Everybody thinks they know the story. Shy, put-upon Eleanor Roosevelt battled her domineering, manipulative mother-in-law, Sara Delano Roosevelt, to triumph on the public stage in spite of efforts to keep her down. It is true that Eleanor Roosevelt was a unique woman who profoundly influenced the course of the twentieth century. But her achievements would not have been possible without the guidance of Sara Delano Roosevelt.Born into a wealthy family, Sara enjoyed a life of both privilege and adventure: She descended from twelve Mayflower family lines and yet, as a child, lived in China far from her Yankee roots. Her gilded circle in young adulthood was Knickerbocker New York. Her marriage at age twenty-six to a man twice her age set her in the Victorian frame in which they raised Franklin.When Franklin married Eleanor, she was a young and awkward girl, in sharp contrast to Sara, who was worldly, confident, and in possession of all the social graces Eleanor seemed to lack. From the early days of Eleanor's marriage to her emergence as a public figure, Sara would be Eleanor's greatest female influence - nurturing her independence and supporting the young couple through difficult times. The inevitable rough spots in their relationship were later dramatized in a time when strong women were vilified and traditional values were suspect.Sara and Eleanor, the only book to examine this relationship, is a triumphant blend of social history and psychological insight - a dynamic look at two of American history's most important women. Through extensive research and personal interviews, Jan Pottker offers new stories and interprets how the intersecting lives of Sara and Eleanor produced two extraordinary women. Read Less