The Roosevelts: An Intimate History

This companion to Burns's forthcoming documentary chronicles the lives of three of America's most influential people: Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), his distant cousin Franklin Delano (1882–1945), and Franklin's wife, Eleanor (1884–1962). The large (11" × 10") book is laden with images and divided into short one- to two-page sections, each relaying an anecdote or event. Its focus gravitates toward finding the common threads running throughout each of the subject's lives, particularly Theodore's influence on Franklin despite the small amount of time they actually spent together. On its own, this is a cross between an extremely well-researched biography and a coffee-table book with rare, incredible images. Its emphasis on revealing the connections among the three individuals and the incredible energy and strength that they shared is distinct and welcome, and the story is wonderfully told through intimate anecdotes that make the three political titans very human. This work does not possess the depth of the hefty individual biographies written about its subjects but explores a mostly unexamined dynamic with great care.