Rose: The Life and Times of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

by Charles Higham

Featuring many anecdotes from the fascinating and colorful life of the Kennedy Clan matriarch, Rose includes new material about the Kennedy family's theories of the JFK assassination, much detail about Rose's stormy relationships with her children and grandchildren, the truth about Joe Kennedy's "affair" with Gloria Swanson, and more. 16 pages of photos.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

454 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Charles Higham was an author and poet. Higham was a recipient of the Prix des Créateurs of the Académie Française and the Poetry Society of London Prize.

Reviews

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good with the biographical information. I feel that there was too much on the political aspirations of Joe Kennedy with not much thought on Rose's feelings.

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This "biography" was basically a vehicle for Joe Kennedy and JFK. There was barely any insight into Rose's feelings and what she thought. The author claims to be a family friend but never says how and he barely touched upon the numerous affairs both Joe and his sons had and the effect it had on Rose. He claims that the affair between Gloria Swanson and Joe was barely worth mentioning but which most historians of both the Kennedy's and Hollywood disagree.

Another thing that really bothered me was that the author felt it was hardly worth mentioning Rose's relationship with her kids, especially Rosemary. I have read a whole biography on Rosemary Kennedy and it was more informative then this book.

I suggest if you want to learn more about Rose Kennedy please please please find another book. Or better yet read her Wikipedia page that's more informative.

[Alyson Mutch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I hop4ed it would be.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doubtful that Rose herself would have approved this bio. Some great anecdotes; but Charles Higham can get long winded and boring. He features himself an insider because his family knew the Kennedy family when Joe was the U.S. Ambassador to the UK. I was expecting juicy Kennedy tales which were few and far between.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very poorly written. Author seems to have some connection to Rose Kennedy, but doesn't fully explain it. Additionally, changes back and forth with the nomenclature of his subjects. Sometimes it's Jack, sometimes it's John.