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Loading... Becoming Madam Secretaryby Stephanie Dray
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. I don't know why I didn't know more about Frances Perkins before this fictionalization of her life. Considering the time my high school history teachers spent on Alexander Hamilton, one would think the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, who masterminded multiple New Deal programs, and was the driving force behind Social Security, deserved at least equal time. I really enjoyed this novel, which gives the reader a sense of the person Frances Perkins was as well as the struggles she faced. Overall, a great read about a remarkable woman who deserves more attention from both historians and novelists. The battle for democracy is never done…and ours is worth fighting for - Frances Perkins This is the most incredible story of Francis Perkins - a person who started by looking at a problem and then setting about to fix it. Her mantra was INVESTIGATE, AGITATE, LEGISLATE - something she proceeded to do from Hartley House in Hell’s Kitchen all the way to the White House. If somebody opens a door of opportunity for you, it’s the Lord’s will - walk right in and do the best you can. I certainly know about Social Security but never knew how it came to be, or what it took to bring about such a big change. One can learn so much history by reading historical fiction, especially when it is well researched as this book is. I would highly recommend you take the time to read it. Received through Penguin Random House, Berkley and NetGalley, these impressions are my own and were in no way solicited. Determined to fight for child poverty, women, and safe working conditions, Frances Perkins takes a job in New York City. There, she quickly meets some of the rising politicians, activists, and writers, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt. While initially she writes off the young politician, her history and FDR’s are intertwined. This novel was well written and engaging. I loved the character development and growth throughout the story. I also loved that FDR was pictured realistically rather than in an idealized light. The story was well paced and entertaining. Overall, highly recommended. Frances Perkins throws herself on to the scene in NYC. She is determined to change the working conditions for everyone, including children. She has an interaction with FDR and things do not go as planned. But, their relationship, or rather, partnership helped Americans… then and now! I love Frances and FDR’s relationship, especially at the beginning. She calls him a popinjay. How this author describes their relationship and their interactions just brings them to life in the eyes of the reader. This book is so well researched and I learned so much. Highly recommend you pick up this book today! I had no idea about Frances Perkins. She changed so much about America. I did fluctuate between a 4 and 5 star on this one. But, I settled on a 4 star because it does get a bit slow in places. I am sure it is because the author is writing about a real life person and wants to tell it all. Need a wonderful, historical fiction…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today. I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. no reviews | add a review
Fiction.
Literature.
Historical Fiction.
HTML:She took on titans, battled generals, and changed the world as we know it… New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and dramatic new novel about an American heroine Frances Perkins. Raised on tales of her revolutionary ancestors, Frances Perkins arrives in New York City at the turn of the century, armed with her trusty parasol and an unyielding determination to make a difference. When she’s not working with children in the crowded tenements in Hell’s Kitchen, Frances throws herself into the social scene in Greenwich Village, befriending an eclectic group of politicians, artists, and activists, including the millionaire socialite Mary Harriman Rumsey, the flirtatious budding author Sinclair Lewis, and the brilliant but troubled reformer Paul Wilson, with whom she falls deeply in love. But when Frances meets a young lawyer named Franklin Delano Roosevelt at a tea dance, sparks fly in all the wrong directions. She thinks he’s a rich, arrogant dilettante who gets by on a handsome face and a famous name. He thinks she’s a priggish bluestocking and insufferable do-gooder. Neither knows it yet, but over the next twenty years, they will form a historic partnership that will carry them both to the White House. Frances is destined to rise in a political world dominated by men, facing down the Great Depression as FDR’s most trusted lieutenant—even as she struggles to balance the demands of a public career with marriage and motherhood. And when vicious political attacks mount and personal tragedies threaten to derail her ambitions, she must decide what she’s willing to do—and what she’s willing to sacrifice—to save a nation. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyRatingAverage:
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Frances married, had a daughter and had to work when mental illness claimed her husband and he was institutionalized.
The writing style is stilted and formal of the type found in early 20th century writing. ( )