Die Kennedys und ihre Frauen

More about the book

What a great idea for a deep-dish tell-all! JFK's lonely, classy wife, Bobby's athletic, competitive wife, and Ted's meek, alcoholic wife come together, soothing each other while also clashing fiercely. Taraborrelli’s prose immerses readers in intimate moments, such as when formidable mother-in-law Rose Kennedy interrupts Joan and Ethel discussing their honeymoons: “I think Bobby was finished before I got into the room!” Ethel’s catty remarks about gentle Joan, and her mockery of Jackie’s inability to compete in touch football, highlight the tensions among them. Ethel’s claim that she and Bobby were closer than Jackie and Jack adds fuel to the fire, especially when she receives a call from Lee Remick about Bobby’s infidelity. You may have heard that Joe Kennedy offered Jackie $1 million not to divorce JFK, but did you know Jackie’s alleged response? “The price goes up to $20 million if Jack brings home any venereal diseases.” Did Ethel betray Jackie’s discontent to Joe, only to be furious when he offered her $500,000? Joan, often seen as the dim one, surprises with her own complexities, while Ted’s drunken antics, including showing up with a prostitute, add to the chaotic dynamic. Historians may debate the book's place in history, but it certainly transforms historical events into a captivating narrative.