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LONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION

An enthralling and groundbreaking new biography of one of modern Americas most fascinating and consequential political figures drawing on important new sources by an awardwinning biographer who covered Kennedy closely for many years

John A Farrells magnificent biography of Edward M Kennedy is the first singlevolume life of the great figure since his death Farrells long acquaintance with the Kennedy universe and the acclaim accorded his previous booksincluding his New York Times bestselling biography of Richard Nixon a finalist for the Pulitzer Prizehelped garner him access to a remarkable range of new sources including segments of Kennedys personal diary and his private confessions to members of his family in the days that followed the accident on Chappaquiddick Farrell is without question one of Americas greatest political biographers and a storyteller of deep wisdom and empathy His book does full justice to this famously epic and turbulent life of almost unimaginable tragedy and triumph

As the fourth son of the closeknit but fiercely competitive Kennedy clan Ted was the runt of the litter Expelled from Harvard University for cheating he was a funloving playboy who nevertheless served his brothers loyally and effectively It was easy to take Ted lightly and many did But when he was elected to the United States Senate at the age of thirty to fill his brother Jacks seat something unexpected happened he found his home and his calling there Over time Ted Kennedy would build arguably the most significant senatorial career in American history

His life was buffeted by heartbreak the violent deaths of his three older brothers his own terrible plane crash his childrens bouts with cancer and the hideous selfinflicted wounds of Chappaquiddick and stretches of drinking and womanizing that caused irreparable damage to an already fragile first marriage Those wounds scarred Ted deeply but also tempered his character and eventually he embarked on a run as legislator party elder and paterfamilias of the Kennedy family that would change America for the better John A Farrell brings us the man as he was in strength and weakness his profound but complicated inheritance and his vital legacy as only a great biographer can do Without the story this book tells no understanding of modern America can be complete