|
No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II (平装)
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
| Category:
World War II, American history, Leadership |
| Market price: ¥ 208.00
MSL price:
¥ 198.00
[ Shop incentives ]
|
| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A superbly moving and readable narrative, this book is a compelling portrait of an extraordinary couple. |
| If you want us to help you with the right titles you're looking for, or to make reading recommendations based on your needs, please contact our consultants. |
|
| |
AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
|
|
New York Times (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
Goodwin has pulled off the double trick of making Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt seem so monumental as to have come from a very distant past, and at the same time so vital as to have been alive only yesterday.
|
|
|
Kirkus Reviews (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
A superb dual portrait of the 32nd President and his First Lady, whose extraordinary partnership steered the nation through the perilous WW II years. In the period covered by this biography, 1940 through Franklin's death in 1949, FDR was elected to unprecedented third and fourth terms and nudged the country away from isolationism into war. It is by now a given that Eleanor was not only an indispensable adviser to this ebullient, masterful statesman, but a political force in her own right. More than most recent historians, however, Goodwin (The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys, 1987) is uncommonly sensitive to their complex relationship's shifting undercurrents, which ranged from deep mutual respect to lingering alienation caused by FDR's infidelity. One element creating tension was tactical politics: FDR, seeing increased arms production as crucial to the war effort, sought to close the divide between businessmen and his administration, while Eleanor prodded him not to forget about labor, civil rights, and Jewish refugees. As grateful as he was to her for acting as his political eyes and ears, Franklin also could react testily to her unremitting lobbying at times when he desperately needed relief from the strains of running the war effort. Equally fascinating here are the often semi-permanent White House guests who filled the couple's "untended needs": their daughter and four sons; FDR alter ego Harry Hopkins, shaking off grave illness to go on critical diplomatic missions; Franklin's secretary Missy LeHand, prevented by a stroke from serving the man she loved; exiled Princess Martha of Norway, who gave Franklin the unqualified affection of which Eleanor was incapable; two of Eleanor's confidantes, future biographer Joe Lash and the lesbian ex-journalist Lorena Hickok; and Winston Churchill. A moving drama of patchwork intimacy in the White House, played out against the sweeping tableau of the nation rallying behind a great crusade. |
|
|
A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
My parents and their generation grew up during the Depression and WWII, and said that Franklin Roosevelt was the difference with his upbeat attitude and sound leadership, giving the country the confidence needed to overcome all obstacles. He was not afraid to lead and take chances, they told me, and was for them the most revered patriot in the history of our country.
I finally decided to read a book that might give me some perspective on this. Were my parents right in their assessment, or was this mythological thinking, making something better in retrospect than it was in real time?
So I turned to this carefully researched and crafted, and Pulitzer Prize winning account of that time, No Ordinary Time. The book found FDR to be complex, charming, hard-to-know, optimistic, resilient, crafty, and ruthless when necessary; in other words, FDR was a master politician. His vision and timing were impeccable and he was fearless, as he navigated the stormiest waters of the 20th century. I found him, by this book's account, to justify the admiration of my parents, even with 60 to 70 years perspective.
Doris Kearns Goodwin gives us a stroll through his life, stopping here and there to go into the history of an event or the background of a key person. It was a little bit soap opera with the various relationships FDR and Eleanor had, not only with each other, but with others they loved. She and Franklin had parted intimate ways just after WWI because of an extended affair FDR had with a certain Lucy Mercer, and so they both sought intimacy elsewhere. It seems that none of the relationships were sexual, including, of course, the one between FDR and Eleanor; and at least one was a lesbian affair. FDR and Eleanor truly loved each other, but it's a mystery how they kept their marriage going. Their relationship is one of the most important mysteries of American political history, as they both put together patched-up personal lives to compensate for the failed marriage.
All of this proves that the President and his First Lady were very human and depended on each other. For the crippled Franklin, Eleanor was his eyes and ears to what was really going on throughout the country; and for Eleanor, it was a way of pressing for her social concerns. In fact, her efforts sowed some of the seeds that fomented the Civil Rights movement in the 60's.
Franklin was very good at keeping his own counsel, and hardly ever showed his hand until he announced a decision. Also, he took chances, especially in supplying England early in the war when our resources at home were almost completely decimated by the Depression. He was able to pump up production of war materials in the US to record levels, by navigating the tricky waters between unions and big business. (In fact, the book says that our production, more than our military manpower, was the reason we won the War.) He was able to bring out our best. He was also adept at dealing with our allies, notably the great but high-strung Churchill, and the mysterious and deadly Stalin.
Eleanor was also truly remarkable. She was tireless in her liberal causes for the under-classes (women, minorities, the poor) and set a standard for First Ladies that has never been equaled. She was better with crowds, making speeches, than one-on-one, and had a more difficult time with personal relationships. She did not seem to be able to reveal her true self even to those closest to her. That said, you couldn't help but be impressed with her tireless drive and dedication. The Presidency would not have been as successful if not for her.
I can't imagine the amount of research that went into this book. Doris Kearns Goodwin deserved the Pulitzer Prize for it. It was a great read about a great subject.
FDR and Eleanor were no ordinary couple!
|
|
|
Shawn Sullivan (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
Doris Kearns Goodwin is simply at her best in No Ordinary Time. It is a wonderful historical narrative of what went on inside the White House during the Depression, the years leading up to the war and WWII itself. Dr. Goodwin picked a topic and added an immense amount of research and color to it. She manages to astutely put the reader into the Roosevelt White house and the relationship between these two towering figures. Yet she never allows the reader to lose site of the bigger picture, always seemlessly bringing a broader historical framework back into her pages. Her depiction of FDR's true leadership but failure at in-depth human relationships is well done. Her look at the pioneering Elenor Roosevelt and her inability to slow down and deal with a marriage even after a near failure in its very nascent stages, her desire to influence her husband to keep the social progress of the New Deal alive when his hands were beyond full leading an all-encompassing war effort and her jealousies of women with social graces is truly terrific stuff. Literally all the players that set both the world stage are there with much of her attention at the White House where friends, family, advisors, lovers, and world leaders lived and stayed and created a dynamic that literally shaped U.S. policy during this incredible period of world history.
One could go on about how well each topic is covered. Suffice it to say this is one well done book. If the reader desires to learn more about another relationship that greatly effected the war effort, I would recommend Franklin and Winston by Jon Meacham or, for a broader and terrific work on the period, Freedom From Fear by David M. Kennedy (part of the Oxford History of the United States). For a great couple of historical fiction pieces I would pick up Winds of War and War and Rememberence by Herman Wouk (don't let a poor televions mini-series poison your view of a couple of terrific novels that give you a feel for a period that even the best writers of narrative history, simply cannot given the purpose of their writings). |
|
|
A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
A fascinating and very informative look behind the scenes of the White House during WWII. To someone who tried to learn about WWII from relatives who were involuntarily fighting on the German side (they refused to speak about it) and from going to school at a German-government funded high school in the 70ies (our history teachers covered the Romans and Greeks over and over but stopped our history classes at WWI, possibly because the German goverment and German universities were not sure how to present WWII to their future history school teachers) Goodwin's books filled many knowledge gaps in this reader. The story was made more endearing as the main characters were portrayed as human beings, with their emotions, hopes, strong points and weaknesses. E. Roosevelt in 'This I Remember' utterly forgets to mention Lucy Mercer (what an inappropriately chosen book title) while Goodwin's anaylsis makes it abundantly clear what an effect Lucy's affair with Frankin and Lucy's subsequent presence at his death had on Eleanor (wouldn't anyone in Eleanor's shoes be incredibly hurt? On the other hand, the reader can also symphathize with Franklin. He had, on numerous occasions, ask for his wife's companionship).
Would I have voluntarily swapped places with Eleanor or Franklin? No, but I am sure glad they existed. Especially Eleanor kept the human conscience focused on the important issues. And Goodwin's book clearly delineates both Eleanor's and Franklin Roosevelt's effect or lack thereof on human rights of the Japanese-Americans, Jews and black Americans.
Well written, gripping and the best part about this book was that it is a huge tome and thus will provide days and days and days of reading pleasure. |
|
|
R. Corby (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
This is one of the finest books I have ever read about America's involvement in World War II. Not only has Goodwin thoroughly researched her subject, but she knows how to tell it in an easily readable, "can't put it down" manner. Writing an informative, wonderfully illustrative book about the home front during mankind's biggest, deadliest war is a feat, but making readers feel as if they are actually living and experiencing that time is another accomplishment altogether. Goodwin does this in a book that will be read hundreds of years from now.
Anyone who wishes to get the feel for what it was like during this tumultuous time should buy this book, read it, and then read it again.
Many people of FDR's inner circle are profiled and narrated, including Lucy Mercer, the woman FDR fell in love with and nearly divorced Eleanor over; Missy LeHand, FDR's personal assistant whom many referred to as his "real" wife; as well as Ikes, Morgenthau, Stimson and most importantly, Harry Hopkins.
Goodwin also debunks some myths about the FDR presidency, both good and bad. Some World War II "Did You Know" tidbits covered:
1. Nearly 105,000 refugees from Nazism reached the U.S., more than any other country. Palestine was second with 55,000. No one disputes that the number should have been much, much higher, but today's attitudes would lead people to believe that we turned everyone away. Footnote - during FDR's presidency, only 3 percent of the population was Jewish - but 15 percent of his appointments were Jewish. Our greatest wartime president was no Anti-Semite.
2. The journey of the St. Louis. The author gives adequate attention to one of the great tragedies of the war, and an enormous stain on FDR's legacy.
3. Goodwin thoroughly covers the internment of Japanese-Americans - another enormous stain on FDR's presidency. But what is often ignored is the overwhelming pressure on FDR from a tremendous number of people to confine anyone even remotely related to the Japanese. This should not have mattered to FDR, and tragically, it did. One can only wonder if this was part of FDR's dealmaking mentality to accomplish many of his goals to prepare for and wage war. Quite possibly, if he didn't go along with this tragic idea, he many not have received cooperation on many of his other initiatives. People also tend to forget that this was all out war following a tragic, unprovoked attack. Many of the same things are happening to people of Arab decent following the 9/11 attacks, and the Bush administration doesn't hesitate to throw the rule book or Constitution out the window with people of Arab decent, all in the name of fighting terrorism. Rooting out sympathizers and spies was a principle reason in confining the Japanese. This is not a justification for internment, merely part of the reason.
4. Eleanor played a big role in trying to convince Congress to pass legislation that allowed British children to come to the U.S. so they could be out of harm's way during the bombing of Britian. William Schulte of Indiana tried to get the provision expanded to include all European children under 16 - including German Jewish children. The provision never made it to the Senate floor for a vote.
Goodwin also covers FDR's reasoning and motives behind lend-lease, the brilliant idea to provide war matriel to the Allies when they couldn't afford it. Even Stalin said that lend-lease was one of the biggest factors in winning the war.
In short, this is one of the most informative and educational books written yet about what the home front was like, and the thinking and wisdom that went into many of the decisions about the war. It also offers many wonderful insights into FDR and Eleanor, and their complex relationship that was really more of a partnership.
This brilliant tome belongs on any World War II bookshelf. I'd give it six stars if I could.
|
|
|
Pete Agren (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
Although I am an avid history reader, I'd recommend Goodwin's No Ordinary Time, to most readers. Goodwin does not write in the typical non-fiction writing-style by not continually delivering fact after fact. She will dig into the story, isn't afraid to offer opinions from other historians, will often share a first-person quote from letters, interviews, etc.; and will not shy from surmising her own hypotheses on the subject matter.
Although the book solely focuses on the Roosevelts during World War II with only passing mention to the New Deal and the Depression, the main body of the text is on the relationship between FDR and Eleanor and their concerted effort to win the war while bettering the American way of life at the same time. With Franklin, Goodwin examines his determination to beat fascism, both before the United States' involvement and after Germany declared war on the US. Key players such as Harry Hopkins, Henry Stimson, George Marshall, Winston Churchill and others make continual appearances in the book.
Looking at Eleanor, Goodwin concentrates on her work with the OCD and her persistence at improving civil rights and women's issues. Goodwin does not shy from entering family business, and writes at length about FDR and Eleanor's unconventional relationship, their troubles with their parents, children and in-laws and FDR's early-marriage affair. Goodwin even tackles the controversial topic of Eleanor's alleged alternative lifestyle in very good taste by not gossiping but delivering factual information without jumping to conclusions.
Missing from the book is any military view of the war so it helps to know some of the background of the WWII military theaters but is not necessary to still enjoy No Ordinary Time. (I'd recommend Robert Leckie's Delivered From Evil for that aspect). The diplomacy view is also lacking as, for example, Goodwin spends more time on the controversy of Eleanor not going to the Tehran Conference, than the actual issues at the conference itself.
That said, I still enjoyed this Pulitzer Prize-winning book and was quite impressed with the amount of information I learned on one of America's greatest president's and the effort this nation put forth on the home front to win the war.
- In case any readers of No Ordinary Time become interested in the colorful Winston Churchill, I highly recommend William Raymond Manchester's The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Alone 1932-1940. Although it covers Churchill before the war, it is written in much the same fashion of Goodwin's book in that it covers both the daily life as well as the international issues. Sadly, Manchester passed on before finishing his third installment in this incredible series.
|
|
|
Suzanne Prichard (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
I usually read mostly fiction, and I bought this book after reading about it in Oprah magazine (it's one of Judy Mueller's favorites). I agree with a lot of what other reviewers have said about this book, and especially of Doris Kearns Goodwin's considerable talent for telling history in the most fascinating and unsentimental way. What I'd like to add for those who may be considering the book is this: if you usually read fiction and you are looking for something new and utterly interesting, get this book. It's well written, researched and just a great read. I was sad when I finished it, like you sometimes feel after you finish a great book of fiction, when you feel like you miss the characters. (Has this happened to you?) Also, the topic of the book - fighting a war against a fascist aggressor - from the POV of the homefront is very timely when you consider the "war" we're fighting now, and how Americans are again being asked to set aside our isolationist tendencies and work to make the world safer. Having read this book, I feel I've got a lot more perspective about the situation.
|
|
|
Wayne Smith (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
Doris Kearns Goodwin has written a very enjoyable book. It takes a different view of presidential history by focusing on the family life of Franklin and Elanor Roosevelt and the life enjoyed by their official family during their White House years.
By focusing on the perosnal side, this book provides glimpses at facets of the Roosevelt story that are either ignored by standard histories or covered in passing. That is not to say this book is not serious history - it is - just from a different vantage point. One is much more likely to learn about FDR the man (and Eleanor the woman) than thay would in say James McGreggor Burn's excellent FDR biography. There are also excellent passages on their relationships with the luminaries who made the time... Churchill, Hopkins, Ikes and the New Deal crew. Since so much related to getting things done revolves around relationships, this focus helps in the understanding of how the great events of the 1930's came to be.
The gossipy stuff is in here too - affairs, the questions surrounding Eleanor's "friends" and FDR's personal foibles and habits. Goodwin to her credit does not treat these issues salaciously, but as part of the story to understanding the Roosevelts.
She is an excellent author and has produced a very enjoyable history of her subjects. Can't wait for her upcoming book on the day to day activities of President Lincoln. It she meets this standard, that will be a fascinating book.
|
|
|
|
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
