The distinguished historian and biographer Charlotte Gray discusses her newest book Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons: The Lives of Jennie Jerome Churchill and Sara Delano Roosevelt (Simon & Schuster, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons: The Lives of Jennie Jerome Churchill and Sara Delano Roosevelt by Charlotte Gray (Simon & Schuster, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Charlotte Gray joins me again. The distinguished historian and biographer has just published a dual biography of two remarkable women, Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons: The Lives of Jennie Jerome Churchill and Sara Delano Roosevelt. They’re two women born in close proximity to one another in the late 19^th century, in the Gilded Age of the United States upper class in and around New York. As Jennie Jerome makes her way to the glittering world of Imperial London, and Sara remains prosperous in the Hudson Valley, their respective lots in life are of the era, and yet they become formidable women in worlds that aren’t necessarily welcoming of women in important roles. It is later their sons, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill take up a lot of space for historians and biographers, but it’s their relationship to their mothers, and their mothers devotion to their sons, that makes this book important as we see how they shape their sons characters and personalities. This is a hell of a good read, and Gray’s skill in research, and her talent at crafting a marvelous story as a result are a wonder. The British-born Charlotte Gray is one of Canada’s best-known writers, the author of ten acclaimed books of literary non-fiction. These are books that are bestsellers, as well as award-winners. She first appeared on the program in 2013 for her book The Massey Murder, a critical hit and a bestseller. She is a Member of the Order of Canada, and a recipient of the Pierre Berton Prize, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Visit www.charlottegray.ca for more. This new book is published by Simon & Schuster. We spoke two weeks ago. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Charlotte Gray; Ms. Gray, good morning.

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