap and follow Herbert Hoover into a Depression-cursed, one-term oblivion.” In the end, he prevailed splendidly, winning 71% of the Black vote, 78% of the Catholic vote, and 90% of the Jewish vote.
A prodigiously researched and exuberantly told political biography/history.Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-63576-777-3
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Diversion Books
Review Posted Online: June 7, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2022
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.
Greed, depravity, and serial murder in 1920s Oklahoma.
During that time, enrolled members of the Osage Indian nation were among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The rich oil fields beneath their reservation brought millions of dollars into the tribe annually, distributed to tribal members holding "headrights" that could not be bought or sold but only inherited. This vast wealth attracted the attention of unscrupulous whites who found ways to divert it to themselves by marrying Osage women or by having Osage declared legally incompetent so the whites could fleece them through the administration of their estates. For some, however, these deceptive tactics were not enough, and a plague of violent death—by shooting, poison, orchestrated automobile accident, and bombing—began to decimate the Osage in what they came to call the "Reign of Terror." Corrupt and incompetent law enforcement and judicial systems ensured that the perpetrators were never found or punished until the young J. Edgar Hoover saw cracking these cases as a means of burnishing the reputation of the newly professionalized FBI. Bestselling New Yorker staff writer Grann (The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession, 2010, etc.) follows Special Agent Tom White and his assistants as they track the killers of one extended Osage family through a closed local culture of greed, bigotry, and lies in pursuit of protection for the survivors and justice for the dead. But he doesn't stop there; relying almost entirely on primary and unpublished sources, the author goes on to expose a web of conspiracy and corruption that extended far wider than even the FBI ever suspected. This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.Pub Date: April 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-385-53424-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.
A carefully curated personal portrait.
First ladies’ roles have evolved significantly in recent decades. Their memoirs typically reflect a spectrum of ambition and interests, offering insights into their values and personal lives. Melania Trump, however, stands out as exceptionally private and elusive. Her ultra-lean account attempts to shed light on her public duties, initiatives, and causes as first lady, and it defends certain actions like her controversial “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” jacket. The statement was directed at the media, not the border situation, she claims. Yet the book provides scant detail about her personal orbit or day-to-day interactions. The memoir opens with her well-known Slovenian origin story, successful modeling career, and whirlwind romance with Donald Trump, culminating in their 2005 marriage, followed by a snapshot of Election Day 2016: “Each time we were together that day, I was impressed by his calm.…This man is remarkably confident under pressure.” Once in the White House, Melania Trump describes her functions and numerous public events at home and abroad, which she asserts were more accomplished than media representations suggested. However, she rarely shares any personal interactions beyond close family ties, notably her affection for her son, Barron, and her sister, Ines. And of course she lavishes praise on her husband. Minimal anecdotes about White House or cabinet staff are included, and she carefully defuses her rumored tensions with Trump’s adult children, blandly stating, “While we may share the same last name, each of us is distinct with our own aspirations and paths to follow.” Although Melania’s desire to support causes related to children’s and women’s welfare feels authentic, the overall tenor of her memoir seems aimed at painting a glimmering portrait of her husband and her role, likely with an eye toward the forthcoming election.
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781510782693
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
