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Overview"Filled with a wealth of revealing new material and insight, the biography of the vivacious, unconventional--and nearly forgotten--young Kennedy sister who charmed American society and the English aristocracy, and would break with her family for love. Encouraged to be ""winners"" from a young age, Rose and Joe Kennedy's children were the embodiment of ambitious, wholesome Americanism. Yet even within this ebullient group of overachievers, the fourth Kennedy child, the irrepressible Kathleen, stood out. Lively, charismatic, extremely clever, and blessed with graceful athleticism and a sunny disposition, the alluring socialite fondly known as Kick was a firecracker who effortlessly made friends and stole hearts. Moving across the Atlantic when her father was appointed as the ambassador to Great Britain in 1938, Kick--the ""nicest Kennedy""--quickly became the family's star. Despite making little effort to fit into British high society, she charmed everyone from the beau monde to Fleet Street with her unconventional attitude and easygoing humor. Growing increasingly independent, Kick would also shock and alienate her devout family by falling in love and marrying the scion of a virulently anti-Catholic family-- William Cavendish, the heir apparent of the Duke of Devonshire and Chatsworth. But the marriage would last only a few months; Billy was killed in combat in 1944, just four years before Kick's own unexpected death in an airplane crash at twenty-eight. Paula Byrne recounts this remarkable young woman's life in detail as never before, from her work at the Washington Times-Herald and volunteerism for the Red Cross in wartime England; to her love of politics and astute, opinionated observations; to her decision to renounce her faith for the man she loved. Sympathetic and compelling, Kick shines a spotlight on this feisty and unique Kennedy long relegated to the shadows of her legendary family's history." Full Product DetailsAuthor: Paula Byrne (University of Liverpool, UK) , Antonia BeamishPublisher: HarperCollins Imprint: HarperCollins Edition: Library Edition ISBN: 9781504734745ISBN 10: 1504734742 Publication Date: 05 July 2016 Audience: General/trade , General Format: Audio Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In stock We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately. Table of ContentsReviews"Brilliant...Sentence by sentence, the book is a joy: a fresh take on the exceedingly well-worn theme of the Kennedy family...Byrne recounts the dramas of the end of [Kick's] life with great pace and a poignancy that is all the more affecting for not being overdone. -- ""Guardian (London)"" Byrne successfully fuses letters, diary entries, and anecdotes from family and friends to animate Kick's personality and the pivotal points of her short life...This title will especially attract readers with an interest in American and English political dynasties and will have widespread appeal to fans of biographies. -- ""Library Journal"" Heartrending...An exciting, heartbreakingly tense love story. -- ""Kirkus Reviews""" Brilliant...Sentence by sentence, the book is a joy: a fresh take on the exceedingly well-worn theme of the Kennedy family...Byrne recounts the dramas of the end of [Kick's] life with great pace and a poignancy that is all the more affecting for not being overdone. -- Guardian (London) Byrne successfully fuses letters, diary entries, and anecdotes from family and friends to animate Kick's personality and the pivotal points of her short life...This title will especially attract readers with an interest in American and English political dynasties and will have widespread appeal to fans of biographies. -- Library Journal Heartrending...An exciting, heartbreakingly tense love story. -- Kirkus Reviews Heartrending...An exciting, heartbreakingly tense love story. -- Kirkus Reviews Byrne successfully fuses letters, diary entries, and anecdotes from family and friends to animate Kick's personality and the pivotal points of her short life...This title will especially attract readers with an interest in American and English political dynasties and will have widespread appeal to fans of biographies. -- Library Journal Brilliant...Sentence by sentence, the book is a joy: a fresh take on the exceedingly well-worn theme of the Kennedy family...Byrne recounts the dramas of the end of [Kick's] life with great pace and a poignancy that is all the more affecting for not being overdone. -- Guardian (London) Author InformationPaula Byrne is the critically acclaimed author of five biographies, including Belle: The Slave Daughter and the Lord Chief Justice, The Real Jane Austen, and Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead. She lives in Oxford, England, with her husband, the academic and biographer Jonathan Bate. Antonia Beamish is a voice-over artist and AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator. She is also a professional actress best known for performances in films such as The Last Horror Movie, Dead Creatures, and Chemical Wedding. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |