Although the title of this book leads one to believe that the focus is on FDR and his relationship with Lucy Rutherford, in fact the subtitle is more accurate as the book reviews the President's relationship with many. many women in his life, including the pivotal one with his mother.

In the end though I felt an enormous sympathy with his wife, Eleanor, and hope she understood that a man of Franklin's ego requires that sort of adoration from many and it had nothing, really, to do with her. ( )

Franklin Roosevelt's legacy was larger than life; and Eleanor Roosevelt was the matriarch of the U.S. In my mind Eleanor Roosevelt connected our country to all of Europe - that was my impression as I grew up in my post WWII years.

Reading Joseph Persico's 'Franklin and Lucy' invited me into a circle of the Roosevelts' acquaintances, friends, family, and hangers-on. I felt as if I were visiting each character, attentively listening as he or she related the role played, the relationship imagined or manifested, and observations of other players in the lives of these two great people. In these many visits and conversations, certain facts were repeated once or twice, as experienced by different people. At first I found this a bit annoying, but chose to see the repetition as an emphasis of specific information, reflecting on the character of subject.

Perhaps Eleanor gave the best description of herself and of her husband when she wrote, "You build a facade for everyone to see and you live separately inside the facade." Because a person doesn't emotionally react to rumors, vile comments, or a philandering husband, doesn't ignore the depth of pain on the inside. Yet Eleanor chose to live behind the facade and stay her path.

Franklin Roosevelt, born with gifts of wealth, status, and apparently an undeniable magnetism and charm, used all his 'inheritance' to fulfill his political plans and sexual needs - but all on his terms.

With all the false names, paramours, back roads, secrets, and clandestine meetings, Persico avoids a seamy web and straight-forwardly presents a well documented and very human portrait of the Roosevelt relationship.

On a side note, as a library worker, I appreciate that in his acknowledgements, Mr. Persico specifically thanks the many libraries and staff. I also appreciated the keyed notes to primary and secondary references. sage Feb. 28, 2009 ( )

It was curiosity that made me choose this book. FDR has always been a foggy historical figure in my mind. I couldn't have said more than that he was president and that he created the New Deal. I was delightfully surprised to find this an engrossing biography of a fascinating human being and the equally fascinating women in his life. He was so much more alive and vibrant than I realized.

I probably learned more about FDR's sex life than I cared to know, though it's no competition, in the writing, for a modern novel. Persico gives that information to help complete the portrait of the man. I appreciated that he would make statements to the effect of We can't know for certain what went on behind closed doors, when pointing out logical speculation.

The primary focus of the book is, as the title suggests, about FDR's affair with Lucy Rutherfurd. While I can't go so far as to condone his affairs, by the end of the book, I'm aware of enough to see FDR as human and to understand him better. Of all the women described in the book, I felt that Lucy perhaps was the most elusive, however. The perspective is more of how this love affair affected the life, marriage and politics of FDR.

The woman most clearly presented, not surprisingly, is Eleanor Roosevelt. I knew only a little more about her than about FDR, prior to reading this book. For the first time I see her as a woman, a human being, rather than just a social figure. Although I came to understand FDR, I felt most for Eleanor (which may or may not be simple gender identification). The tensions and problems in their marriage were as much her fault as his and any blame comes out so equally that, even though I feel most for her, I can't dislike Franklin, Lucy or any of the other women mentioned. His mother, who tried to be far too involved in his personal life, marriage and even politics (the one area in which she seemed to have the least direct impact) was easier to dislike, but even she was not totally unlikable.

This book left me with a desire to read more. I want to know more about Eleanor Roosevelt and more about the first half of the 20th century. I may or may not look specifically for books about FDR, but I certainly won't think "boring" the next time I see one. ( )

I've read other books about the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt along with books such as Closest Companion: The Unknown Story of the Intimate Relationship Between Franklin Roosevelt and Margaret Suckley, so I was excited when I saw Franklin and Lucy: Roosevelt, Mrs. Rutherfurd, and the Other Remarkable Women in His Life by Joseph Perisco on the LibraryThing Early Reviewer list.

With so many books available on this topic, I wondered what new information Joseph Persico would provide. I was happily surprised by the result. The book is filled with interesting stories that have been overlooked by other authors focusing on FDR's life.

Let's explore three elements that make this book particularly effective.

First, the conversational approach made the book read more like a novel than a word of nonfiction. Persico's writing style made the book easy and enjoyable reading.

Second, the broader focus on the women in Franklin's life provided different perspectives than is often found in books about FDR. I'd recommend changing the title to Franklin and his Remarkable Women because Lucy is only one of many women in Franklin's life.

Third, Persico did an outstanding job making the players in Franklin's life feel multidimensional. Rather than whitewashing unpleasant aspects their lives or promoting the scandalous elements, the author finds the humanity in each character.

Franklin and Lucy is an excellent addition to the many wonderful works related to FDR and the women around him. ( )