Just finished this book; it`s about Winston Churchill`s American grandfather - Leonard Jerome. The author, Anita Leslie, was related to Leonie Churchill (nee Jerome), youngest daughter of Leonard and Clara Jerome.
One of eight brothers, Leonard Jerome was born in 1818 to very strict God-fearing parents, in a farmhouse near Syracuse in western New York.
In later life, he invested in stocks and shares, making a lot of money on Wall Street. He had a natural flair for business and acumulated (and lost) several fortunes.
He had three daughters, all with a fondness for the high life, and for expensive dresses, hats etc (paid for by their father); the middle daughter, Jennie married Randolph Churchill - Winston`s father.
Jennie was very beautiful by all accounts and had many suiters before (and during!) her marriage.
Leonard was a man of high moral standards; he died in 1890, in a boarding house in Brighton, surrounded by his three daughters - all of whom were `overcome with remorse at not having gone to America more often`.
One of eight brothers, Leonard Jerome was born in 1818 to very strict God-fearing parents, in a farmhouse near Syracuse in western New York.
In later life, he invested in stocks and shares, making a lot of money on Wall Street. He had a natural flair for business and acumulated (and lost) several fortunes.
He had three daughters, all with a fondness for the high life, and for expensive dresses, hats etc (paid for by their father); the middle daughter, Jennie married Randolph Churchill - Winston`s father.
Jennie was very beautiful by all accounts and had many suiters before (and during!) her marriage.
Leonard was a man of high moral standards; he died in 1890, in a boarding house in Brighton, surrounded by his three daughters - all of whom were `overcome with remorse at not having gone to America more often`.