The Kennedys at Cape Cod, 1944

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Kennedys at Cape Cod, 1944: The Summer That Changed Everything by Leigh Straw, read by Patricia Rodriguez.

The Kennedys considered their home in Hyannis Port, Cape Cod, ‘The big white house’, to be a haven from their busy lives. Yet in the summer of 1944, against the backdrop of WWII, the events that unfolded for them there changed the family forever.

Beginning in the May of that year, The Kennedys at Cape Cod 1944 paints an intimate picture of those few months. As the younger Kennedy children and their parents settled into their summer home, it follows the family drama that unfolded. From the scandal of the eldest daughter, Kick, marrying William ‘Billy’ Cavendish, and the eldest son, Joe Jr’s, dangerous and secret bombing missions over Europe, to second son Jack’s quiet recovery from injury sustained in the line of duty, younger daughter Rosemary’s conspicuous absence and the youngest son, Ted’s, loneliness, it explores the innermost hopes, fears and anxieties of each Kennedy. Following these events as they played out over the summer of 1944, it culminates with the event that would change them forever: the tragic death of Joe Jr.

Offering a close account of the months leading up to this momentous moment, The Kennedys at Cape Cod 1944 is an unparalleled and never-before-revealed account of how the family experienced and responded to this tragedy, which was later described as a ‘turn in the road’ for their family. The summer of 1944 changed all their lives, and in propelling the second brother, Jack Kennedy, into the political limelight, changed the course of American political history.

Critics Review

Straw offers an exemplary work of narrative history that combines literary finesse with original insight...This is a standout contribution to Kennedy scholarship and 20th-century American history.
Library Journal
Beautifully written ... Leigh Straw captures the story sensitively, detailing in depth the extraordinary events of summer 1944 that subsequently changed the Kennedy family and their place in history as we now know it. This book is a fascinating, absorbing read using luscious detail and historical information to great effect.
Writing.ie
So many years for the Kennedy family brought triumphs and tragedies, and 1944 was no exception. Yet it proved to be a pivot point for American history, too, and Leigh Straw has captured it with her vivid narrative of how Joe Kennedy Jr.’s death in World War II would launch his brother Jack into politics and ultimately the White House. You might think you know everything about the Kennedys, but read this compelling story to gain invaluable insights on how Camelot became JFK’s kingdom, rather than his brother Joe’s.
Barbara A. Perry, J. Wilson Newman Professor in Presidential Studies, University of Virginia’s Miller Center, USA
The summer of 1944 was an extraordinary time for the Kennedys and for America, and Leigh Straw captures the moment wonderfully in this absorbing narrative. With nuance and sensitivity, she deepens our understanding of a fraught—and consequential—moment in a family’s history.
Fredrik Logevall, Laurence D. Belfer Professor of History and International Affairs, Harvard University, USA
The Kennedys at Cape Cod, 1944 is a compelling micro-biography that explores a crucial turning point in the life of the Kennedy family, which saw them tumble from America’s golden family to one riven by tragedy and self-destruction. Leigh Straw’s meticulous research is matched by her acute storytelling skills.
Paula Byrne, author of Kick: The True Story of Kick Kennedy, JFK’s Forgotten Sister and the Heir to Chatsworth
Playing historical “what if” is an intriguing parlor game, and while Straw does ponder those alternatives, her microhistory cogently examines the actual outcomes of the ordeals that plagued the [Kennedys] for decades.
Booklist

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