Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman, 1910-1959 (Give ‘em Hell Harry)

by Robert H. Ferrell (editor)

 
Once again available is the critically acclaimed Dear Bess, a collection of more than 600 letters that Harry S. Truman wrote to his beloved wife, Bess, from 1910 to 1959. Selected from 1,268 letters discovered in Bess's house after her death in 1982, this extraordinary collection provides an inside look at Truman's life, his thoughts, and his dreams.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, American History, Presidents, Memoir, 20th Century

608 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1983

About the author

Robert Hugh Ferrell was an American historian and author of several books on Harry S. Truman and the diplomatic history of the United States. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during the Second World War and was an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He received a B.S. in Education from Bowling Green State University in 1946 and a PhD from Yale University in 1951, where he worked under the direction of Samuel Flagg Bemis and his dissertation won the John Addison Porter Prize. He went on to win the 1952 Beer Prize for his first book, Peace In Their Time, a study of the making of the Kellogg-Briand Pact.

He taught for many years at Indiana University in Bloomington, starting as an Assistant Professor in 1953 and rising to Distinguished Professor of History in 1974. He has held several notable visiting professorships, including Yale University in 1955 and the Naval War College in 1974.

Reviews

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

No book has created a deeper reverence in me for Harry Truman than this book did. My mother was homebound for several years due to health problems. During that time she read books about each of the U.S. presidents and their wives. This was one that she recommended and I LOVED it. It is a compilation of letters written from President Truman to his wife Bess. I'll be honest, when I used to see pictures of them I thought, What did he see in her? But after reading this book, he was soooo in love with her, and that never changed. It really highlights his enduring ability to love, not just his wife, but his many friends and his daughter (who recently passed away.)

I think it gives a lot of insight into the quality of person that he was. He was a man of deep character. If I could marry any historical figure I'd marry him. There are some amazing quotes. And it has turned out to be a fitting book for me to have read considering that I live in Missouri!! I'll make it to Independence one of these days to go to his presidential library and love every minute of it.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aww, what a Valentine this book is! More enjoyable, I think, because i read it as a follow-up to David McCullough's "Truman," which delivers a happy description of the sweetnatured and ethical man Harry Truman was from youth, and a clearer picture of how much he really really loved that young woman whom everyone considered "too good for him." The letters show that he was not only good enough to be her husband, but possibly the best husband she could have hoped to have. Ever.

If you start to find the letters repetitive (and they are, a bit, just as daily emails tend to be), don't let that stop you reading: just switch to "skim" mode for a while. Or turn to them on a day when the news seems dark and drear. You'll like being reminded what faithfulness and tenderness look like.

[Ann Otto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book of selected letters from President Harry Truman to his fiance and later wife Bess Wallace from 1910 to 1959 reflects his experiences in business, World War 1, post-war local, state, and later national politics ending in 1952. He later wrote books on his Presidency. Brief mention is made of his life until his death in 1972. The author, like many other historians, is of the opinion that history will evaluate Truman's Presidency well and that he will be considered among one of the best.

[Joyce Eggebeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started scanning about half way through the book, but Harry could be quite amusing and enjoyed most of it. It just got a little tedious. Amazing history that happened during his lifetime.

[Marilyn Pronovost · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an okay read. I don't know the book's problem is with the letters or the way they are edited. You get a sense oh Harry Truman, but never really get to sEe him thinking. I was disappointed in this read.

[Ronald Wise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The key to enjoying this book was learning to skip over the repetitive salutations and attend to the sentences that were gems of Harry S. Truman's humor and glimpses into his personal experience of American history in the early 20th century. This book contains approximately 600 letters written by Truman to wife Bess from the time of their early courtship through his days in the White House. They are from a collection of nearly 1,200 letters that were turned over to the U.S. archives by daughter Margaret following her mother's death.

He wrote to Bess nearly every day when they were separated, which was less often after their marriage. So the frequency of letters unfortunately decreases dramatically during his presidency. The early letters, however, are historically interesting as Truman describes his experience as a farmer, a mine operator, a judge, and a U.S. Senator. Editor Robert H. Ferrell's text provides welcome contextual information through chapter introductions.

[Leslie Ferrari · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really looked forward to reading this book. I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, although Harry Truman was a prolific writer, he didn't say much. I got through the whole book, but for the most part it was very boring with little glimmers of worthwhile information. The main thing that I learned about Truman was that he expected Bess to write him daily and he was very disappointed if he didn't receive a letter.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At just under 600 pages, this took me awhile to finish, but I rather enjoyed the glimpse into Harry and Bess. The letters included are those only from Harry, so it's a one-sided conversation but interesting still. In one letter from his years as President, he's telling Bess about Potsdam...two days later he's writing her a long paragraph about hat styles and how much he prefers her hats over others. The letters really do show the person he was and the positions he held.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book and enjoyed the intriciate revealing of the Trumans relationship through their letters. It also told alot about Harry ... how he tried and failed at several careers until he hit upon politics.
(Wow alot like GW only Harry was more honest and sincere. )

[Cws]

92T

[Toesnorth's mom]

excellent