Customer Reviews

World of Love: Eleanor Roosevelt and Her Friends, 1943-1962

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This collection of letters written by Eleanor Roosevelt from 1943-1962 documents this remarkable woman's service to mankind, and the bottomless well of compassion and love that was at the center of her being.

Of particular interest is her unusual and unfulfilled romantic attachment to two men: the author, Joseph P. Lash, and a doctor she met on a trip to Switzerland, Dr. David Gurewitsch.

The letters reveal her devotion to her children, who were a source of frequent disappointment and frustration. They also are a testament to her unbelievable energy. Mrs. Roosevelt's travel schedule, even in her final years, would be a challenge to the youngest and heartiest of globetrotters.

The book does have weaknesses. The author seems to make the assumption that the reader is either familiar with his earlier books about the Roosevelts, or has some other source of knowledge about Mrs. Roosevelt's relationships to the persons to whom she writes in A World of Love.

More background information about the recipients of the letters is needed throughout, and this is particularly true in the case of Mrs. Roosevelt's relationship to Mr. Lash and his wife, Trude. Also, the two should be included in the picture sections of the book. Perhaps the fact that they are not is a sign of the author's modesty but, nevertheless, it is a definite oversight.

A World of Love is a worthwhile read for any admirer of one of history's most dynamic and selfless women. But this book could have been a world better if the narrative had included more information about the people who were fortunate enough to attract Eleanor Roosevelt's attention and affection.