Rosemary
- Author Kate Clifford Larson
- Narrator Bernadette Dunne
- Publisher Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date 6 October 2015
- Run Time 7 hours and 44 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Age groups: children, Biography: arts and entertainment, Biography: general, Biography: historical, political and military, Biography: science, technology and medicine, Child, developmental and lifespan psychology, Coping with dyslexia and learning difficulties, Gender studies: women and girls, Parenting: advice and issues, Political leaders and leadership, Relationships and families: advice and issues.
Click to open directly in the xigxag app.
Flexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only $7.95.
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price p/Title
- $13.95
- $12.95
- $11.95
- $10.95
- $9.95
Listen to a sample
What to expect
They were the most prominent American family of the twentieth century. The daughter they secreted away made all the difference.
Joe and Rose Kennedy’s strikingly beautiful daughter Rosemary attended exclusive schools, was presented as a debutante to the queen of England, and traveled the world with her high-spirited sisters. And yet, Rosemary was intellectually disabled—a secret fiercely guarded by her powerful and glamorous family.
Major new sources—Rose Kennedy’s diaries and correspondence, school and doctors’ letters, and exclusive family interviews—bring Rosemary to life as a girl adored but left far behind by her competitive siblings. Kate Larson reveals both the sensitive care Rose and Joe gave to Rosemary and then, as the family’s standing reached an apex, the often desperate and duplicitous arrangements the Kennedys made to keep her away from home as she became increasingly intractable in her early twenties. Finally, Larson illuminates Joe’s decision to have Rosemary lobotomized at age twenty-three and the family’s complicity in keeping the secret.
Rosemary delivers a profoundly moving coda: JFK visited Rosemary for the first time while campaigning in the Midwest; she had been living isolated in a Wisconsin institution for nearly twenty years. Only then did the siblings understand what had happened to Rosemary and bring her home for loving family visits. It was a reckoning that inspired them to direct attention to the plight of the disabled, transforming the lives of millions.
Critics Review
“The forgotten Kennedy is forgotten no longer…A book about the Kennedys that has something new to say.”
“It is Rosemary herself who shines from the pages of this profoundly revealing family story.”
“Heartbreaking.”
“Compelling psychological, socia,l and political insight.”
“Larson deploys excerpts in heart-rending fashion, showing a sweet, insecure girl who was desperate to please…She has produced a valuable account of mental health tragedy and an influential family’s belated efforts to make amends.”
“A heartbreaking book that makes clear the pain and passion behind the Kennedy family’s efforts on behalf of the disabled.”
“Riveting…fascinating…compelling.”
“Narrator Bernadette Dunne delivers the author’s examination of a privileged life gone horribly wrong…Compassion for Rosemary’s strength to survive and her inspiring effect on her brothers and sisters is evident in Dunne’s performance. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
“A well-researched biography.”
“Engrossing…This expertly researched work offers a candid examination of a once-forgotten member of one of America’s most famous families.”
“Larson’s well-researched and fascinating history includes Kennedy anecdotes as well as major developments in American life…Heartbreaking and illuminating.”
“The author presents a well-rounded portrait of Rosemary before the lobotomy, a beautiful young woman full of spunk and love, and the destruction of that vibrant person as a result of the operation…A well-researched, entertaining, and illuminating biography.”
More from the same
About xigxag
Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.