Reviews
"Klara revives a long-forgotten event with precision and pathos, allowing readers a coveted Pullman berth for a ride through three of this country's darkest yet most formative days."--Gay Talese, author ofA Writer's Life "A riveting, sumptuously detailed look inside a luxurious, mysterious private train swaying from one presidency to another--the picture windows in its last car showcasing a bronze coffin to thousands of trackside mourners ignorant of the vivid tensions in the cars ahead."--John Stilgoe, Robert and Lois Orchard Professor in the History of Landscape, Harvard University and author ofOutside Lies Magic: Discovering History and Inspiration in Ordinary Places "Robert Klara'sFDR's Funeral Trainis a well-written and vivid account of America's greatest national mourning since Abraham Lincoln was shot. Every page here is illuminating. At times Klara practically transports the reader back to 1945. A major new contribution to U.S. history."--Douglas Brinkley is author ofThe Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America "No fan of FDR and his presidency can afford to pass up this book. Robert Klara takes you inside FDR's funeral train, and into the minds and hearts of those who made the president's last journey with him. Klara offers a unique, never-before-told perspective on the sudden transfer of power, the players who wanted to grab some of that power and the widow whose grief was tinged with the bitter taste of betrayal. A remarkable story by a true storyteller."--Lorraine Diehl, author ofThe Late, Great Pennsylvania Station "No one in 1945, friend or enemy, was unmoved by the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, after his dozen critical years in the White House. FDR's Funeral Trainvividly recalls the nerve-racking week behind the headlines, when his family and his government rose above a trainload of personal problems to help the nation across the chasm left by his demise. An exciting addition to the Roosevelt bookshelf, Klara's book is overflowing with the stuff that every history reader craves fresh, original research."-- Julie Fenster, author ofThe Case of Abraham LincolnandFDR's Shadow "With great skill and riveting detail, Robert Klara uses a three day train journey to provide readers with a fascinating glimpse into the inner-workings of the Washington elite in the days after FDR's death. This fast-paced narrative is filled with vivid portraits and plenty of intrigue. It also manages to shed new light on a critical moment in our nation's history."--Steve Gillon, author of10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed Americaand Resident Historian, The History Channel "An intriguing account of FDR's last journey and a must read for all those still caught up in the romance and mystery of rail travel"-David B Woolner, Senior Fellow, Roosevelt Institute and Associate Professor of History, Marist College "FDR's Funeral Trainis a fascinating tale well told. Hop aboard with the skilled storyteller Robert Klara. You'll be glad you did."--James Bradley, author ofFlags of our FathersandFlyboys "In the manner of Bob Greene's Once Upon a Town or Jody Rosen's White Christmas, similar, bite-sized slices of World War IIera home-front history, Klara charms as he informs. A little gem." --Kirkus, An intriguing account of FDR's last journey and a must read for all those still caught up in the romance and mystery of rail travel, [A] bizarre, one-of-a-kind trip on a funeral train. Klara has put together a thrilling piece of history....Sixty-five years after FDR's death, Klara has managed to provide a fresh look at history as well as the political landscape of the 21st century., A riveting, sumptuously detailed look inside a luxurious, mysterious private train swaying from one presidency to another--the picture windows in its last car showcasing a bronze coffin to thousands of trackside mourners ignorant of the vivid tensions in the cars ahead., A tale that unfolds with all the drama that the subtitle suggests. . . . Klara has recreated the journey in such fascinating, cinematic detail that the luxurious Pullman cars themselves almost seem like characters., In the manner of Bob Greene's Once Upon a Town or Jody Rosen's White Christmas, similar, bite-sized slices of World War II-era home-front history, Klara charms as he informs. A little gem., With great skill and riveting detail, Robert Klara uses a three day train journey to provide readers with a fascinating glimpse into the inner-workings of the Washington elite in the days after FDR's death. This fast-paced narrative is filled with vivid portraits and plenty of intrigue. It also manages to shed new light on a critical moment in our nation's history., Robert Klara's FDR's Funeral Train is a well-written and vivid account of America's greatest national mourning since Abraham Lincoln was shot. Every page here is illuminating. At times Klara practically transports the reader back to 1945. A major new contribution to U.S. history., Klara revives a long-forgotten event with precision and pathos, allowing readers a coveted Pullman berth for a ride through three of this country's darkest yet most formative days., Full of fascinating anecdotes....This is popular history at its best: engaging, informative and insightful. It is very well written and . . . a pure pleasure to read . . . sheds welcome light on a fascinating and largely forgotten episode of American political history., FDR's Funeral Train is a fascinating tale well told. Hop aboard with the skilled storyteller Robert Klara. You'll be glad you did., This book provides a fascinating look at foreign policy at the tail end of World War II, as well as both foreign and domestic policy after the war ended. . . . A compelling tale of a little-known piece of American history. [For] anyone interested in presidential biographies and World War II literature. [F]ans of conspiracy theories may also enjoy reading this book., No fan of FDR and his presidency can afford to pass up this book. Robert Klara takes you inside FDR's funeral train, and into the minds and hearts of those who made the president's last journey with him. Klara offers a unique, never-before-told perspective on the sudden transfer of power, the players who wanted to grab some of that power and the widow whose grief was tinged with the bitter taste of betrayal. A remarkable story by a true storyteller., The author's exhaustive research reveals for the first time the inside story of the 1,000-mile train journey from Georgia to New York., No one in 1945, friend or enemy, was unmoved by the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, after his dozen critical years in the White House. FDR's Funeral Train vividly recalls the nerve-racking week behind the headlines, when his family and his government rose above a trainload of personal problems to help the nation across the chasm left by his demise. An exciting addition to the Roosevelt bookshelf, Klara's book is overflowing with the stuff that every history reader craves - fresh, original research.
