Princess Alice: The Life and Times of Alice Roosevelt Longworth (Vermilion Books)

Wonderful historical tale of one of the most outrageous women of her time. The authormakes an effort to portray her in a very realistic manner, warts and all.

I didn't know anything about Alice but she was a fascinating woman. For anyone who likes historical biographies and/or politics I recommend this book.

A wonderful biography.

I did not know what to expect from this book, or how there could be enough information about a child of a famous president to constitute writing a book about them. I had read several book about Theodore Roosevelt, but my knowledge about this first born child was limited to her birth, her mother's death and the abandonment by her father when he escaped to the badlands. What I learned was a story of a child, who never really fit into this large family, a step-mother, who insisted that her sister in law relinquish custody of Alice, yet did not appear to love her unconditionally. Her father, as well, seemed to be disengaged with her upbringing. This lack of parental closeness, coupled with the constant spoiling by the Lee family, put Alice on a disastrous course of problems in marriage and life. Her adultery, her spitefulness and her lack of genuine love for anyone, including her own daughter who tragically died early in life, all reflects a tragic life of a woman with little or no empathy. The book is excellent, and a great read. I learned so much about Alice that I did not know, and that's good.

In her many years in Washington, Alice Roosevelt Longworth saw and considered all. The biting wit she so happily shared (she had a pillow made that said,"If you have nothing nice to say, sit next to me)with friends and, more pointedly, enemies is on view.It was not a happy life, death seemed too often and too soon to be a companion. Starting with her own Mother at child birth and continuing to include her Father, husband and Daughter. Privately she grieved but publicly she knew she had a responsibility to keep fresh the memory of the deceased.Never one to not do what wasn't acceptable, she cheerfully tells of being drunk in Japan, plotting to marry Nicholas Longworth, who would become Speaker of the House and writing a colume to rival her distant cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt. (Mrs. Longworth's was more amusing).As hardcore biography this isn't a gem but as the view of a fascinating life it reveals what we need to know of a famous American. Certainly, her influence and power-which were real-did not extend beyond the beltway of Washington D.C. Too often viewed as a "society lady" by the country at large, (hence the title "Princess Alice")known outside Washington principally for a popular song, "Alice Blue Gown" she was the keeper of that now dead feature of that stimulating, intellectual life, the salon.What is noted is her great humanity that was never part of her public persona. Reaching out to a pre-married Eleanor (and subsequently being rebuffed and vilified by this same person) or allowing her home to be used as a hostel during a war, was all part of what was a very private person. She had discovered, and the reader can learn a lesson here, that to be very private, you need to be a bit public. Liked or Loathed, all of Washington came to her-if in some cases a bit reluctantly.Only in one instance did her instincts for the country she truly loved let her down;her involvement, along with Charles Lindbergh, in the abortive movement, America First. It was an episode she regretted, but, as was typical of the Lady, never quite apologized for.A subject such as Alice Roosevelt Longworth needs a book about them for posterity. She belongs to a group of people that while time will never entirely forget, the personality and importance of her and her times will be diminshed.It's an easily read book, an enjoyable glance at a character, in a time when character meant something more than a strange person, who in subtle ways had a pleasantly nasty way of influencing people. Enjoy her that way and this book is a good place to make her acquaintance.

Loved this book! Alice was such a powerful, articulate and witty woman. Excellent book about Teddy Roosevelt's daughter with an attitude.

A good biography I couldn't help but feel sorry for Alice. Her mother died at birth and there were many examples where her father didn't seem to care about her. Leaving her with her aunt to go out west. The second review gives more examples. A lot of her behavoir and wild antics seemed to steam from a lonely girl looking for attention from her family. No wonder Alice loved all the attention she got at as the president's daughter.

I have not yet read it. Her father certainly caused her sadness, unintentionally I'm sure. It does seem cruel, wouldn't you agree.