The First Lady of World War II, Shannon McKenna Schmidt
The First Lady of World War II, Shannon McKenna Schmidt
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

The First Lady of World War II

Author: Shannon McKenna Schmidt

Narrator: Suzanne Toren

Unabridged: 9 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 05/02/2023


Synopsis

Five weeks, twenty-five thousand miles, and an arduous secret journey of a brave First Lady.

August 1943. As World War II consumes much of the globe, Americans at home have no idea the extent of the horror their servicemen face. What they also don’t know is that Eleanor Roosevelt has boarded a military transport plane, heading to the Pacific theater on a mission to discover and report first hand accounts of the war. Anticipating familiar backlash from those who would prefer a prim and proper First Lady, as well as to help ensure her safety, Eleanor and the rest of the White House keep the journey a closely guarded secret—that is, until news breaks ten days later that she had left the country on a risky expedition.

The First Lady of World War II follows Eleanor on this rigorous and daring trek to Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia, through the South Pacific and into territory still under enemy air attack. Presenting a lesser-known part of Eleanor’s time as First Lady, author Shannon McKenna Schmidt reveals the adventures, secrets, and dangers of one fascinating woman’s determination to not hide from the pain of war, but to reveal the truth of it to herself and to the American people.

This audio program includes an archival recording of a speech given by Eleanor Roosevelt in Wellington, New Zealand, on August 29, 1943.

About Shannon McKenna Schmidt

Shannon McKenna Schmidt, a freelance writer with a passion for reading and travel, spent ten years working in marketing for various book publishers. Her work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Arrive, Continental, France Today, the New York Daily News, the Miami Herald, and other magazines, newspapers, and Web sites, and she is a regular contributor to the book industry news publication Shelf Awareness. She is coauthor, with Joni Rendon, of Novel Destinations.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Scottsdale Public Library on June 22, 2023

Schmidt wrote a very detailed account of Eleanor Roosevelt’s difficult and dangerous trip to conduct inspections for the Red Cross and visit allies in the South Pacific in 1943. I gained a new appreciation for the hard-working, determined woman she was. I especially liked the insights into what life......more

Goodreads review by Christy on April 10, 2023

'Behind every great man is a great woman', is a very apt proverb to describe Eleanor Roosevelt. 'The First Lady of World War II' is a case study on Eleanor's tireless works during the war, specifically her tour of the Pacific Islands during the late stages of the war; culminating at Guadalcanal whic......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on November 11, 2022

The First Lady of World War II Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back by Shannon McKenna Schmidt is an excellent nonfiction and biographical account of the former First Lady and her actions, encounters, and experiences when she traveled to the Pacific during WWII. This was utte......more

Goodreads review by Murphy on March 13, 2025

Eleanor Roosevelt was a bad ass. There is a clear reason why she consistently dominates the rankings for best First Lady in U.S. history. She totally defied the norms of what it meant to be the First Lady. She flew planes with Amelia Earhart, taught her kids to backpack/camp after FDR became paralyz......more

Goodreads review by Gilion on August 01, 2023

This new book about Eleanor Roosevelt's personal involvement WWII reads like the most entertaining historical fiction but is a nonfiction biography. Author Shannon McKenna Schmidt did her research. The book comes to life through the primary sources she dug up and weaves throughout the text. The Firs......more