Jackie Bouvier's privileged upbringing instilled rigid self-control, while her expedient marriage into the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis clan consolidated her determination. This is the biography of Kennedy. It shows the complexities of this public relationship, including the affairs that threatened it, and of her controversial marriage to Onassis.

This is the definitive biography of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - a fascinating account of an extraordinary life. Jackie Bouvier's privileged upbringing instilled rigid self-control, while her expedient marriage into the Kennedy clan consolidated her determination. Revealing new testimony from many of the couple's closest friends, this title shows the profound complexities both of this very public relationship, including the affairs that threatened it, and of her controversial marriage to Onassis. Here is the private Jackie - neglected wife, vigilant mother, obsessive shopper and working widow - whose fascinating nature is illuminated by all that Bradford has discovered.

Publisher:

Limited (UK) Penguin Books

ISBN:

9780140264104

Publication date:

September 2001

Length:

198mm

Width:

129mm

Thickness:

41mm

Weight:

552g

Edition:

New edition

Pages:

704

Illustrations:

24pp b&w photographs

Readership:

General

At 608 pages Bradford has undoubtedly produced the definitive guide to the life of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The bulk of the book covers in minute detail Jackie's early years and in particular her relationship with Jack 'Black Jack' Bouvier, her playboy father who gambled and drunk to excess. Jack Bouvier was constantly unfaithful to his wife and Bradford suggests that it was this early role model that led Jackie to be attracted to similar men in her own adult life. Undoubtedly Jackie loved her father dearly and even his failure to give her away on her wedding day, due to incapacity through alcohol, did not seem to diminish her love for him. Jackie Bouvier had a charmed and comfortable childhood, at least to the outside world. Apparently affluent, this facade actually disguised an obsession with money. After her marriage to Jack Bouvier ended, Jackie's mother married the millionaire Hughdie Auchincloss but to the Bouvier sisters, Jackie and Lee, it was apparent early on that their inheritance was to be modest. Bradford has clearly used Lee Radziwell, Jackie's sister, as a major source for her book. The sisters had a close relationship but there appeared to be intense competition between them, which was all too clearly manifested itself over Aristotle Onassis. The most compelling part of this biography is undoubtedly Jackie's years with John F Kennedy, and in particular her time in the White House. JFK's womanizing is shown against Jackie's compulsive spending. The marriage is shown in all its faults and Jackie's unhappiness is clear but Bradford does suggest that Jackie and Jack had reached a happier more tranquil part of their relationship when the shocking events of November 22nd 1963 unfolded. Although Bradford relates the assassination of JFK in a simple, factual way, she skilfully conveys just what Jackie Kennedy had to go through on that day and in the aftermath of the assassination. The last third of the book covers Jackie's marriage to Aristotle Onassis. Bradford suggests that the trauma of Bobby Kennedy's assassination led to Jackie's desperation to find a safe place for herself and her children and although she found safety with Onassis, she had also found another unfaithful man. Jackie seems to have reached a peaceful zenith in the latter part of her life. She took a publishing job and obviously found satisfaction at finally doing, and achieving, something for herself. Her partner, Maurice Tempelsman, also seems to point to a more peaceful and happy life. Bradford's biography is not only a brilliant discourse of one of the most fascinating women of the 20th century, but is also a fascinating insight into a turbulent period of American history. (Kirkus UK)