Deep Reads: Conrad Black's Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 12:02AM 
Anyone who followed the blog over the last year knows how much I loved this book. It started me reading again at night before bed, largely in response to the tremendous insomnia and angst I was going through as a result of all those non-stop sinus infections across 2009 that just kept getting worse and worse, until my surgery late last October set me on an infection-free path (seven months and counting--knock on wood).
Well, I was in bad shape and really needed something to occupy my mind during those long nights, and "Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom" did it. It's arguably now my all-time favorite biography.
It is huge, and goes on for almost 1200 pages. It is detailed, but never dull. I never found myself scanning pages.
The book is also unabashedly in love with FDR's historical accomplishments, something I've always felt was lacking in other books I've read on him (too much revisionism), and really treats him like the supreme grand strategist he was--not always getting his way but achieving the next best iteration possible.
I also love Black's many and entertaining counterfactual explorations, especially involving Douglas MacArthur (the best surrounding FDR's decision to go with Ike over MacArthur to run the invasion of Europe).
Black, BTW, is now serving a 6-7 year term in a Florida prison for mail fraud stemming from his stint as CEO of a publishing entity. Like FDR, he was born into money. Fabulous historian, though--at least he's the kind I like.
I actually miss reading the book, although I recently loaned it out to my father-in-law.
Like my sister with the "Firefly" DVDs, I will want it back!
Reader Comments (1)
Re: Firefly - this is the perfect excuse to upgrade to the Blu-Ray versions...