From the earliest years of her life, Eleanor Roosevelt was interested in other people and wanted to help them. When she was only five years old, she asked her father to buy shoes for Pietro, a little Italian boy. Pietro had cut his bare feet on a rocky trail while leading a donkey for her to ride.

While she was still a small child, both her parents died and she went to live with Grandmother Hall. Under this elderly lady, she was required to observe strict rules and to wear old-fashioned, unbecoming clothes. She seldom was allowed to go anywhere except to attend family gatherings.

After Eleanor became a young lady, she was expected to attend social affairs, but she didn't enjoy them. She felt bashful and miserable, and couldn't think of anything to say. Far more she enjoyed working with needy children in a settlement house.

Soon Eleanor's distant cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, became interested in her. He was a brilliant and handsome young man with very courteous manners. Frequently he attended parties and dances and from time to time he stopped at the settlement house to take Eleanor home from work.

One day Eleanor asked Franklin to take home a little girl who was sick. He was shocked when he saw the slum district where the child lived. He hadn't realized that people had to live in such unfortunate ways. At once, he agreed that such people needed help.

In 1920, early in his political career, Roosevelt was nominated for Vice-President, but was defeated in the election. Shortly afterward he suffered an attack of polio, which left him partially paralyzed. Gradually with Eleanor's help, he recovered his vigor and became interested in politics again.

Roosevelt served a term as Governor of New York, and in 1932 was elected president. He continued as President until he died in 1945, longer than any other man in history. While President, he helped the country to recover from a great depression and guided its destiny partially through World War II. All the while, Eleanor was at his side, providing inspiration and strength.

After Roosevelt's death in 1945, Eleanor became a representative to the United Nations. While there, she helped to prepare a declaration of human rights, which was adopted for the betterment of mankind throughout the world. All the later years of her life, she devoted to doing things for others.

From the dust jacket