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- Best FDR Biography: 7 Top Books and Their Awards
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- Best FDR biography choices include Jean Edward Smith's FDR for one volume and James MacGregor Burns for two volumes. Compare 7 books by format, focus, and awards.
What Is an FDR Biography?
An FDR biography is a book that documents the life and presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. president. Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, at Hyde Park, New York, and became the longest-serving president. Formats include single-volume biographies, multi-volume series, and dual biographies. Examples include Jean Edward Smith’s FDR, James MacGregor Burns’s two-volume series, and Doris Kearns Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time.
Which Is the Best Single-Volume FDR Biography?
Jean Edward Smith’s FDR is one of 2 single-volume FDR biographies that a Miller Center scholar names as the best. The other is Conrad Black’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom. Random House published Smith’s FDR on May 22, 2007. The Miller Center describes it as thorough and straightforward, and notes that it combines secondary sources with new primary material.
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a Kirkus Star and called it highly readable. Kirkus also noted that the narrative sometimes takes shortcuts because Roosevelt’s career was so vast and complex.
Which Is the Best Short FDR Biography?
Alan Brinkley’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the compact biography recommended by Cynthia Koch of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Foundation. Koch describes Brinkley as a National Book Award-winning New Deal historian.
Which FDR Biographies Won a Pulitzer Prize?
3 FDR-focused books won a Pulitzer Prize. The winners are:
- Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History by Robert E. Sherwood, 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Biography
- Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom by James MacGregor Burns, 1971 Pulitzer Prize for History and National Book Award
- No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin, 1995 Pulitzer Prize for History
Which FDR Biography Covers the Wartime Years and Eleanor Roosevelt?
Doris Kearns Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time covers Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II. The book focuses on May 10, 1940, through Roosevelt’s death on April 12, 1945, and draws on interviews with 86 people who knew the couple. Historians cited by the History News Network praise it, along with Burns’s The Lion and the Fox, for showing how a president’s personal experiences shaped public decisions.
Which FDR Biographies Come in Multiple Volumes?
2 multi-volume series stand out: Burns’s 2 volumes and Geoffrey Ward’s 2 volumes.
- Burns, Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox, published in 1956, covering 1882 to 1940
- Burns, Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom, published in 1970, covering 1940 to 1945
- Ward, Before the Trumpet, published in 1985, covering 1882 to 1905
- Ward, A First-Class Temperament, published in 1989, covering 1905 to 1928
The Miller Center also lists Kenneth Davis’s four-volume history, and says Davis and Burns are more critical of Roosevelt than the single-volume authors.
How Do the Top FDR Biographies Compare?
The table compares 7 FDR biographies by format and recognition.
| Book | Author | Format | Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDR | Jean Edward Smith | Single volume | Miller Center top 2 single volume; Kirkus Star |
| Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom | Conrad Black | Single volume | Miller Center top 2 single volume |
| Franklin Delano Roosevelt | Alan Brinkley | Compact biography | Recommended by Cynthia Koch, FDR Foundation |
| Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox | James MacGregor Burns | Volume 1 of 2 (1882-1940) | Historians’ favorite per History News Network |
| Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom | James MacGregor Burns | Volume 2 of 2 (1940-1945) | 1971 Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award |
| No Ordinary Time | Doris Kearns Goodwin | Dual biography (1940-1945) | 1995 Pulitzer Prize |
| Roosevelt and Hopkins | Robert E. Sherwood | Dual biography with Harry Hopkins | 1949 Pulitzer Prize |
How Do You Choose an FDR Biography?
To choose an FDR biography, follow 3 steps:
- Select a format: single volume (Smith, Black), compact (Brinkley), or two volumes (Burns).
- Match the period: full life, early years (Ward), or wartime years (Goodwin).
- Check recognition: Pulitzer Prizes, the Miller Center list, or historian recommendations.
What Is the Best FDR Biography According to Experts?
The Miller Center names Jean Edward Smith’s FDR and Conrad Black’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom as the 2 best single-volume FDR biographies. Burns, Goodwin, and Sherwood hold Pulitzer Prizes. Brinkley’s biography is the compact option.
People Also Ask
Which FDR biography won a Pulitzer Prize?
Sherwood’s Roosevelt and Hopkins, Burns’s The Soldier of Freedom, and Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time each won a Pulitzer Prize.
How many volumes is Burns’s FDR biography?
Burns’s FDR biography has 2 volumes: The Lion and the Fox and The Soldier of Freedom.
What years does No Ordinary Time cover?
No Ordinary Time focuses on May 10, 1940, through April 12, 1945.
When was FDR born?
Franklin D. Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882.
Sources: Miller Center, “By the Book: Franklin D. Roosevelt”; Five Books interview with Cynthia Koch; Pulitzer Prizes website; Kirkus Reviews; History News Network.