In her compelling and intimate portrait, presidential historian Barbara A. Perry captures Rose Kennedys essential contributions to the incomparable Kennedy dynasty. This biographythe first to draw on an invaluable cache of Roses newly released diaries and lettersunearths the complexities behind the impeccable persona she showed the world. The woman who emerges in these pages is a fascinating character: savvy about her familys reputation and resilient enough to persevere through the unfathomable tragedies that befell her. As a young woman, she defied her father, Boston mayor John Fitzgerald, by marrying ambitious businessman Joseph Kennedy. During Joes diplomatic career, she began carefully calibrating her familys image, stage-managing photo shoots and interviews of her nine children and herself. After husband Joes isolationist views on the eve of World War II made him a political liability, Rose took to the campaign trail for son Jack. Her perfectionism, initially a response to the strictures imposed on Catholic women, ultimately created a family portrait that resonated in modern politics and media.
Perrys account looks past the fanfare, poignantly revealing the matriarchs vulnerability. Rose sought solace from crushing personal tragedies and a philandering husband in prayer, habitual shopping, travel, and medication. Initially ashamed and afraid of daughter Rosemarys mental disability, Rose ultimately shined a light on the affliction, raising millions of dollars for disabled children. An indefatigable campaigner for Jack, Bobby, and Teddy, she had an unshakable Catholic faith that informed their compassionate social policies and her daughters philanthropies.
The definitive biography, Rose Kennedy provides unequaled access to the life of a remarkable woman who witnessed a century of history and masked her familys more inconvenient truths while capturing the American imagination.
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