The Kennedys Amidst the Gathering Storm: A Thousand Days in London, 1938-1940

Unique among historians I have read, is Will Swift, in his latest book, "The Kennedy's Amidst the Gathering Storm." Swift possesses an ability to engross one immediately due to his gift of narrative writing. Historical topics are often a challenge to read yet this work moves incredibly quickly due to the presentation of information, Swift's special wit describing a situation, and the intertwining of historical fact with character development. Every chapter presents familiar historical information concerning the prewar years 1938-1940, yet the wonderfully researched lives of Ambassador Kennedy's family brings new life into the situation. Very complete diary entries with accompanying newspaper clippings by Rose Kennedy, are a source of material that brings to life a critical world situation complete with an accounting of what Kennedy family members were doing at the moment. I often felt I was present as the situation occurred. The background of Ambassador Joseph Kennedy is well known, but Swift suggests so much more about the character of Kennedy. The deep love for his children and the exposure of life that he and Rose guided and required of each child is worked into the narrative. One senses so much more about Jack, Bobby, and Ted in particular, due to the parenting they experienced especially as a result of these years abroad. President Roosevelt and Joe Kennedy had a very difficult relationship as did the combination of Chamberlain and Churchill in the mix as well. We know Kennedy's career was destroyed as a result of his ambassadorship yet Swift has his readers take a good look at the character of FDR as well. One feels Kennedy's deep love of country as he tries to maneuver within an incredibly difficult and disasterous political and world situation with much of the pertinent knowledge from Washington never relayed to him by President Roosevelt. Characters are described in this narrative such as Tyler Kent, a spy, and Unity Mitford, a companion to Hitler, that make the read unique. Fabulous parties, constant escapades of family and friends in prewar London, fascinating photographs, intimate sides of Rose as she eases into the royal family, and a look at beloved Rosemary, made my read of "The Kennedy's Amidst the Gathering Storm A Thousand Days in London, 1938-1940" so special, I read it a second time.

A marvelous study of Ambassador Joe Kennedy's complicated personality, diplomatic involvement with Winston Churchill, and multi-faceted relationship with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Dr. Swift has written an elegant study of this critical time in American history, punctuating his story with vivid portrayals and brilliant insights. Highly recommend this work to both professional historians and the interested layman.

This is the way in which history should be written. Carefully researched and filled with facts(some never before revealed), the book moves at a fast pace keeping the reader intrigued and never bored. Will Swift captures the formidible Kennedy family at a turning point in history that many have forgotten - the prelude to World War II. He portrays the self-made, vastly wealthy, crafty, tenacious and powerful Joseph Kennedy - admired by some and distrusted by others - as a true patriot who worked steadfastly in an attempt to keep his beloved country out of war. It was a war he felt would lead to disaster. Living with Ambassador Kennedy during his 1000 days in London, the reader sees an Irish Catholic family capture the attention of the lavish and flamboyant society that flourished at the time and the respect of a Protestant nation. The opinions and attitudes of world leaders during that crucial time are well detailed. There is also time to observe the children of Joseph and Rose Kennedy's tight knit family (among them Jack, Bobby and Ted) mature and take on some of the talents of their accomplished parents - talents that would serve them well in their later careers. It is a book worth every minute of the read.

Dr. Swift has constructed through prodigious research a fascinating composite of information which he presents as a highly engrossing narrative of the role of Joseph P. Kennedy as U.S. ambassador to Great Britain on the eve of World War II. Swift's keen appraisal of Ambassador Kennedy's actions and motivations and the reprecussions thereof, along with a fresh look at the challenges and opposition confronting Kennedy from both sides of the Atlantic at the time, serves to cast the controversial father of a future U.S. president in a more appealing and admirable light than he is usually afforded. Throughout his intriguing report on Kennedy's endeavors in pre-war diplomacy, Swift skillfully limns artful profiles of the high level players in the saga, including Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, King George VI and Franklin Roosevelt, with their reactions and interactions during their continual assessments of the ambassador's merit vis-a-vis their own agendas. In sum, Dr. Swift's scholarly book, spiced with titilating material on the personal lives of Ambassador Kennedy and his wife and children as well as accounts of the foibles and vagaries of other participating political luminaries of the era constitutes a compelling read.

Between Pres. Bush's remarks in Israel about 'appeasement' and the news of Ted Kennedy's cancer diagnosis, Will Swift's new book is a timely read. The photographs are wonderful, and many have never before been in print. No matter how many books about the Kennedys that you have read, you will learn a few new witty anecdotes that Will Swift's research has uncovered. I really enjoyed this book.