Generally, they acknowledge the enormity of the events that these figures are known for, but delves more into their interior emotional landscapes, at those times and at others that might not be as well known to us but are no less interesting and instructive. I always like it when authors and novelists take our national monuments, such as the Roosevelts and Abraham Lincoln, and make them accessible, so to speak, to us mere mortals. Alice Roosevelt Longworth was the last surviving child of Theodore Roosevelt. Alice died in 1980 at the age of 96 leaving her beloved granddaughter, Joanna. At the same time, she also became a noted socialite, politician and writer.
The pillow on her couch read: If you haven’t anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me”.
Her group tried to influence the government and included women.Īlice experienced health problems and personal heart brakes as she grew older but she kept her sense of humor. She advised her father and set up a political circle inviting like minded Republicans to discuss the issues of the day. It is during this period that Alice became even more involved with politics. The marriage was unhappy but divorce was out of the question - even for Alice. It is during a political trip that Alice and congressman Nicholas Longworth became engaged and later married. At a time when women could not vote and were urged to stay in the background, Alice kept on attracting the news media. Once she even jumped in a pool with her clothes on. Trying to capture her Father’s attention, Alice smoked and drank in public, rode in cars with boys and played poker. The color “Alice-blue” became the rage of the fashion world. When she makes her debut at the White House her sparkling “Alice-blue” gown captures not only Washington’s but the world’s attention. This page turner is well written and researched.Īlice Roosevelt was a woman who made front page news. We can actually feel Alice maturing in her thoughts as we read - although not always in her actions. In Stephanie Marie Thornton’s historical novel The American Princess, Theodore Roosevelt’s first daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth comes alive as she reminisces about her life.
0 kommentar(er)
