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No Ordinary Time

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description No Ordinary Time Overview

Doris Kearns Goodwin’s *No Ordinary Time* offers a detailed portrait of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt's leadership during World War II. The book explores their personal struggles and political decisions as they guided America through a period of unprecedented global conflict. It is notable for its intimate portrayal of the Roosevelts and their impact on American history. This biography is valuable for anyone interested in twentieth-century politics, presidential history, or the experiences of those who shaped the nation’s response to war.

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Why is No Ordinary Time a joint biography of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt?

Doris Kearns Goodwin follows Franklin Roosevelt's wartime presidency alongside Eleanor Roosevelt's independent work on civil rights, refugees, labor, and public morale. Their political partnership continued even as their marriage functioned more as an alliance than a conventional romantic relationship.

What period of World War II does No Ordinary Time cover?

The narrative concentrates on the United States during the war years, beginning with the growing crisis in Europe and continuing through Franklin Roosevelt's death in 1945. It examines both White House decision-making and changes in American factories, families, and communities.

How does the book portray Eleanor Roosevelt's relationship with Lorena Hickok?

Goodwin discusses Hickok as one of Eleanor's closest emotional companions and draws on their extensive correspondence. The biography treats that relationship as part of Eleanor's private world while acknowledging that historians differ over its precise nature.

Did No Ordinary Time win the Pulitzer Prize?

Yes. Doris Kearns Goodwin received the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for History for No Ordinary Time, which had been published the previous year. The award recognized its combined portrait of the Roosevelts and the American home front.

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