—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize winner and #1 New York Times best-selling author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
"Here is the chaos, claustrophobia, tragedy and triumph of immigrant America told through one city and one iconic family. Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about the Kennedys, along comes Neal Thompson with this brilliant recreation of the Irish diaspora succeeding in a city that for many years would not allow them to be part of the American story. It's great storytelling." —Timothy Egan, National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of The Immortal Irishman
“A fresh, engrossing, and profoundly relatable look at a family that everyone thinks they know. Crafting a saga elevated by dogged research and transporting prose, Neal Thompson casts the humble beginnings of an American dynasty into surprising and penetrating light. Unforgettable.” —Denise Kiernan, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City
“An engrossing, real-life rags-to-riches tale.” —Publishers Weekly
“Neal Thompson’s The First Kennedys is a riveting, beautifully written story, and an important addition to our ongoing fascination with America’s royal family. With captivating prose and breathtaking research, Thompson takes us on a remarkable journey…. The real hero of the story is Bridget—strong willed, smart, and determined—who survived widowhood and climbed her way out of certain poverty to become a successful business woman, passing on her remarkable gifts of tenacity and confidence to generations of Kennedys. Settle in for a fascinating read!” —Kate Clifford Larson, New York Times bestselling author of Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
“A lively biography of an iconic family before it became famous.” —Kirkus
“Now comes Neal Thompson, who in his splendidly heterodox The First Kennedys shows that before the lurid patriarchy of Joe there was the winning matriarchy of Bridget.” —AirMail
“Thompson focuses on the origins of the clan. And, in doing so, he gives a rich portrait of the Irish-American experience itself.” —NY Daily News
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