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Eleanor review: sensitive and superb biography of a true American giant | Biography books | The Guardian

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With a flaws-and-all study of a woman who strode the world in the name of democracy, David Michaelis hits new heights A s the 2020 US presidential election winds toward a tortuous and dysfunctional certification, it is tempting to imagine that intrigue and machinations belong only to this particular heated moment in American life and history. That would be wrong. There is always intrigue in American politics, though nothing approaching the current state of near-sedition. We would be also be wrong if we dated the role of iconic first ladies only as far back as Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, or even Jackie Kennedy. Before there was Jackie or Hillary or Michelle, there was Eleanor. Niece to one president, wife to another; activist, global citizen; mother of the Democratic party in the mid-20th century, when the mother of the party was still a thing. You will find all these identities in David Michaelis’s elegant new biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, but the beauty of this robust volume

Eleanor Roosevelt was the niece of one president, the wife of another – and a world campaigner for human rights and dignity. Photograph: Library of Congress/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Eleanor Roosevelt was the niece of one president, the wife of another – and a world campaigner for human rights and dignity. Photograph: Library of Congress/Getty Images Biography books This article is more than 5 years old Review Eleanor review: sensitive and superb biography of a true American giant This article is more than 5 years old With a flaws-and-all study of a woman who strode the world in th

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