A nanny's diary chronicles the goings on of a famous American
clan.Having employed a similar voyeuristic technique in Gone with
the Windsors (2006), British novelist Graham now turns her
attentions to America's analogous imperial family via the
remembrances of an observant Irish servant. With nine children
under young Nora Brennan's charge and the tough matriarch Rose
Kennedy breathing down her neck, it's a wonder Nora has time to put
pen to paper. Her account sacrifices the political years, delving
instead into the darker days between world wars to explore the
peculiar domestic dynamics of the teeming family. Fierce father Joe
is portrayed as a whirling dervish with voracious appetites. Rose,
meanwhile, is described by the servant girl as having "a heart as
hard as the hob of hell." Nora's affections run to slow-witted,
disregarded Rosemary and obstinate social butterfly Kathleen,
called "Kick." In a lush testimonial, Nora brings readers from the
prosperous mansions of Hyannis to the war-torn streets of London,
and finally to the eve of Jack's presidential campaign. It's in the
book's denouement during World War II that the Kennedy tragedies
take root. Jack sustains a wartime injury; Rose becomes the victim
of a crippling lobotomy; and prodigal son Joseph succumbs to an
early death. Even Nora suffers, sacrificing a chance at marriage
and happiness to serve the family she calls "my Kennedys." The tart
observations of lives of privilege may take the shine off the
Camelot myth, but Graham's book is marked not by ridicule but
rather by an elegant, forthright poignancy. A refreshingly
nostalgia-free portrayal that breathes life into the Kennedy story.
(Kirkus Reviews)
A brilliant novel by Laurie Graham set in wartime London, which
follows Kick Kennedy, sister of future US President JFK, as she
takes London society by storm. Nora Brennan is a country girl from
Westmeath. When she lands herself a position as nursery maid to a
family in Brookline, Massachusetts, she little thinks it will place
her at the heart of American history. But it's the Kennedy family.
In 1917 Joseph Kennedy is on his way to his first million and he
has plans to found a dynasty and ensure that his baby son, Joe
Junior, will be the first Catholic President of the United States.
As nursemaid to all nine Kennedy children, Nora witnesses every
moment, public and private. She sees the boys coached at their
father's knee to believe everything they'll ever want in life can
be bought. She sees the girls trained by their mother to be good
Catholic wives. World War II changes everything. At the outbreak of
war the Kennedys are living the high life in London, where Joseph
Kennedy is the American ambassador. His reaction is to send the
entire household back across the Atlantic to safety, but Nora,
surprised by midlife love, chooses to stay in England and do her
bit. Separated from her Kennedys by an ocean she nevertheless
remains the warm, approachable sun around which the older children
orbit: Joe, Jack, Rosemary, and in particular Kick, who throws the
first spanner in the Kennedy works by marrying an English
Protestant. Laurie Graham's poignant new novel views the Kennedys
from below stairs, with the humour and candour that only an
ex-nursemaid dare employ.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(2)
bundle available
(1)
