Customer Reviews

Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 2: 1933-1938.

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Eleanor Roosevelt's passions impress those who recall her later public image as a dowdy grandmother-type. No cracks about prominent teeth, please. Author Blanche Wiesen Cook does a commendable job of telling a familiar story from a fresh perspective. This book details ER's life from childhood to the beginning of her career as First Lady. The theme of the book is ER as "assertive, independent, and bold." As long as she lived by other people's expectations, ER was stifled. After she asserted her independence, she was happier and more successful. "She feared rigidities," Cook asserts. She abhorred the judgmental absolutes that she thought contributed to her parents' problems and early deaths. ER aspired to walk in the humanist footsteps of her mentor and great teacher, Marie Souvestre. Intriguing questions of ER's private life remain unanswered because she destroyed many of her personal letters and papers. Her marriage to Franklin Roosevelt was mercurial, and the boundaries grew undefined. After 1918, a crisis year in their marriage, ER formed a number of associations with women social activists. She embarked in new directions, and tirelessly supported women's issues. Ironically, she opposed the 1920s version of the equal rights amendment because she felt it would remove protections that women enjoyed under the laws of that time. Woven through the tapestry of the narrative are questions of ER's love life. Her close working friendships with lesbian activists, at minimum, suggest Sapphic possibilities. ER's views of love and sex were nonconformist, and included men and women. Both Earl Miller and Lorena Hickock played special roles in her life. Cook writes of Eleanor Roosevelt as a three-dimensional woman of joy and sorrow. This book is an eye opening and enjoyable read. Highly recommended. ;-)

I thought I was a decent student of American history; well, I am, sort of. Of MALE American history.

Not once in all my years of school have I ever had a history class that focused on the great women leaders in our nation's history--including Eleanor Roosevelt. It is a travesty that needs to be rectified ... and it can be by reading this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt.

What a woman! Was she perfect? No. Did she always do the right thing? Nope. Was she always presented in the best possible light? Nada.

Instead, what Blanche Cook did was present a portrait of a very real Eleanor Roosevelt--warts and all.

I never once gave consideration to reading about Eleanor--until I read a NEW YORK TIMES' review of the second volume of the biography. It compelled me to purchase the first; I will now read the second. I would encourage any and all women to do the same simply because what we have been able to accomplish in today's world can be directly connected to Eleanor Roosevelt, her contemporaries, and her mentors.

We owe it to her legacy; we also owe it to the children of today's schools to learn about her in our history classes. These women deserve mention as much--if not more--than the heroes of the Revolutionary War, the great presidents, the fighters of the Civil War, the World Wars, etc., etc.

Most books that I have read on Eleanor Roosevelt stress that no matter how revolutionary she might have seemed, she lived her life within certain bounds for her time. Yet this book demonstrates that the historical character and the real woman are very different. The author portrays Eleanor as a woman who did not find herself until her mid-thirties and then was determined to live as she wanted. Her marriage to Franklin was not fulfilling and she needed more. She found this with various life long friends who shared her passion for politics and social change. The author does an excellent job staying on track, and keeping Eleanor in the forefront. This is definitely not a biography of Franklin! I found the information on the early life of Eleanor to be especially interesting, in how so many of the obstacles that she faced as a youth played a large role in how she dealt with others the rest of her life. Her childhood is hearbreaking and I can't help but think that even for all her wealth and priviledge, how sad her childhood was. She seemed to search all her life to find a home and finally decided to create her own with her friends, not her family. Even though she had five children, their lives were controlled by her mother-in-law, Sara Delano Roosevelt. Rather than become depressed at the various obstacles presented by her life, she rose above them and ultimately became a very fulfilled and happy person.

Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the most inspirational and influential people of the 20th century, despite her own protests to the contrary. While Ms. Cook's biography reveals many insights into Mrs. Roosevelt's private and public lives, certain of the author's own subjective opinions color what information is missing or has been destroyed regarding this wonderful first lady; these opinions are certainly open to debate. Overall, though, the book inspires all to pursue dreams, to grow throughout a lifetime, to change to fit the times and the needs of one's world. Eleanor's own education about living provides a basis from which to begin living life to the fullest. It is this hope and fortitude that Ms. Cook best captures.

I read this book about five years ago and I am excited that volume two is finally out. I wanted to write a review because this book was so important to my own growth and education. Cook's biography of Eleanor Roosevelt got me interested in biographies, American History and politics. In many of the reviews people say how the book it novel like. This is true, because Eleanor's life was so story like in many ways. Also Eleanor is so inspirational to any woman or girl who has ever felt shy or inadequate, or who has been dumped on by her husband or relatives. I really recommend this book and I cannot wait until I can get ahold of the second volume. Thank you Blanche Cook for making such an inspirational book available to us readers.

Although I am a product of the 1960's and 1970's, I have lost sight of the importance and power of activism in our culture. I once had a passion to fight for the rights of others less privilieged or for those who can not fight for themselves. This book stirred in me a passion that I have long forgotten! How great a woman was Eleanor Roosevelt! How important her contribution to human rights and the survival of the American way! Blanche Weisen Cook has written an account of Eleanor Roosevelt that is moving, realistic and powerful. It has renewed my interest in political causes and the incredible need for activism. A must read for women of all generations.

How many books written for what could easily be a Phd. disertation can be enjoyed and discussed by several generations of women from teenagers to grandmothers? Not many. But this is one. It was wonderful to sit and discuss this this well researched and documented work, Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1933 by Blanche Wiesen Cook. The footnotes took up a significant part of the volumn, but were at the back of the book so one did not need to interupt the flow of the storey unless it was desired. How amazing it was for me to learn about a woman who I vaguely remember only as a president's wife and someone who wrote a column in one of my mother's favorite magzines, Ladies Home Journal. Growing up in the 60's why was not more written about this remarkable woman who could have taught a generation of women how to make it in a man's world. While we stumbled around she had already walked the path we vainly thought we were pioneering. Yet we were all kept in the dark about her. Her storey was not taught to us in school, although we certainly all knew avout Franlkin Roosevelt's struggle to overcome his physical problems to become president. Why only now are we learning about Eleanor's role in that fight? Eleanor had learned to balance the needs of children, a philandering husband and the call she heard to make the world a better place. One might wonder why women were not told her storey. Could it be to keep us in our places; the kitchen ad the bedroom and out of the boardroom? Who knows, with information like this a generation of women might not have thought their only choices in careers were teaching, nursing or airline stewardist? How wonderful to read about all the leading women of her time who faught for women's right to vote, rights for minorities, fair and equal pay for both men and women along with safe working conditions. The role Eleanor Roosevelt played in world politics and human rights issues should have assured her a few chapters in the history books along with her peers, Elizabeth Cady Staton and Jane Adams. It is so exciting to learn more about all of these women, who could have served as role models for young women, had we been better informed about them. This is not a mistake that will go uncorrected in my circle of friends. This book will be read and discussed with our daughters, neices and the daughters of our friends. Thank you Ms. Cook, I can hardly wait to get started on the sequel.

I just finished reading "Eleanor Roosevelt 1889-1934" by Blanche Wiesner Cooke. The book reads like a novel, with the pulse of a newborn. Cooke writes in my opinion, an honest, biography of great depth (This ain't no Kitty Kelly). A sad little girl, in a dysfunction family (sound familiar) who becomes one of the worlds most notable people,if not women. The author captures the essence of Eleanor by sharing letters and page turning relationships. You will be introduced to a cast of characters second to none and feel as though you have stepped back in time. For those of you who are native New Yorkers you will be pleased to find an abandance of NYC history along with the the people who built the city and funded it from Henry Street Settlement to private industry. This book will broaden those who lack a political mind and maybe even educate you on the way. So get yourself a pot of tea and a good light. This book is long (500pp) but oh so neccessary.

ER was certainly an impressive American. However this biography is too light for such a heavy weight. Wiesen Cook provides little analysis of the world between 1884 and 1933, just the occassional reference, yet the reason ER was so impressive was that she interpreted correctly and reacted positively to what was going on around her and her times. While the biographer provides so many extracts from her letters the reader feels like they are guiltity rummaging through another's most private possessions, she does not link these adequately to the times. Also, she is so enamoured with her subject that she frustratingly stops short of making a point or even stating her opinion or point of view on any interesting subject. Flowery prose is no substitute for pointed analysis, espeically in relation to a 20th century giant like ER.

I happened across Vol. 2 of this biography and procrastinated on actually reading it for several months--it is a LARGE volume and I was kind of put off at the seemingly enormous task of reading the tome. Once I started reading, I stayed with it. The book is well written and I found Eleanor to be a most intriguing figure. Something that kept me interested was the similarity between the issues in the United States in Eleanor's day and the issues currently. I found myself wishing everyone would read the biography, as a kind of refresher course in history. Maybe our country's leaders could be more effective in leading our nation away from economic disaster and loss of a middle class if they were reminded of what happened in the first half of the 20th century. Volume 2 of the biography made such an impact on my thinking, I felt compelled to locate Volume 1. I have not finished reading it yet, but so far, it has not disappointed. Blanche Wiesen Cook is a thorough and skilled researcher and an excellent writer. One should not be put off at the size of the two volumes--Reading these two volumes of Eleanor Roosevelt's life is very much worth the effort!