ROOSEVELT AND HOPKINS

Sherwood's book skillfully relates a history of the U.S. Government from 1933 to 1946 through the personal papers of Franklin Roosevelt's chief of staff. That the author was at one time employed by each of the principals introduces a bias, advantageous for its firsthand insight and disadvantageous for its obligation to former friendships. The gravelly voiced E. H. Jones restrains his enthusiasm for the most part, becoming even more stilted with quotes. Granted, the didactic material doesn't allow for much creativity, but one gets the impression that the reader has become fatigued, and he mispronounces common words like "Rio de Janeiro." J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 02]