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13 reviews for:
The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back
Shannon McKenna Schmidt
4.1 AVERAGE
13 reviews for:
The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back
Shannon McKenna Schmidt
4.1 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Schmidt wrote a very detailed account of Eleanor Roosevelt’s difficult and dangerous trip to conduct inspections for the Red Cross and visit allies in the South Pacific in 1943.
I gained a new appreciation for the hard-working, determined woman she was. I especially liked the insights into what life experiences had formed Eleanor and how this journey affected her during and afterward to work for peace and to provide for the people who served in the war. – Stacy M.
I gained a new appreciation for the hard-working, determined woman she was. I especially liked the insights into what life experiences had formed Eleanor and how this journey affected her during and afterward to work for peace and to provide for the people who served in the war. – Stacy M.
Really loved this book! I'm a huge fan of Eleanor Roosevelt but never knew about this trip she took to the Pacific theater. It doesn't gloss over painful moments like when she found out her husband was cheating on her but it shows her real courage in dedication to her role as first lady. It was really cool to hear how her affection and attention to the troops in these remote areas of the fight, were affected. The book goes into great detail about the difficulties that these troops were facing but also their courage. Eleanor Roosevelt had a real effect on these "boys" as the book calls them and not just in the moments but even after she returned, she was dedicated to making sure legislation was passed to support them, once the war was over. The story details her work at the UN, to ensure that countries could work out their difficulties through peaceful means. Sure, there was a lot of idealism that looking at where we are today in the world, it's tempting to be skeptical about her work but honestly, it just makes me wish that we someone like Eleanor around today.
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Very informative about the strong character of Eleanor Roosevelt and World War Two in the Pacific.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Not many people know what a remarkable woman Eleanor Roosevelt was. This book relates a trip that forever changed her. She lost 30 pounds and had a deep depression afterwards from witnessing so much pain and suffering of our troops.
Eleanor Roosevelt did a month long tour of the Southwest Pacific from mid August to mid September of 1943. It was done in secrecy until she showed up in New Zealand. No aides, no security. Just her dressed in a Red Cross uniform. She was 59 years old when she performed this feat, leaving younger men exhausted in her wake.
Admiral Halsey wanted nothing to do with her and initially disapproved her trip to Guadalcanal. Off she went to Australia. MacArthur wanted nothing to with her as he was thought to a possible GOP candidate for president. She was what we now call an influencer publishing a column in the newspaper. She was also a lightning rod for racists and conservatives who disapproved of her ardent advocacy for equal rights for African Americans and her inability to sit at home where a woman’s place allegedly was. She was decades ahead of her time and the hateful criticism reminded me of what Hillary Clinton currently faces. Propaganda or disinformation as we now call it was rampant about her. However, she routinely disarmed and transformed critics into allies. Halsey saw her sincerity and devotion to visiting the wounded and allowed her to visit Guadalcanal and embraced her as the real deal.
Lots of good came from her visit. Just the communication and networking she performed with service men and their families was one. However, the GI Bill is another. Truman appointed her to the United Nations where she served two terms.
A short and well written read of a trip that too few people know about and that had far reaching consequences for post war America.
Eleanor Roosevelt did a month long tour of the Southwest Pacific from mid August to mid September of 1943. It was done in secrecy until she showed up in New Zealand. No aides, no security. Just her dressed in a Red Cross uniform. She was 59 years old when she performed this feat, leaving younger men exhausted in her wake.
Admiral Halsey wanted nothing to do with her and initially disapproved her trip to Guadalcanal. Off she went to Australia. MacArthur wanted nothing to with her as he was thought to a possible GOP candidate for president. She was what we now call an influencer publishing a column in the newspaper. She was also a lightning rod for racists and conservatives who disapproved of her ardent advocacy for equal rights for African Americans and her inability to sit at home where a woman’s place allegedly was. She was decades ahead of her time and the hateful criticism reminded me of what Hillary Clinton currently faces. Propaganda or disinformation as we now call it was rampant about her. However, she routinely disarmed and transformed critics into allies. Halsey saw her sincerity and devotion to visiting the wounded and allowed her to visit Guadalcanal and embraced her as the real deal.
Lots of good came from her visit. Just the communication and networking she performed with service men and their families was one. However, the GI Bill is another. Truman appointed her to the United Nations where she served two terms.
A short and well written read of a trip that too few people know about and that had far reaching consequences for post war America.
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
It meandered a bit - still interesting, but made me wonder how much of the asides were relevant to add context vs. simply there to bulk up a trip that might not have provided enough of its own details for a full book.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced