Book recommendations: biographies that detail the relationship of interesting historical figures (preferably happy relationships).

October 16, 2012 11:38 PM

Book recommendations: biographies that detail the relationship of interesting historical figures (preferably happy relationships).

I'd really like to read some well-written biographies that focus on the relationship(s) of well-known, interesting historical figures, *not* the other things they had going on in their lives.

Generally speaking, I'm interested in people who devoted themselves to one person, and were in relationships that lasted decades, not something fleeting.

People who immediately come to mind include: Harry and Bess Truman, Winston and Clementine Churchill.

I'm not sure what other figures I should consider, or what books are out there that accomplish what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance.

posted by 254blocks to grab bag (7 answers total)

John and Abigail Adams are pretty well recognized as having a strong, loving relationship grounded in mutual respect. Some of their correspondence has been published, but their letters to each other also discuss current events.
posted by xyzzy at 1:11 AM on October 17, 2012

John Bayley's written about his 40 year marriage to Iris Murdoch in loving detail, including her decline and battle with Alzheimer's.
posted by MuffinMan at 2:00 AM on October 17, 2012

Oliver Cromwell's letters to his family and friends make very interesting reading, as they present an interesting contrast to the general perception of him. The quote below, for example, is from one of his letters to his wife:

I have not leisure to write much. But I could chide thee that in many of thy
letters thou writest to me, that I should not be unmindful of thee and thy little
ones. Truly, if I love you not too well, I think I err not on the other hand much.
Thou art dearer to me than any creature; let that suffice.

I thought there'd recently been a good book focusing on them but I can't seem to find anything on Amazon.

There's a good selection here though, you want to look in particular for the ones to:

- Elizabeth (His wife, who he dotted on)
- Bridget (His daughter)
- Richard "Dick" Cromwell (his son)
- Dorothy (Richard's wife)
- Richard Mayor (Dorothy's father)
posted by garius at 2:10 AM on October 17, 2012

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.
posted by ubiquity at 2:38 AM on October 17, 2012

I can't recommend a specifc book but Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward seemed to be happily married for fifty years.
posted by humph at 4:00 AM on October 17, 2012

Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages -- engrossing and beautifully written, about the relationships of Ruskin, JS Mill, Carlyle, Dickens, and George Eliot. Only one of the marriages could really be called happy-- the one that wasn't legally a marriage!-- but they're all fascinating.
posted by Erasmouse at 4:46 AM on October 17, 2012 [2 favorites]

Tete-a-Tete: Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre
posted by Egg Shen at 7:50 AM on October 17, 2012