Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Rendezvous with Destiny

In this masterful biography by the author of the four-volume Franklin D. Roosevelt , the many facets of FDR--son, student, husband, father, state senator, political appointee, polio victim, politician, governor, chief executive, commander-in-chief, world statesman--are revealed in turn, comprising a full accounting of the man and his works. One of the most loved and most hated figures in U.S. history, Roosevelt has been viewed by opponents as shallow, incompetent and dictatorial. While revisionist historians have lately attempted to support that stance, Freidel amasses evidence that renders it untenable. His FDR is a man of vision, sound judgment and decisiveness who rescued the nation's economy from imminent collapse and defended democracy not only in the U.S. but throughout the world. This is as fine a one-volume biography of the 32nd president as we are likely to get. Photos. History Book Club alternate. (Mar.)