A central figure in WWII, I knew that I needed a solid biography of FDR. And that's what I got with this volume by Jean Edward Smith, culled from the mountains of books about FDR.
A great book about a great figure. My only frustration is that only the last few chapters (out of 26 total) focused on WWII. I suppose my own focus on WWII has distorted my view of the president, forgetting that his New Deal was far more original to the man.
A lot of presidents could have won WWII; few, if any, would have produced such far reaching legislation as to pull the country out of the Depression.
I'm fascinated by all of the Roosevelts, and have included Doris Kearns Goodwin's No Ordinary Time: Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II as part of my study of that war.
And I can't wait to go back to Hyde Park for another visit.
Onward.
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