Traitor to His Class

August 18, 2008
It is unfortunate for University of Texas historian Brands (Andrew Jackson
) that his serviceable biography of Franklin Roosevelt comes on the heels of Jean Smith's magisterial Francis Parkman Prize winner, FDR
(2007). Still, Brands provides an entirely adequate narrative detailing the well-known facts of Roosevelt's life. We have the young Knickerbocker aristocrat somewhat tentatively entering the dog-eat-dog world of local Democratic politics in New York's Hudson Valley. We have him embarking on a marriage with his cousin Eleanor that was fated to be politically successful but personally disastrous. We also have the somewhat spoiled son of privilege facing the first real battle of his life—polio—and emerging with greatly enhanced fortitude and empathy. Appropriately, Brands gives two-thirds of his book to FDR's presidency and its two most dramatic events: the domestic war against devastating economic depression (fought with tools that many in America's upper classes considered socialist), and the international war against Axis power aggression. It is fitting that Roosevelt commands the amount of scholarly attention that he does, but sad that so much is wholly redundant with what has come before. 16 pages of photos.

October 1, 2008
According to the rankings of most scholars, FDR is the greatest American President of the 20th century. Brands (Univ. of Texas, Austin; "Andrew Jackson") helps us understand why. Bringing his historical and biographical skills to the task of sifting through a huge number of earlier books on FDR, he provides a broad yet nuanced overview. Though Brands does not break new ground, neither does he sensationalize the more controversial aspects of FDR's personality and politicscontrary to what the subtitle might suggest. Rather, FDR is presented as a man who, in mapping his own career, relied heavily on the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and learned from the mistakes of Woodrow Wilson, in whose administration he served. The President's ordeal with polio tested and matured him so that he was ready to inspire a crippled nation during the Great Depression. Though he would blunder in the 1937 Supreme Court packing plan, which Brands labels "the biggest mess of his presidency," by 1942 he is considered by Brands to have been "the most powerful man in American history." The overall portrayal here reinforces the views presented in two first-rate recent biographies: conservative journalist Conrad Black's "Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom" and liberal political scientist Jean Edward Smith's "FDR". All three are very readable and necessary for a full appreciation of America's 26th president. Highly recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 7/08.]William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport

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Starred review from October 15, 2008
This comprehensive, fluidly written new biography of FDR opens with a gripping prologue, in which the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the presidents reaction to itare vividly relived. Franklin Roosevelts significant impact on American life continues to be felt inprograms such as Social Security; the details of the provenance of all aspects of this impact are analyzed in a biographical treatment that, while lengthy and detailed, has the narrative pull of good fiction and, therefore, is suitable for all general readers with an interest in history. The theme around which Brands constructs his riveting chronicle is that having been born into wealth, Rooseveltas president was accused of apostasy by his social group, who asked themselves, What could have converted this scion of privilege into a radical critic of the established order? . . . What traumas or epiphanies had transformeda Hudson Valley patricianinto a champion of the common people of America? In seeking answers to those questions himself, Brands, well-received author of T. R. (1997) and AndrewJackson (2005), turns in afinely balanced biography certain to garner much critical attention.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)