Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer - by Donn Mitchell (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A deep exploration of how Eleanor Roosevelt's Christian faith led her to become one of the most well-known and praised humanitarians.​

"A fresh take on the influences that formed a key figure in 20th-century American history." -Publishers Weekly

A great woman who was heavily involved in politics, Eleanor Roosevelt is considered one of the most important and beloved First Ladies and female leaders. Her faith and beliefs are commonly dismissed as confines of her upbringing that she broke free from; however, her dedication to the Episcopal Church and her reliance on Jesus's teachings imply otherwise. Her nightly prayer, famously recorded in her writing, demonstrates her approach to serving her community and nation, and her inspiration and strength in the politics she was involved in become apparent when understanding the context of her religion and considering the fulfillment of her beliefs through her actions. In reviewing observations from family members, her own writing, and her participation in the church, Mitchell examines the impact of Eleanor's faith on her work, and by extension, its impact on the world.

Review Quotes

"From infancy, Eleanor's worldview was shaped by the Episcopal Church, with a faith structure and commitment to public service that provided the values and personal stability to anchor one of the most remarkable lives of service in the twentieth century. Mitchell draws a rich tapestry of her several churches . . . and demonstrates the pervasiveness of Eleanor Roosevelt's religious perspectives-even if not oft labelled as such by historians."

"Having produced an excellent biography of Frances Perkins, Donn Mitchell revisits the Episcopal inheritance of another New Deal figure, spiritual activist Eleanor Roosevelt. This biography is the first to deeply explore the formation and practice of one of the most visible global women leaders of the mid-twentieth century. Throughout, Mitchell capably brings to life the connections between Eleanor Roosevelt's spiritual center and her active church life, as well as her consequential public activism. Roosevelt admirers, as well as those interested in religious and political history, will appreciate this accessibly written book. In an era marked by widespread uncertainty about the church's effectiveness in addressing human suffering, this book offers an example of the power of one life dedicated to Christian activism."

"Mitchell makes a convincing case that Roosevelt's moral compass was formed by her personal spirituality, the communal element of church life, and biblical narratives that subconsciously informed the way she perceived the world. It adds up to a fresh take on the influences that formed a key figure in 20th-century American history."

"No account of the extraordinary life and achievements of Eleanor Roosevelt is complete without attention to the ways her deep Christian faith affected every aspect of her public and private life. Yet most of her biographers have followed the trend of political historians to minimize the role of religion in the lives of their subjects. Now, thanks to this richly sourced spiritual biography by Donn Mitchell, no one will be able to make that mistake again."

"Through storytelling that is wonderfully engaging, sometimes profoundly moving, consistently undergirded by meticulous research, and keenly emphatic regarding religion's communal and narrative dimensions, Donn Mitchell makes clear the depth of Eleanor Roosevelt's commitment to Episcopal Christianity and the ways in which her nightly prayer informed her purpose-filled life."