The Roosevelts and the Royals: Franklin and Eleanor, the King and Queen of England, and the Friendship That Changed History

by Will Swift

Overview

Advance Praise

"Fascinating and well researched.... Dr. Swift is the first to concentrate on this unusual subject with such a wealth of sympathetic detail."
–Sarah Bradford, author of America’s Queen: The Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth: A Biography of Britain’s Queen, and The Reluctant King: The Life and Reign of George VI, 1895—1952

"A splendid addition to our understanding of an extraordinary Anglo-American partnership. Both intimate and expansive, Will Swift’s vigorously researched book is timely, illuminating, and dramatic."
–Blanche Wiesen Cook, author of Eleanor Roosevelt, Vol. 1: 1884-1933 and Eleanor Roosevelt, Vol. 2: The Defining Years, 1933-1938

"The Anglo-American alliance has long been a bedrock of the global order, and Will Swift’s The Roosevelts and the Royals details an important chapter in that fascinating story with warmth and verve."
–Jon Meacham, author of Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship

"Those who remember only that the Roosevelts served hot dogs to the royals will be fascinated by this well-researched account of an historic and ennobling relationship–a great story!"
–James MacGregor Burns, author of The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders Who Transformed America and Roosevelt: Soldier of Freedom

"A gripping account of four very different lives that were woven together to change the world in wartime."
–Hugo Vickers, author of Cecil Beaton and Alice: Princess Andrew of Greece

"Written in fluid and lucid prose, this book is not only eminently readable but also historically illuminating. It explores the contrasting personalities of the four main protagonists with skill and insight and it is both convincing and refreshingly candid."
–Brian Roberts, author of Randolph: A Study of Churchill’s Son and Cecil Rhodes and the Princess

"This book brings to life my grandmother and her royal friends. Reading it, I found myself reliving the times I shared with them. A wonderful story."
–Nina Roosevelt Gibson, Ph.D., psychologist and granddaughter of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781118039908
Publisher:	Trade Paper Press
Publication date:	12/13/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

WILL SWIFT, Ph.D., writes on American leaders and British royalty of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He is also a practicing clinical psychologist specializing in cognitive and marital therapy. Swift founded the Royalty Bookshop in Manhattan and the royal history and collecting journal Sceptre, and he has curated several major exhibitions on royal history, including one celebrating the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday in 2000. Swift lives in Manhattan and in the historic Nathan Wild House, once visited by FDR, in Valatie, New York. His Web site is www.willswift.com.

Table of Contents

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Prologue: A Picnic Savored around the World.

1. Eleanor and Franklin, 1882-1918.

2. Bertie and Elizabeth, 1895-1920.

3. A Radical Partnership, 1920-1934.

4. The Happy Yorks, 1920-1933.

5. Rocking the World, 1934-1938.

6. Joining Forces, January 1938-April 1939.

7. A Genius for Publicity, May 1-June 7, 1939.

8. Conquering Washington, June 8-9, 1939.

9. Hot Dog Diplomacy, June 10-11, 1939.

10. "Our Hearts Are Near Breaking", June 1939-November 1940.

11. The Propaganda Campaign, November 1940-December 1941.

12. Hitting Close to Home, January-October 1942.

13. Eleanor in England, 1942.

14. A Perfect Team, January 1943-July 1944.

15. Death Before Victory, July 1944-April 1945.

16. Starting Over, April 1945-November 1947.

17. Walking with Death, April 1948-February 1952.

18. First Ladies of the World, February 1952-November 1954.

19. Valiant for Friendship, February 1954-August 1967.

Epilogue: The Lessons of History.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Photo Credits.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

This melodramatically subtitled footnote to history by Swift, a longtime writer on royal history for Majesty magazine, focuses on the brief visits, in the summer of 1939, by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Washington, D.C., and Hyde Park. Foreign visits by heads of state are carefully choreographed. This one was especially so, as the president was wheelchair-bound and the king, more withdrawn than his outgoing queen, was a stammerer and still new to his role as sovereign. On both sides of the Atlantic, the abdication of Edward VIII to marry a twice-divorced American was still deplored. The colorless George VI was on probation. Massive press hype-as well as diplomatic reticence-made the brief visits, which also included a stop at the New York World's Fair, a success. King George was still colorless, but few noticed, and his royal style during the war beginning that September was sufficiently self-effacing and quietly steadfast to erase concerns about his authority on the throne. Even stretched with asides, though, the royal progress encompasses only 47 pages. The rest- following the protagonists from the 1880s to the 1950s-is padding. A passionate collector of royal memorabilia, Swift has packaged a book for collectors of royal memorabilia. 44 b&w illus. (July 2) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Comparative politics involving Great Britain and the United States during the 20th century forms the background for this book, which traces the lives of two couples, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. British amateur historian Swift elucidates the monarchical aspect of World War II, which is typically slighted; accounts tend to focus on the American presidency and the British prime ministership. Swift starts with George VI's visit to the United States shortly before the outbreak-a first for a British monarch. The climax of the four-day visit was on June 11, when the Roosevelts served the king and queen hot dogs at Hyde Park in what became the most famous picnic in U.S. history, symbolizing the two nations' new democratic bond. The book covers the entire lives of its subjects and presents FDR and the queen as natural politicians from whom their spouses had to learn. Although the subtitle is pure hype, this realistic book will appeal to those interested in the history of World War II, the British monarchy, and the Roosevelts. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Comparative politics involving Great Britain and the United States during the 20th century forms the background for this book, which traces the lives of two couples, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. British amateur historian Swift elucidates the monarchical aspect of World War II, which is typical slighted; accounts tend to focus on the American presidency and the British prime ministership. Swift starts with George VI's visit to the United States shortly before the outbreak - a first for a British monarch. The climax of the four-day visit was on June 11, when the Roosevelts served the king and queen hot dogs at Hyde Park in what became the most famous picnic in U. S. history, symbolizing the two nations' new democratic bond. The book covers the entire lives of its subjects and presents FDR and the queen as natural politicians from whom their spouses had to learn. Although the subtitle is pure hype, this realistic book will appeal to those interested in the history of World War II, the British monarchy, and the Roosevelts. Recommended for public and academic libraries. - William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport ("Library Journal", July 2004)

."..well written, meticulously detailed...a very fine book..." ("Royalty Digest", September 2004)

"Realistic...will appeal to those interested in the history of World War II, the British monarchy, and the Roosevelts. Recommended." (Revised "Library Journal" excerpt for Will Swift's "The Roosevelts and the Royals")

"Delicious...engaging...convincing...covers a wide swath of history....you will want to keep reading until it is all gone." ("Albany Times Union")

From the Publisher