Publisher: Mariner Books
Published: February 22, 2022
Source: Hardcover via Publisher
Summary:
Based on genealogical breakthroughs and previously unreleased records, this is the first book to explore the inspiring story of the poor Irish refugee couple who escaped famine, created a life together in a city hostile to Irish, immigrants, and Catholics, and launched the Kennedy dynasty in America.
Their Irish ancestry was a hallmark of the Kennedys’ initial political profile, as JFK leveraged his working-class roots to connect with blue-collar voters. Today, we remember this iconic American family as the vanguard of wealth, power, and style rather than as the descendants of poor immigrants. Here at last, we meet the first American Kennedys, Patrick and Bridget, who arrived as many thousands of others did following the Great Famine—penniless and hungry. Less than a decade after their marriage in Boston, Patrick’s sudden death left Bridget to raise their children single-handedly. Her rise from housemaid to shop owner in the face of rampant poverty and discrimination kept her family intact, allowing her only son P.J. to become a successful saloon owner and businessman. P.J. went on to become the first American Kennedy elected to public office—the first of many.
Written by the grandson of an Irish immigrant couple and based on first-ever access to P.J. Kennedy’s private papers, The First Kennedys is a story of sacrifice and survival, resistance and reinvention: an American story.
My thoughts:
As some of you might know, I am obsessed with the Kennedys and so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. There is a sentence in the Introduction that stuck with me:
Why are we still so connected to these reckless and beautiful Kennedys?
I’m not sure when or why my obsession with this family started, but I have collected and read quite a few books about this family and love nothing more than finding new sources and material to read, so when I heard this book went back to where it all started, I knew I had to read it. And I’m so glad I did because I found it so fascinating.
I love that this book brought us back to the Kennedy roots – to the ones who brought the family over to America. For as much as I have read about this family, I have not read anything about Bridget and Patrick Kennedy coming to America from Ireland. But what an inspiration Bridget was and I’m so glad I got to read her story. She certainly did not have an easy time being here – and reading about her struggles and the challenges she faced on a daily basis was just awe-inspiring.
This book was so insightful and really painted such a vivid picture of what life was like for immigrants coming to America, particularly the Irish, in the mid 1800s. I loved how the author included census information in the book because there is not a lot of research on Bridget, and he was clear to point this out. She ended up being quite a success despite the challenges she had to overcome and it’s a shame there isn’t more written about her – she really is the impetus for getting this family on the map!
You might think you’ve read all there is to know about the Kennedy clan, but I highly suggest picking this one up! It’s a very readable, engaging read about the early Kennedys and quite interesting to boot!
