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bargainsleuth's review against another edition
2.0
Much like Volume 2, this book really only covers a few years, from 1939 to 1945 when FDR died. The last 17 years of ER's life are given one short chapter, even though that is when she did some of her most important work. Very disappointing.
k80uva's review
4.0
A powerful conclusion to Blanche Cook's Eleanor Roosevelt trilogy. I was surprised that the overwhelming emphasis of the book is 1938-1942, detailing ER's struggles against isolationism, the American hostility to refugees, and her attempts to maintain the New Deal's progress in the face of wartime politics. Her post-FDR career as international human rights advocate, increasingly outspoken civil rights activist, and independent political figure are treated as an epilogue--for more in-depth coverage of this period in her life, you should read Joe Lash's "Eleanor: The Years Alone". But ultimately, I think the choice makes sense and is an especially timely read in this current moment when we risk repeating the mistakes of the past by turning away from our responsibility to shelter refugees. Throughout the book, Eleanor Roosevelt's strength and courage are palpable, and the issues feel chillingly relevant today.
debbiecuddy's review
5.0
This was an excellent look at Eleanor Roosevelt's life during the war and after. Eleanor Roosevelt is truly an inspiration and led an amazing life; she overcame many obstacles and persevered. I learned very little about her in school-the only thing I remember is a remembrance assembly when she died-so, I set myself the goal of reading this three volume biography earlier this year.
Not only did I learn about ER's life, I learned 20th century history as well. What saddens me is how little our country has changed, we are still plagued by racism, sexism, anti-semitism, and other prejudices. We still turn a blind eye to the horrific suffering of refugees and argue that they pose too much of a threat to us if we help them. We still give preference to the very wealthy and large corporations at the expense of individuals. We are still reluctant to provide our citizens with health care, education, adequate food & housing, & a decent wage. In spite of my sadness, Eleanor Roosevelt's life is an example for me to follow in my own small way and I will think of her when I continue to work to make things better in my own community.
Not only did I learn about ER's life, I learned 20th century history as well. What saddens me is how little our country has changed, we are still plagued by racism, sexism, anti-semitism, and other prejudices. We still turn a blind eye to the horrific suffering of refugees and argue that they pose too much of a threat to us if we help them. We still give preference to the very wealthy and large corporations at the expense of individuals. We are still reluctant to provide our citizens with health care, education, adequate food & housing, & a decent wage. In spite of my sadness, Eleanor Roosevelt's life is an example for me to follow in my own small way and I will think of her when I continue to work to make things better in my own community.
cynthiabemisabrams's review
4.0
Like many, I powered through the first two volumes of this series and then paused for the third to be published. Cook is a wonderful writer and her research on ER is definitive, extensive and perhaps most importantly... was conducted with a woman's curiosity.
However, she toiled in some areas of ER's life more than others. Perhaps there was just more original source material for ER's public life than her private or family experiences. Bottom line, I completed the book feeling inspired and connected to this magnificent woman. For students and readers interested in America's rise of feminism and activism or the power of systemic racism pre-Civil Rights era, ER is an important woman to understand and study.
However, she toiled in some areas of ER's life more than others. Perhaps there was just more original source material for ER's public life than her private or family experiences. Bottom line, I completed the book feeling inspired and connected to this magnificent woman. For students and readers interested in America's rise of feminism and activism or the power of systemic racism pre-Civil Rights era, ER is an important woman to understand and study.
lkshedlin's review against another edition
2.0
really wanted to like it - I am interested in the time period and I loved her prior two volumes, but I could not get through this. It was nothing more than page after page of what an extraordinary person she was
rincey's review
3.0
3.5 stars because only 20 pages at the end of the book are devoted to her life after FDR passed away, which is when she did a lot of really great/amazing work.
See me talk about it briefly in my January wrap up: https://youtu.be/FXvc5r6ELYE?t=49s
See me talk about it briefly in my January wrap up: https://youtu.be/FXvc5r6ELYE?t=49s
librarianonparade's review
3.0
This final volume of Blanche Wiesen Cook's three-part biography of Eleanor Roosevelt disappointed me. Not so much for the writing or research or approach, all of which are just as good in this book as the previous two, but purely for reasons of content.
For all intents and purposes, Cook finishes up with FDR's death in 1945 - the remaining 17 years of Eleanor's life are dealt with in a single relatively short epilogue chapter. Yet arguably some of Eleanor's most important work was done in these years, such as her work with the UN, human rights and civil rights, and these were the first years of her life when she stood independent and free to act as she chose, not bound by family ties or political expediency. And bear in mind that the entirety of the rest of the book covers just six years otherwise, from 1939 to 1945. So why skate over 17 years of Eleanor's life in one chapter?
How did Eleanor mourn and move on after FDR's death? You won't find that here. How did she cope with moving out of the White House? What did she do with the apartment she had bought for FDR's retirement? No idea. Cook mentions that in her later years Eleanor was devoted to Dr David Gurewitsch, but who he was and how they met remains a mystery in this book. The death of Eleanor's lifelong secretary and companion Tommy is dealt with in a single sentence. Who was with Eleanor when she died? What did she die of? What was the funeral like? What was the reaction to her death? Nothing. There's enough material here for an entire other volume, but it's as though Cook got bored of her subject mid-way through this book and just couldn't be bothered anymore.
When a woman's biography effectively finishes with the death of her husband, even when she lived close to another two decades after him, it's hard to escape the implication that her only significance came through that husband, rather than her own merits. This seems like a betrayal, almost, of everything Eleanor Roosevelt stood for. Eleanor Roosevelt was standing up for causes, fighting for social justice, for the poor and the oppressed, long before FDR became President. She was so much more than just FDR's wife, America's First Lady. She was important in her own right, earned the respect, authority and affection bestowed on her by her own actions, not's FDR's. This is supposedly a biography of her life, not her marriage, so to effectively stop writing in 1945 and just 'sum up' everything that came after is immensely disappointing.
For all intents and purposes, Cook finishes up with FDR's death in 1945 - the remaining 17 years of Eleanor's life are dealt with in a single relatively short epilogue chapter. Yet arguably some of Eleanor's most important work was done in these years, such as her work with the UN, human rights and civil rights, and these were the first years of her life when she stood independent and free to act as she chose, not bound by family ties or political expediency. And bear in mind that the entirety of the rest of the book covers just six years otherwise, from 1939 to 1945. So why skate over 17 years of Eleanor's life in one chapter?
How did Eleanor mourn and move on after FDR's death? You won't find that here. How did she cope with moving out of the White House? What did she do with the apartment she had bought for FDR's retirement? No idea. Cook mentions that in her later years Eleanor was devoted to Dr David Gurewitsch, but who he was and how they met remains a mystery in this book. The death of Eleanor's lifelong secretary and companion Tommy is dealt with in a single sentence. Who was with Eleanor when she died? What did she die of? What was the funeral like? What was the reaction to her death? Nothing. There's enough material here for an entire other volume, but it's as though Cook got bored of her subject mid-way through this book and just couldn't be bothered anymore.
When a woman's biography effectively finishes with the death of her husband, even when she lived close to another two decades after him, it's hard to escape the implication that her only significance came through that husband, rather than her own merits. This seems like a betrayal, almost, of everything Eleanor Roosevelt stood for. Eleanor Roosevelt was standing up for causes, fighting for social justice, for the poor and the oppressed, long before FDR became President. She was so much more than just FDR's wife, America's First Lady. She was important in her own right, earned the respect, authority and affection bestowed on her by her own actions, not's FDR's. This is supposedly a biography of her life, not her marriage, so to effectively stop writing in 1945 and just 'sum up' everything that came after is immensely disappointing.
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