A Review of "Franklin Delano Roosevelt" by Roy Jenkins This is a brief review
of "Franklin Delano Roosevelt" written by Roy Jenkins, foreword by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jnr., publisher, Macmillan, 2003. Roy Jenkins was a bestselling British author, distinguished writer, especially biographies. He was author of twenty-one books, including Churchill, the British Book Awards biography of the year 2003 and Gladstone , winner of the Whitbread Prize for Biography.
The short biography of Roosevelt by Jenkins is fascinating and brilliant as it provides many insights put together from other Roosevelt biography books. Aside from the author's mastery of writing biographies of prominent statesmen, Jenkins was a partisan of the Anglo-American liberal tradition that also shaped Roosevelt, and therefore, had the open window to understand Roosevelt politically and intellectually.
Being British, Jenkins was a foreigner able to view impartially FDR's successes, as well as failures, from a distance. He knew how to approach delicate matters with a gentler touch where other writers would have treaded with less eloquence. For example, in referring to Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood environment, "a house of mirth atmosphere," is more than enough to convey on the subject.
His facts and quotations are carefully chosen, nevertheless distinctive. FDR was the dominant president of the twentieth century who helped the United States become the most influential world power. In Roy Jenkins' mastery of prose and knowledge, he is able to brilliantly convey the intricate and complex character of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with perfect blend.
This short brilliant book, "Franklin Delano Roosevelt," also includes FDR's milestone at the back, an added informational treat.