Upstairs at the Roosevelts'

Growing Up with Franklin and Eleanor

By: Curtis Roosevelt

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Curtis Roosevelt knew what it was like to live with a president. His grandfather was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. From the time Curtis, with his sister, Eleanor, and recently divorced mother, Anna Roosevelt Dall, moved into his grandparents' new home - the White House - Curtis played, learned, slept, ate, and lived in one of the most famous buildings in the world, with one of its most famous residents.

Writing about his childhood from that perspective, Curtis Roosevelt offers anecdotes and revelations about the lives of the president and first lady and the many colorful personalities in this presidential family. From Eleanor's shocking role in the remarriage of Curtis' mother to visits from naughty cousins and trips to the "Home Farm", Upstairs at the Roosevelts' provides an intimate perspective on the dynamics of one of America's most famous families and those who visited and were friends - and sometimes even enemies.

©2017 Curtis Roosevelt (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A grandson's viewpoint

Curtis Roosevelt Dall (1930-2016) was the son of Anna Roosevelt (1906-1975), the daughter of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962). Anna and her children came to live at the White House when she was obtaining a divorce from Curtis Dean Dall. Curtis says the book is a collection of his memories from living with his grandparents in the White House from age 3 to 15. Curtis and his sister also stayed with his paternal great grandmother, Sara Ana Delano Roosevelt (1854-1941), at Hyde Park at various times. He apparently had an excellent relationship with her. He does tell of his time in his late teens to early twenties when he worked for his grandmother at the United Nations. Curtis tells of his time in Israel as ER’s representative to the newly formed Israeli government. In the 1960s, he went on to a career at the United Nations.

Curtis provided more insight into the relationship of his mother to her parents and siblings. The author also provided more information into how his grandmother did not like to be touched. Much of the information in this book is available in various biographies of the Roosevelt family, but the information about his feelings and his insights to various situations or behaviors is unique to this book. For those who are interested in the Roosevelts, this book is a worthwhile read.

The book is well written and researched and is a fast-easy read. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours long.

Robertson Dean does an excellent job narrating the book. I have happily listened to Dean many times. Dean is an actor and award-winning audiobook narrator.