Rose: The Life and Times of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

by Charles Higham

Book Overview

Featuring many anecdotes from the fascinating and colorful life of the Kennedy Clan matriarch, Rose includes new material about the Kennedy family's theories of the JFK assassination, much detail about Rose's stormy relationships with her children and grandchildren, the truth about Joe Kennedy's affair with Gloria Swanson, and more. 16 pages of photos.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671890263
• ISBN13: 9780671890261
• Release Date: April 1995
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 454 Pages
• Weight: 1.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Thorough and Scholarly

ROSE is the definitive biography of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, matriarch of America's dynastic Kennedy family. Author Charles Higham reveals that, despite being a young woman born during the Victorian era and raised in convents, Rose Kennedy had a sprightly, independent mind and an educated outlook on life--even though her father denied her the formal college experience she greatly had wanted. Still, Rose was not, as many imagine, a subservient wife hovering timidly in the background.Author Higham has done excellent and thorough research, both on the families of Rose and her husband Joseph, and on the evolution of the strong and independent woman that Rose became. Higham examines several episodes in the history of the family that usually are brushed under the proverbial rug, especially regarding the lobotomy of daughter Rosemary (ordered by Joe without Rose's knowledge) and the way in which Rose dealt with her knowledge of Joe's blatant infidelities.Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy turns out to have been a fascinating woman in her own right, and ROSE is her story.

MATRIARCH OF A DYNASTY

I thought this was an excellent biography of the Matriarch of an American Dynasty. Charles Higham has done a thorough job of researching Rose Kennedy, her forebears as well as those of Joe Kennedy, Sr. This book takes a daring peek behind the curtain of Rose's outward gentility; one is forced to confront the adulterous Joe through her eyes; one feels sympathy for Rose as she, by many accounts, those of her children included, becomes even more religious and reclusive. One feels her anguish over Joe's decision to have poor Rosemary lobotomized without at least consulting her; one feels her anguish over the violent, devastating deaths of three of her four sons.I liked the parts that detailed some of the interactions Rose had with her many grandchildren; I especially loved the parts about her son Robert, the then future Attorney General and Senator.I found the dynamics of intrafamilial relationships quite interesting. In many accounts, the indomitable matriarch and Jack locked horns and had many personality clashes. In all accounts, she and RFK had a unique bond. The resemblance between Rose and Robert is quite strong; indeed, the matriarch left her stamp on this penultimate son who would later comfort her in her old age and invite her to accompany him on his 1964 senatorial campaign. This pair has been described as being extremely devout and loyal to their children; again, this similarity is emphasized in the bonds the future Attorney General had with his own children. I felt this was a very well researched and well written biography. For anyone who is seriously interested in Rose Kennedy, I would recommend this book highly.

CAPTIVATING

A rich, wonderful history of the Kennedy matriarch. Rose Kennedy's life will take you through good and bad times, but Rose always knew how to be strong and get throught these ordeals. Highly recommended. FOR QUETIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON JACKIE ONASSIS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MellissaLD@aol.com. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!