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9th out of 48 books
—
9 voters
American Jennie: The Remarkable Life of Lady Randolph Churchill
by
Anne Sebba
Brooklyn-born Jennie Jerome married into the British aristocracy in 1874, after a three-day romance. She became Lady Randolph Churchill, wife of a maverick politician and mother of the most famous British statesman of the century. Jennie Churchill was not merely the most talked about and controversial American woman in London society, she was a dynamic behind-the-scenes po...more
Hardcover, 416 pages
Published
November 17th 2007
by W. W. Norton & Company
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Certainly proof of the power of an involved mother. Jennie was the power behind the polital rise of Winston. She had earlier been very involved in the politial life of her husband, Randolph. Jennie was a beautiful, musically talented woman who always lived beyond her means and had a rather prolific 'love life.' Her American family moved to Europe with the goal of marrying their three daughters to nobility. An interesting book with coloraful characters, yet certainly not noble in character. I thi...more
I will admit that I came to this book with a bad attitude. It is a selection of my book club. My reaction was Jennie Jerome Churchill is only researched and written about because she was the mother of Winston Churchill and that he bore her mark (or scars). I did not vote for it and was disappointed when it was selected. I seriously considered not reading it because I will be away on vacation at the time of the discussion. But read it, I did and it just re-enforced my opinion.
Jennie was a spoiled...more
Jennie was a spoiled...more
A very interesting account of the life of a woman I knew very little about before reading this book. A very strong and intelligent woman who used her wiles in to advance her family and raised amazing children. That the mother of Winston Churchill engaged in some of this behavior adds a very different demention to my idea of him and all he did. This book shows a different side of Victorian English society as well from the point of view of an outsider.
While full of interesting facts and theories on the exciting life of Jennie Churchill I did not end the book feeling that I had a better understanding of her life or even of life in that era. The writing at times was confusing enough to require re-readings of many pages just to make sure I knew who the writer was discussing. It certainly piqued my curiosity about her famous son Winston Churchill and the American money-for-titles wives who flooded England at the turn of the century. A good starti...more
Apr 23, 2013
Kjirstin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction,
biography
As a connoisseur of books about the Gilded Age, particularly of the large numbers of American heiresses who traveled to Europe to marry nobility in this time, I was interested in this biography of Jennie Jerome who became the mother of Winston Churchill. What an interesting life she had! (And her death was worthy of Carrie Bradshaw...)
I read this between fiction, so it took a while. Too, it seemed sad that as she grew up, this woman never seemed to outgrow the rattling young woman that she'd bee...more
I read this between fiction, so it took a while. Too, it seemed sad that as she grew up, this woman never seemed to outgrow the rattling young woman that she'd bee...more
Fascinating life these Churchills lived; so different from mine. I think Jennie was way ahead of her time. I find it amazing Winston Churchill turned out so well given his upbringing; i.e. he was basically ignored by his parents.
Dull. This woman was not all that remarkable. I found her to be a whining, pampered rich man's daughter who couldn't accept rules for her and her son and tried in every way to circumvent them.
I am into all things Churchill, so I enjoyed this audiobook. She was amazing. This account of Jennie is good companion reading to enjoy with "The Last Lion" about her son Winston.
An interesting biography of Jennie Churchill, Winston Churchill's mother. I had known she was American, but didn't realize what an interesting life she had!
The subject is interesting but the writing is unclear and inconsistent. I haven't finished reading it yet and may not get around to it.
As a biographer of Jennie's sister-in-law, Lily, Duchess of Marlborough, I am always on the lookout for new information about Jennie and her Churchill family. This recent book summed up the known material about her in a workmanlike manner.
I love all things Churchill. The story/history is great,but the writing is a bit dry.
This is well researched book about a very interesting woman.
I love historical bios looking into someone's life from the past. It is certainly clear why Winston was the way he was with a never say fail attitude gotten clearly from his mother. Lady Churchill did whatever she had to to keep the life she wanted to have the best of everything. She knew what she wanted she went and got it.
Good information, but dry, read more like a compilation of letters.
Well researched. Pretty good.
I looked forward to reading this biography of Jennie Churchill, the mother of Winston and wife of Randolph. Born in Brooklyn, NY (and you can see the plaque in front of her home on Henry Street), she led an interesting and yet, frustrating life. The author of this book failed to bring Jennie alive for me, reporting in a factual but not always engaging manner, and sometimes reaching psychological conclusions that weren't necessarily justified.
Excellent book. Extremely readable. I've read a lot about Winston Churchill but not about his mother. Recommend to anyone who enjoys history.
Such potential, but Sebba didn't pull it off. Jennie Churchill was an incredible woman, I want to read more about her, but this biography was frustrating and in some ways dull.
Excellent, absorbing and extremely readable. A fascinating account of a fascinating woman.
May 08, 2008
Jaime
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
an anglophile who wants to see an American connection
The first few chapters were interesting and easy to read but now I'm stalled.
Apr 08, 2008
Mr. Pe Mr. Pe
added it
this book is great i recommend this to everyone
Apr 15, 2013
Sarah
marked it as to-read
Apr 11, 2013
Julie Mcwha
marked it as to-read
Apr 10, 2013
Stephanie
marked it as to-read
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Anne Sebba is a biographer, lecturer, journalist and former Reuters foreign correspondent. She read History at Kings College, London University and her first job was at the BBC World Services in the Arabic Department. She has written eight books, several short stories and introductions to reprinted novels. She has presented documentaries on BBC R3 and BBC R4, is a member of the Society of Authors...more
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