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Sons of Camelot: The Fate of an American Dynasty – The Revealing Biography of Kennedy Power, Tragedy, and Legacy Across Generations
From renowned biographer and New York Times bestselling author of The Kennedy Women and The Kennedy Men comes THE SONS OF CAMELOT, the second volume in a multi-generational history bound to be considered an American epic.
Almost a year before publication, THE SONS OF The Fate of an American Dynasty was already being widely discussed and debated in the media. Based on exclusive interviews with many Kennedy family members, their closest friends and associates, and five years of research, THE SONS OF CAMELOT is neither tabloid fodder nor a sanitized authorized biography but a stunningly revealing, deeply truthful account with intimate new information on every page.
In this outstanding continuation of The Kennedy Men, his powerful American epic of the Kennedy family, Laurence Leamer chronicles the lives of the Kennedy sons and grandsons after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and their struggle to fulfill the family legacy. These lives make for a book of overwhelming drama full of exalted aspirations, notable achievements and the most spectacular mishaps, excesses and tragedies. For the most part, these Kennedy men fell far short of the great vision that Joseph P. Kennedy had for his sons and grandsons. Their lives have been a bewildering juxtaposition of the most notable achievements and the most spectacular failures. There have been needless deaths, crippling accidents, drug addiction, alcoholism and allegations of rape. Their pratfalls, mishaps, excesses and tragedies have been one of the most certain forms of American popular entertainment for the last four decades. Yet among them are those who have helped Americans to have better health care, to sail on clean waters, to raise the rights and lives of those with mental retardation, to assist the poorest of African nations, to enable those with disabilities to lead normal lives, and to give health care givers opportunities.
In Leamer’s passionate narrative, each Kennedy man becomes not the passive victim of the happenstance of birth and upbringing, but a full participant in his own fate. The good that the Kennedy sons have done is amply chronicled, and so is the bad and the tragic. John F. Kennedy Jr.’s life is a thread running through the pages of THE SONS OF CAMELOT. Some may be drawn to the book largely to read the definitive portrait based largely on the full cooperation of his eight closest friends. Others may come intrigued to read the intimate story of Senator Edward Kennedy or the stirring tale of Timmy Kennedy Shriver’s rise to the head of Special Olympics International. But whatever draws the readers, they will read on driven by the powerful dramatic narrative with its impeccably researched details.
Some of these pages are inspiring, some are shocking, but all the pages are truthful. THE SONS OF CAMELOT is a spellbinding history of individuals and a family, a journey of character through time told by a brilliant, masterful writer.
Almost a year before publication, THE SONS OF The Fate of an American Dynasty was already being widely discussed and debated in the media. Based on exclusive interviews with many Kennedy family members, their closest friends and associates, and five years of research, THE SONS OF CAMELOT is neither tabloid fodder nor a sanitized authorized biography but a stunningly revealing, deeply truthful account with intimate new information on every page.
In this outstanding continuation of The Kennedy Men, his powerful American epic of the Kennedy family, Laurence Leamer chronicles the lives of the Kennedy sons and grandsons after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and their struggle to fulfill the family legacy. These lives make for a book of overwhelming drama full of exalted aspirations, notable achievements and the most spectacular mishaps, excesses and tragedies. For the most part, these Kennedy men fell far short of the great vision that Joseph P. Kennedy had for his sons and grandsons. Their lives have been a bewildering juxtaposition of the most notable achievements and the most spectacular failures. There have been needless deaths, crippling accidents, drug addiction, alcoholism and allegations of rape. Their pratfalls, mishaps, excesses and tragedies have been one of the most certain forms of American popular entertainment for the last four decades. Yet among them are those who have helped Americans to have better health care, to sail on clean waters, to raise the rights and lives of those with mental retardation, to assist the poorest of African nations, to enable those with disabilities to lead normal lives, and to give health care givers opportunities.
In Leamer’s passionate narrative, each Kennedy man becomes not the passive victim of the happenstance of birth and upbringing, but a full participant in his own fate. The good that the Kennedy sons have done is amply chronicled, and so is the bad and the tragic. John F. Kennedy Jr.’s life is a thread running through the pages of THE SONS OF CAMELOT. Some may be drawn to the book largely to read the definitive portrait based largely on the full cooperation of his eight closest friends. Others may come intrigued to read the intimate story of Senator Edward Kennedy or the stirring tale of Timmy Kennedy Shriver’s rise to the head of Special Olympics International. But whatever draws the readers, they will read on driven by the powerful dramatic narrative with its impeccably researched details.
Some of these pages are inspiring, some are shocking, but all the pages are truthful. THE SONS OF CAMELOT is a spellbinding history of individuals and a family, a journey of character through time told by a brilliant, masterful writer.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2004
71 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Laurence Leamer
33 books265 followersLaurence Leamer is an award-winning journalist and historian who has written eighteen books including five New York Times bestsellers. He has worked in a factory in France, a coal mine in West Virginia and as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village in Nepal two days from a road. He has written two novels and an off Broadway play but is primarily known for his nonfiction. His most recent book, Capote's Women, is being made into an eight-part series starring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Calista Flockhart, and Demi Moore.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 28, 2018
In my ongoing challenge to read every book about The Kennedy's, I decided to read about about the 3rd generation of Kennedy's. The grandchildren of Rose & Joe. Sons of Camelot focuses mostly on the children of Robert & Ethel, Eunice & Sargent, and of course Jack & Jackie's son John. John Kennedy Jr being the brightest star of that generation he naturally gets the most ink. The most unexpected star of the book isn't a Son of Camelot but the last brother Ted. Who's life the author decided was pointless because he never became President. That's a sentiment the author shares about all the Sons of Camelot, they apparently are all disappointments because none of them became great politicians.
I also had a problem with how even when a member of the 3rd generation did something great(mostly The Shriver branch) he felt they were only doing "Good" because their mother was a Kennedy and they wanted attention, but he judged John Kennedy Jr for not doing enough "Good" because he was a Kennedy and it would get attention.
Side Note: Laurence Leamer really seemed to have a huge crush on Bobby Kennedy Jr. If I had read how handsome, smart, and great he is one more time, I was going to lose my mind.
None of the other branches of Camelot sons are even mentioned except we get a whole chapter on the William Kennedy Smith rape trial but even that chapter is mostly about Ted. The Lawford branch didn't even exist. The last chapters are the saddest because they cover the last year of John Jr's life and his "passionate" marriage to Carolyn Bessette. The author thinks it was a given that John would have run for Senate in New York and won. The Senate seat that Hilary Clinton ran for and won.
How different would the political landscape be today had John lived and become the Senator from New York?
The Shrivers are my favorite branch. The sons stayed out of trouble(for the most part) and the humanitarian work they continue to do has had the most long-term impact. More importantly they seem like they are the most well adjusted of the bunch.
Overall I enjoyed reading about the kids of Camelot. Its hard to even imagine what it was like growing up in the shadows of these mythical men you know you can never live up to.
No rec.
I also had a problem with how even when a member of the 3rd generation did something great(mostly The Shriver branch) he felt they were only doing "Good" because their mother was a Kennedy and they wanted attention, but he judged John Kennedy Jr for not doing enough "Good" because he was a Kennedy and it would get attention.
Side Note: Laurence Leamer really seemed to have a huge crush on Bobby Kennedy Jr. If I had read how handsome, smart, and great he is one more time, I was going to lose my mind.
None of the other branches of Camelot sons are even mentioned except we get a whole chapter on the William Kennedy Smith rape trial but even that chapter is mostly about Ted. The Lawford branch didn't even exist. The last chapters are the saddest because they cover the last year of John Jr's life and his "passionate" marriage to Carolyn Bessette. The author thinks it was a given that John would have run for Senate in New York and won. The Senate seat that Hilary Clinton ran for and won.
How different would the political landscape be today had John lived and become the Senator from New York?
The Shrivers are my favorite branch. The sons stayed out of trouble(for the most part) and the humanitarian work they continue to do has had the most long-term impact. More importantly they seem like they are the most well adjusted of the bunch.
Overall I enjoyed reading about the kids of Camelot. Its hard to even imagine what it was like growing up in the shadows of these mythical men you know you can never live up to.
No rec.
March 22, 2018
I bought this book years ago and decided to finally read it since Chris Kennedy is running for Governor of Illinois. He lost the primary.
This is a very well written book about the Kennedy family which goes into great detail about the good and bad aspects of their lives. It is not gossipy or salacious like other books have been. As a matter of fact, the author interviewed most of the people he wrote about: all the Shriver children; the 5 surviving sons of Robert Kennedy; Ted Kennedy; and many of JFK Jr.s close friends, among others. These interviews give credibility to the information in the book.
Being a Kennedy is not as glamorous as it sounds from the outside. This family, especially the Robert Kennedy branch, was a hot mess at times, dealing with addictions of many kinds, lack of discipline, arrogance, self importance, extreme risk taking, just to name a few. Ethel Kennedy basically absconded her responsibilities as a mother, and her sons ran wild. When she couldn't control them, she threw them out of the house. Drugs were everywhere. It was a wonder that they survived their teens. (Obviously David Kennedy did not survive much past his teens.) As adults, the RFK boys faced a lot of difficulties with bad marriages, more drugs and other scandals. Some sought help and turned their lives around, some came to disastrous ends.
The Shriver kids come off much better, being raised under the very firm hand of Eunice and Sarge. They weren't perfect, but they had a much better start in life.
A lot of the book is about Ted Kennedy and all his troubles, of which there are many.
Nothing is sugarcoated. His drinking, his womanizing, his marriage to Joan, his failure as a role model to his brothers' children, his Senate career, Chappaquidick, the trial of his nephew William Smith: it's all here.
A lot of the book is also about JFK Jr. Jackie did a great job raising her children (unlike her sister in law) and John turned out well. He struggled with his fame sometimes, and looked for ways to escape it. Sometimes he was careless in estimating how dangerous an adventure might be. He and some of his cousins took too many risks at times. His marriage was troubled, which was sad to learn.
My biggest disappointment with this book starts with the title: The Sons of Camelot.
Why not The Children of Camelot? Or The Heirs of Camelot?
Why just the boys? There are a lot of Kennedy daughters and they are given short shrift. Maria Shriver, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Caroline Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, Kara Kennedy just to name a few, are only mentioned in reference to their father or brothers or husband. How sexist! The author perpetuates the same misogyny that the Kennedy men have always practiced: women don't matter. They are just an adjunct to men. This book would have been so much better if it had included the young Kennedy women.
That said, it's still a good book for those who have any interest in the Kennedy family. Although I gave a lot of information above, I can't say that any of it is a spoiler, since it is all pretty much in the public record.
I would recommend this book.
This is a very well written book about the Kennedy family which goes into great detail about the good and bad aspects of their lives. It is not gossipy or salacious like other books have been. As a matter of fact, the author interviewed most of the people he wrote about: all the Shriver children; the 5 surviving sons of Robert Kennedy; Ted Kennedy; and many of JFK Jr.s close friends, among others. These interviews give credibility to the information in the book.
Being a Kennedy is not as glamorous as it sounds from the outside. This family, especially the Robert Kennedy branch, was a hot mess at times, dealing with addictions of many kinds, lack of discipline, arrogance, self importance, extreme risk taking, just to name a few. Ethel Kennedy basically absconded her responsibilities as a mother, and her sons ran wild. When she couldn't control them, she threw them out of the house. Drugs were everywhere. It was a wonder that they survived their teens. (Obviously David Kennedy did not survive much past his teens.) As adults, the RFK boys faced a lot of difficulties with bad marriages, more drugs and other scandals. Some sought help and turned their lives around, some came to disastrous ends.
The Shriver kids come off much better, being raised under the very firm hand of Eunice and Sarge. They weren't perfect, but they had a much better start in life.
A lot of the book is about Ted Kennedy and all his troubles, of which there are many.
Nothing is sugarcoated. His drinking, his womanizing, his marriage to Joan, his failure as a role model to his brothers' children, his Senate career, Chappaquidick, the trial of his nephew William Smith: it's all here.
A lot of the book is also about JFK Jr. Jackie did a great job raising her children (unlike her sister in law) and John turned out well. He struggled with his fame sometimes, and looked for ways to escape it. Sometimes he was careless in estimating how dangerous an adventure might be. He and some of his cousins took too many risks at times. His marriage was troubled, which was sad to learn.
My biggest disappointment with this book starts with the title: The Sons of Camelot.
Why not The Children of Camelot? Or The Heirs of Camelot?
Why just the boys? There are a lot of Kennedy daughters and they are given short shrift. Maria Shriver, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Caroline Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, Kara Kennedy just to name a few, are only mentioned in reference to their father or brothers or husband. How sexist! The author perpetuates the same misogyny that the Kennedy men have always practiced: women don't matter. They are just an adjunct to men. This book would have been so much better if it had included the young Kennedy women.
That said, it's still a good book for those who have any interest in the Kennedy family. Although I gave a lot of information above, I can't say that any of it is a spoiler, since it is all pretty much in the public record.
I would recommend this book.
October 1, 2019
Author details exploits of post-assassination lives of Ted Kennedy and the sons of John, Robert and Ted Kennedy. Truths revealed with both a little bit of a gossipy slant as well as a dose of sympathy. In sum, the picture shows a family with a streak of tragedy, a perceived desire to help their fellow man, a good dose of arrogance and more than a little entitlement.
July 3, 2019
The third instalment in Leamer's terrific books on the Kennedy family, who I've always been utterly fascinated by. I really enjoyed this one just as much as the other two and it was nice to hold a proper book for a change as well, since it's not available digitally.
This one continues onward post-JFK's assassination and brings to life John, the Shriver boys, Chris Lawford (though very little about him), the Kennedy-Smith lads and the Bobby Kennedys !! To say the children of Bobby were a handful is to so underestimate the job Ethel had, although it's not as though she wouldn't have had "help" in the home. It didn't do her any harm, either, as last time I looked she's STILL going strong at 91 ! However, their father's death clearly left all her sons adrift in differing fashions, along with his brother Teddy, who had lost every single one of his brothers. Just devastating that had to be.
I did notice the author referred to Joe Kennedy as the eldest of all the Kennedy grandchildren. He was the oldest male but his sister Kathleen is the eldest. I liked Mark Shriver's bill about revoking the drivers' licences of those fathers who didn't meet their child support payments......something we should invoke here, too ! I was less than impressed by Joe Kennedy's attempt to annul his first marriage, though, when he had twin sons !! What an outrageous thing to do ! I'd no idea John had suffered with Graves' Disease, which I have, too.
It made a change to read about the next generation, although all THEIR kids have to be grown-ups now, too.
This one continues onward post-JFK's assassination and brings to life John, the Shriver boys, Chris Lawford (though very little about him), the Kennedy-Smith lads and the Bobby Kennedys !! To say the children of Bobby were a handful is to so underestimate the job Ethel had, although it's not as though she wouldn't have had "help" in the home. It didn't do her any harm, either, as last time I looked she's STILL going strong at 91 ! However, their father's death clearly left all her sons adrift in differing fashions, along with his brother Teddy, who had lost every single one of his brothers. Just devastating that had to be.
I did notice the author referred to Joe Kennedy as the eldest of all the Kennedy grandchildren. He was the oldest male but his sister Kathleen is the eldest. I liked Mark Shriver's bill about revoking the drivers' licences of those fathers who didn't meet their child support payments......something we should invoke here, too ! I was less than impressed by Joe Kennedy's attempt to annul his first marriage, though, when he had twin sons !! What an outrageous thing to do ! I'd no idea John had suffered with Graves' Disease, which I have, too.
It made a change to read about the next generation, although all THEIR kids have to be grown-ups now, too.
September 15, 2007
This was a really good book! I've always wanted to know more about the Kennedy family, especially since I grew up hearing about them considering I'm from MA. Not only that, but I'll have friends or families gushing over the younger Kennedys, saying they went on a date or something. The air of eliteness surrounds them, so it was refreshing reading this book. I've always heard about the Kennedy curse, but didn't know the details about different things that went on in the family's lives. It was... surreal, as if their lives literally were made for the movies, a Hollywoodized life.
I didn't want to put this book down, but I had to for work, school and when I did, it was with regret that I didn't have more time!
I didn't want to put this book down, but I had to for work, school and when I did, it was with regret that I didn't have more time!
March 21, 2008
i wasn't too crazy about this book, mainly because of the way it was set up. because i am not too familiar with the kennedy sons, it was hard for me to follow the stories of each (and there are MANY). pretty much each chapter focused on one of the sons, but in an erratic way -- one chapter for tim, then 2 for john, then 1 for michael, then back to tim for 2 chapters, etc. it was all very confusing.
however, i did like the particular focus on jfk jr., who i was interested in learning more about. also liked how the author did not sugarcoat his life because of who his father was.
however, i did like the particular focus on jfk jr., who i was interested in learning more about. also liked how the author did not sugarcoat his life because of who his father was.
May 28, 2024
Herein are sobering accounts of the male children of, primarily, Jack, Robert and Ted Kennedy. Also included, perhaps to brighten what is otherwise a pretty dark landscape, are the Shriver Children. Basically, everybody is messed up except the Shrivers and Jackie and her daughter. Caroline. Ted is covered in some detail, being the patriarch of the family. Despite his alcoholism and infidelities, he is treated with considerable sympathy, his life framing the whole.
June 4, 2018
This was a fascinating book. Being a Kennedy was sometimes a blessing but more often a curse.
March 28, 2019
A really good read about the Kennedy family, with alot of insider information! I checked the author's sources and he detail many interviews with members of the Kennedy family including Ted Kennedy. It offers readers an honest view on JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette's relationship. I have alot of respect for Leamer and his books!
Laurence Leamer
Sons of Camelot: The Fate of an American Dynasty
Laurence Leamer
Sons of Camelot: The Fate of an American Dynasty
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2025
An old-school historian's approach to a family's history, spanning three generations. While occasionally biased, it's beautifully written and informative. Although the main topic is the Kennedy family, its topic touches onto numerous others, reverberating through the past decades of American social history.
December 16, 2024
A very interesting book covering the lives of the Kennedy men thoroughly interesting and well researched and hard to put down. VERY WELL written and a enjoyable read.Will purchase The Kennedy Men And The Kennedy Women next by the same author as I was so impressed with this book.
October 1, 2019
I was surprised at how many of these young Kennedys' stories were unfamiliar to me.
September 27, 2023
Excellent. Insightful and seemingly willing to present events as happened and not in the light most favorable to the Kennedy family or legacy.
May 15, 2024
I believe in the curse, what a troubled family. JFK Jr story in particular haunts me. RIP Carolyn
May 23, 2014
I have found books on the Kennedy's endlessly fascinating . More had probably been written on them then any other American family. Laurence Leamer's lengthy tome on the fate of the son's of patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy is no less entertaining and a balanced and fair look into to lives of these men. The Kennedy dynasty and its generations is based on the will of that patriarch along with the mythology and media worship that has kept it clearly in the spotlight for so many years. Joe, who created the fortune through what we would today label as white collar crime drove his sons with the blind ambition toward his ultimate goal of political conquest. Jack of ultimately reached that pinnacle and would be the only one to do so. The book looks into the lives, accomplishments, and failures of the these sons and grandsons. The darker side of alcohol, drugs, and womanizing is a big part of the story as are some of the successes in causes such as the Special Olympics. What could have been and what might have been did not quite play out as fate along with a fair measure of risky behavior ultimately decided things.
March 3, 2016
The "biographies" of the sons and grandsons of Joseph P Kennedy. Not very good at all. I wound up skimming a lot of it. Not entertaining. Skipped around among all the Kennedy cousins. Photos focused on John F Kennedy Jr.
May 30, 2012
I didn't finish the book partly because I wasn't sufficiently interested in the subject matter and partly because I found the construction very disjointed. --Perhaps had I been more interested, I would have ploughed through.
March 17, 2014
the information presented was interesting but the narrative jumped from one person to another in a very confusing manner esp. with the numerous same and similar names. You needed to stop go back and figure out which one of the numerous Kennedys he was talking about now
Read
January 20, 2017Very good information on Kennedy Family. Interested in JFK's kids, the "Curse"? This is the perfect book for you. Long however, and takes a while to finish. Good read, but important to have prior knowledge on some political events in 60's/70's. Helps with the comprehension.
October 4, 2007
Informative, interesting book on The Kennedy men.Sad lives.
December 31, 2009
I have always been a Kennedy buff. Leamer's book is a refreshing look at the younger generation of Kennedy's--their strengths, foibles, failures, successes, lives, and deaths.
April 29, 2012
I enjoyed this read. It seemed honest without being gossipy. I did get a bit tired of hearing so much about Ted Kennedy.
January 11, 2016
A good read. Was nice to hear about the other Kennedy children.
November 27, 2016
Tragedies in the family
Excellent book on the trials and tribulations of the Kennedy family. The book is very well done and shows the good and bad of the family.
Good read
Excellent book on the trials and tribulations of the Kennedy family. The book is very well done and shows the good and bad of the family.
Good read
December 15, 2016
Very readable book
this book really told the whole story about all the Kennedy men in a most readable and interesting way I enjoyed reading this book very much
this book really told the whole story about all the Kennedy men in a most readable and interesting way I enjoyed reading this book very much
April 16, 2017
This book is about the Kennedy males, beginning with Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy and spending the most time with the sons of all the children of Joe and Rose Kennedy. If you have read many books about the family (I have), there is probably less previously printed information here, but I did learn a few new things. A pretty good read, I would say.
**#45 of 120 books pledged to read during 2017**
**#45 of 120 books pledged to read during 2017**
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews