Publishers Weekly
04/01/2019
The recently deceased wife of President George H. W. Bush and mother of President George W. Bush exemplifies an old-school style of feminine strength and influence in this warmhearted biography. USA Today Washington bureau chief Page paints Bush (1925-2018), possibly the last First Lady to have had no career, as a sometimes controversial icon of postwar wifely devotion, gamely uprooting herself from her affluent New England home to a chancy new life in Texas and being a full-time (and occasionally depressed) mom to six children—her daughter’s death from leukemia is a moving centerpiece of the narrative—to accommodate her husband’s ambitions. But she was also a canny political animal, Page contends. She persuaded her vacillating husband to go negative with racially tinged campaign ads against Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election, and asked her son pointed questions about the invasion of Iraq; in her own right, she forcefully advocated for literacy programs and opposed discrimination against AIDS patients. There’s little drama in Bush’s story apart from tension between her and Nancy Reagan, and the author’s assessment of her as indispensable to her husband’s political rise feels overstated. But Bush admirers will enjoy Page’s vivid depiction of her as an appealing, down-to-earth, sharp-tongued figure who held her own in a man’s world. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
"[A] highly readable portrait...Like the arc of her life itself, [Bush] created a bridge for first ladies that reached from traditional feminine pursuits to modern feminism. This definitive biography is a welcome contribution to our understanding of the complex role of presidential spouses."—The Washington Post
"The Matriarch will be read, and worth reading, for a long time to come."—Wall Street Journal
"Susan Page has given us an insightful and engaging portrait of a remarkable American. Wife to one President, mother to another, Barbara Bush was fascinating and complicated, and this absorbing biography brings the woman George H.W. Bush called 'the Silver Fox' to vivid life."—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush
"Formidable and fearless, candid and sharp, Barbara Bush was among the most interesting people of our time. Susan Page's intimate biography covers both the triumphs and tribulations that made her so fascinating and beloved."—Walter Isaacson, Pulitzer Prize finalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, and Einstein
"What a fascinating read! By giving Page access to her diaries and agreeing to long interviews, Barbara Bush finally reveals the person behind the pearls. And she turns out to be one of the most interesting and influential women of the twentieth century."—Cokie Roberts, New York Times bestselling author of Ladies of Liberty and political commentator for NPR and ABC News
"Except for Eleanor Roosevelt, first-rate biographies of First Ladies are rare. Susan Page's volume on Barbara Bush is an impressive exception. It is a beautifully written and informative study of not only Barbara Bush, but also the presidential administrations of her husband and son."—Robert Dallek, Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author of An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963
"Barbara Bush was the wife of one president and the mother of another, but as Susan Page shows, was far more interesting than that. In the nick of time, Page managed to interview Mrs. Bush at length, gain access to her diaries, and acquire other information that many earlier authors did not have in order to bring us this highly readable portrait, which expands our understanding of this strong, decisive woman, whose influence spanned an era."—Michael Beschloss, New York Times bestselling author of Presidents of War
"Insightful, touching, personal...this exceptionally readable Bush biography [is] unlike any you will read."—USA Today
"The Matriarch is the rare biography of a public figure that's not only beautifully written, but also shockingly revelatory."—The Atlantic
"Scoopy and insightful."—The New York Times
"A rich and empathetic portrait of a complicated, bright woman." —Barbara VanDenbugh, USA Today
"Highly recommend!"—Gayle King, CBS This Morning
"A remarkable portrait of a woman who, even while shunning the spotlight, had a lasting impact on this country."—Jennifer Palmieri
"Touching and surprising."—Dana Perino
"...Richly researched, with so many new details."—Norah O'Donnell
"The book has lots and lots of new information. Buy the book. You will enjoy it."—Greta Van Susteren
"The book offers an unprecedented look at the life of one of America's most influential women."—KBTX TV
"Fascinating."—Wolf Blitzer
"An incredible look at one of the most powerful First Ladies in history. Go buy The Matriarch now."—Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The First Conspiracy
MAY 2019 - AudioFile
Kate Levy scores a triumph with her first audiobook narration, masterfully delivering this exhaustively researched biography of First Lady Barbara Bush. Even listeners with only the most casual interest in Mrs. Bush will find themselves transfixed by complex and fascinating insights that are short on sentiment and long on family dynamics. Levy’s narration is appealing, straightforward, and highly adaptable to the narrative. As USA TODAY’s Washington bureau chief, she enjoyed interviews with Bush family members, associates, and friends both before and immediately after the deaths of both Barbara and George H.W. Bush. While Mrs. Bush was dismissive of admiration for her so-called dynasty, she did love her family and returned the appreciation of vast numbers of the American people. W.A.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
