A well-researched history of an egotist who toyed with world affairs.
A close look at a devastating diplomatic failure.
British American biographer and historian Ronald examines two calamitous years in the life of business mogul, serial philanderer, and overbearing patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy (1886-1969), during which he served as America’s ambassador to the Court of St. James’s as Europe became engulfed in war. The coveted ambassadorship was a position Kennedy had lobbied for and believed he deserved as a reward for backing Franklin Roosevelt’s election bids in 1932 and 1936. Roosevelt wanted to count on Kennedy’s loyalty—and the 25 million Catholic votes he could bring if the president decided to run for a third term—while at the same time getting the opinionated businessman out of the U.S. Drawing on biographical and archival sources, Ronald portrays the gruff, egotistical Kennedy as spectacularly unsuited to a diplomatic post. Blunt, outspoken, and tactless, he was adept at films and finance but knew little about foreign policy. The author’s detailed, well-populated narrative traces Kennedy’s daily doings, family relationships, self-serving projects, womanizing, and fraught service, in which he repeatedly proved to be an embarrassment, making public statements, for example, without government approval. Quickly, he was “deemed insufferable” by the White House and the State Department. British officials called him “the worst sort of self-promoter.” As German aggression intensified, Kennedy remained staunchly isolationist, partly because he wanted to keep his eldest sons out of combat, partly because of his fascist and antisemitic sympathies. He insisted that war could be averted by making sweeping economic and political concessions, such as letting Germany take over Europe. He backed Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement policy and loudly insisted that Britain would be roundly defeated. Once Britain entered the conflict, Ronald writes, Kennedy “seemed incapable of understanding that Britain was at war for its very existence.”
A well-researched history of an egotist who toyed with world affairs.Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-23872-6
Page Count: 464
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
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
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.
Documenting perilous times.
In his most recent behind-the-scenes account of political power and how it is wielded, Woodward synthesizes several narrative strands, from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to the 2024 presidential campaign. Woodward’s clear, gripping storytelling benefits from his legendary access to prominent figures and a structure of propulsive chapters. The run-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is tense (if occasionally repetitive), as a cast of geopolitical insiders try to divine Vladimir Putin’s intent: “Doubt among allies, the public and among Ukrainians meant valuable time and space for Putin to maneuver.” Against this backdrop, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham implores Donald Trump to run again, notwithstanding the former president’s denial of his 2020 defeat. This provides unwelcome distraction for President Biden, portrayed as a thoughtful, compassionate lifetime politico who could not outrace time, as demonstrated in the June 2024 debate. Throughout, Trump’s prevarications and his supporters’ cynicism provide an unsettling counterpoint to warnings provided by everyone from former Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley to Vice President Kamala Harris, who calls a second Trump term a likely “death knell for American democracy.” The author’s ambitious scope shows him at the top of his capabilities. He concludes with these unsettling words: “Based on my reporting, Trump’s language and conduct has at times presented risks to national security—both during his presidency and afterward.”
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781668052273
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
IN THE NEWS
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.
