Grandmere: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt [Hardcover]

David B. Roosevelt (Author), Manuela Dunn-Mascetti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002

Until her death when he was 20, David B Roosevelt enjoyed a close relationship with his Grandmere, Eleanor Roosevelt. Although she was admired by millions around the world, few people knew her as her loved ones did. Now David shares personal family stories and photographs that show Eleanor as she really was: passionate, vulnerable, courageous, and determined to live her private life according to the humanitarian ideals she cherished. From her unhappy, sheltered childhood to the powerful partnership forged by her marriage to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to her remarkable achievements as champion of human rights, this blend of fond remembrance and impeccable research offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the life of a fascinating woman whose legacy continues today.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Grandmere stood at the center of my childhood, and many of my fondest memories return to that idyllic time, a time that was private and intimate and in which she was simply my grandmother." Roosevelt shares these warm recollections of his grandmother Eleanor in a fond biography of a strong and resilient woman and a sweet grandmother. He remembers the bustle and excitement around Eleanor when he spent holidays at her beloved home, Val-Kill, in New York's Hudson Valley. While he renders the generally well-known facts of Eleanor's life, it is the personal touches, drawing on his own memories and those of other family members, that distinguish this account, for instance, her confiding in the author's Aunt Anna that "like all women of [the late Victorian] era, she was taught that sex was an ordeal to be borne" and that sex had been for Eleanor "an extremely difficult part of married life." There is, however, not as much of this personal insight as one would hope for. The book's strength may be in the pictures from family collections. Overall, this is a touching, human-size account of a woman who seemed larger than life. (Oct.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

David B. Roosevelt lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; First edition. edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446527343
• ISBN-13: 978-0446527347
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #908,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( R ) > Roosevelt, Eleanor

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars insightful and interesting, August 3, 2008

By 

Miss Lee "book lover" (Boyertown, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grandmere: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt (Hardcover)

Grandmere is a lovely inside look into the life of Eleanor Roosevelt from the point of view of her grandson David. He covers events in his grandmothers life with honesty and facts while still showing tenderness and fondness. The many family photos were especially interesting. The book also quotes Eleanor and Franklin's own children on different subjects concerning their parents that only immediate family would know. A pleasant read for sure.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing New!, March 5, 2003

By 

Linda Shookster (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grandmere: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt (Hardcover)

This rather short coffee-table book is most notable for its collection of photos of Eleanor Roosevelt and her family. The photos are extensive, and a few have not been seen before by non-historians like myself. Otherwise, there was almost nothing new to be learned about this very remarkable and intelligent woman, much to my disappointment! Most amazing was that her grandson actually admitted that he was ignorant of her role on the public stage until her death when he was 20 years old!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Three and a half stars..., January 22, 2010

By 

Cynthia K. Robertson (beverly, new jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grandmère: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt (Paperback)

When I first started Grandmere: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt by her grandson, David B. Roosevelt (along with Manuela Dunn-Mascetti), I was most impressed. It also has an introduction by Mike Wallace and a forward by Allida M. Black. There is a lot to like in Grandmere, although there are some problems with accuracy in places. Still, it's a good place for someone to start who knows very little about Eleanor Roosevelt and wants to learn more.

David Roosevelt is the son of FDR and Eleanor's son, Elliott. He never got to really know FDR, being only three years old when the president died. But when Eleanor passed away 17 years later, David decided to start "a personal journey to learn more about my grandmother and her life, and in so doing to perhaps try to learn more about myself." Eleanor was always Grandmere to her children (French for Grandmother). As David Roosevelt began his quest, he realized that Eleanor was much more than just his grandmother. In fact, she was one of the most powerful women in the world--a tireless worker and advocate for the poor, the oppressed, women, minorities, and the working class.

The author starts this journey with the first Roosevelt to settle in New Amsterdam (now New York), Claes Martenszen van Rosenvelt circa 1613. Looking at Eleanor's childhood, the tragedies she faced, and her quiet insecurity, it is amazing that she developed into the leader that she did. David doesn't hold back and attributes his grandmother's development to FDR's affair with Lucy Mercer (which changed the conditions of their marriage) and FDR contracting polio. In fact, "By the time Franklin ran for governor of New York, Eleanor was far better positioned than he, knew more political leaders and activists, and was more versed in all the important issues of the day. Her influence on women's issues--education, labor, health, and welfare--was one of Franklin's strongest assets and helped him to form his most progressive social policies for the entirety of his career." Upon FDR's death, her sphere of influence broadened with her involvement in the United Nations and her chairing of the committee that created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In writing Grandmere, David fills the book with family stories and quotes as well as many never before published photographs. It is obvious that he writes this book not just with admiration but also with love. I was happy to see that he gives Louis Howe the credit he deserves for the success of both FDR and Eleanor. I also enjoyed reading about how Val-Kill was almost lost to development and how it was saved as a historic site. But Grandmere is not without some issues. There are some minor problems with accuracy, and David tends to look at his father and uncles through a rose-colored lens. But what really disturbed me was that the author misspelled Lucy Mercy Rutherfurd's name, over and over again. It's Rutherfurd, not Rutherford!

But overall, Grandmere was an enjoyable book and there were even a few unknown nuggets here for a reader well-versed in Eleanor Roosevelt.