Product Description

"[Levy’s] recollections are delightful, loving, and unique."–New York Times

"A lovely, loving memoir."–Blanche Wiesen Cook, Winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize for Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884—1933, Vol. 1

"[A] loving remembrance."–Kirkus Reviews

One of the most admired women of the twentieth century, Eleanor Roosevelt will always be remembered for her remarkable achievements as First Lady, United Nations official, and passionate advocate for the causes she held close to her heart. Now, through fascinating anecdotes, many of them totally fresh, William Turner Levy–a close friend of the former First Lady–gives us an intimate look at Eleanor Roosevelt and the way she viewed the world. And with the help of acclaimed historian Cynthia Eagle Russett, we also see Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in shaping American and international politics. In this rare book, we gain a cherished glimpse of the extraordinary Mrs. R–as if she were our friend, too. An enchanting portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt in all her human dimensions–with fascinating anecdotes of the people she knew and loved–this refreshing and affectionate memoir reveals the fun-loving, intelligent, and vibrant woman behind the public persona.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1111620 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

From Kirkus Reviews
A stiff but loving remembrance of the First Lady from an Episcopal clergyman who became a close friend in the last decade of her life. Levy (co-author with Victor Scherle of Affectionately, T.S. Eliot, 1968, etc.) was then a young teacher of English at City College of New York and a collector of Roosevelt memorabilia. He wrote to Mrs. Roosevelt inquiring for some details of the history of his purchases; she invited him to tea. From that first meeting evolved a relationship that encompassed many weekends at Val-Kill, Mrs. Roosevelt's retreat in Hyde Park, as well as dinners and social occasions at the home of Levy's parents. As their friendship deepened, Levy was often a guest at more formal events, where heads of state like Yugoslavia's President Tito and the USSR's Nikita Khrushchev, among others, paid their respects to Mrs. Roosevelt at Hyde Park. Other visits coincided with Levy's continuing research at the Hyde Park Library on FDR's religious beliefs and allowed the two friends time to exchange anecdotes and reflections in leisurely fashion. On these occasions, Levy heard, for instance, Eleanor's astute analysis of Nixon's motives in informing supporters early on of President Eisenhower's heart attack (they would benefit from stock market fluctuations and be indebted to Nixon), and of her refusal to support John F. Kennedy for president until he strengthened his commitment to ``basic tenets of the Democratic party.'' There are also personal glimpsesdescriptions of her hearty appetite, wide-ranging late-night discussions of literature and Scripture over a snack of fruit, and personal reminiscences about her husband and her childhood. Credit co-author Russett, a Yale historian, with organizing the chronology of the friendship and giving it historical weight. An appropriately treasured friendship recalled in labored prose. (b&w photos, not seen) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From the Back Cover
"[Levy's] recollections are delightful, loving, and unique."-New York Times

"A lovely, loving memoir."-Blanche Wiesen Cook, Winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize for Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884--1933, Vol. 1

"[A] loving remembrance."-Kirkus Reviews

One of the most admired women of the twentieth century, Eleanor Roosevelt will always be remembered for her remarkable achievements as First Lady, United Nations official, and passionate advocate for the causes she held close to her heart. Now, through fascinating anecdotes, many of them totally fresh, William Turner Levy-a close friend of the former First Lady-gives us an intimate look at Eleanor Roosevelt and the way she viewed the world. And with the help of acclaimed historian Cynthia Eagle Russett, we also see Eleanor Roosevelt's role in shaping American and international politics. In this rare book, we gain a cherished glimpse of the extraordinary Mrs. R-as if she were our friend, too. An enchanting portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt in all her human dimensions-with fascinating anecdotes of the people she knew and loved-this refreshing and affectionate memoir reveals the fun-loving, intelligent, and vibrant woman behind the public persona.

About the Author
WILLIAM TURNER LEVY taught literature at the City College and the City University of New York for thirty years. He has taught for the past nineteen years at the Viewpoint School in Calabasas, California, where he is Provost. He is coauthor of Affectionately, T. S. Eliot: The Story of a Friendship, 1947—1965.
CYNTHIA EAGLE RUSSETT is Professor of History at Yale University, specializing in American cultural and women’s history. Author of Sexual Science: The Victorian Construction of Womanhood, she was cowinner of the 1989 Berkshire Conference of Women Historians Book Award.

Customer Reviews

A LOVING MEMOIR OF A FRIENDSHIP WITH MRS. ROOSEVELT
This short magical book, with 30 intmate photographs, does a great service to all who may have wished they had known Mrs. Roosevelt(The "Mrs.R" of the title). The author, William Turner Levy, reveals, in the affectionate telling of his longstanding friendship with Mrs. R, very touching and human dimensions to the already very detailed and historic portrait of Mrs. Roosevelt. It is through his enchanting and loving memoir, told through short delightful anadotes, that I gained new insights and perspectives into the private life and personality of Mrs. R. Indeed, not only did I gain nuance, I gained a strong emotional sense of who this woman really was. The excellent comments incorporated throughout the book of Cynthia Eagle Russet, a professor of history at Yale University, provided valuable historical and contextual insight into the significance of the role of Mrs. Roosevelt in shaping history and politics. I highly recommend this charming book to all those interested in Mrs. R and a part of American history coming alive in new and fascinating ways.