Eleanor Roosevelt: Autobiographies & Political Writings, Vol. 2 (LOA #405)

The complete texts and more than 100 accompanying photographs of Roosevelt’s autobiographies, meticulously restored from the first editions

An unrivalled selection of her outspoken and perceptive writings on politics, democracy, citizenship, and patriotism: all essential reading for the current moment.

A savvy political advocate and an immensely popular writer, Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the most inspiring, influential, and controversial American public figures of the past hundred years. As the nation’s longest-serving First Lady, and the first to byline regular columns in newspapers and magazines, she staked out daringly progressive positions on democracy, civil rights, and the role of government; on war, human rights, and international cooperation; and on labor, feminism, and education, among many other issues. Her books, essays, and articles redefined the possibilities and responsibilities of politics in the twentieth century, and they continue to resonate today. Now Library of America presents a two-volume edition of Roosevelt’s writings gathering her classic autobiographies and the best of her political and social activism.

This second volume opens with two powerful and still timely essays, This Troubled World (1938) and The Moral Basis of Democracy (1940), that show Roosevelt challenging her husband’s policies on refugees and immigration amid the darkening crisis in Europe, and her prescient awareness of the inevitability and necessity of war to defend democracy. The last volume of Roosevelt’s autobiography, On My Own (1958), tells of her work for the United Nations after FDR’s death, including her key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, her views on the Cold War and the postwar order, and her participation in Democratic politics as a supporter first of Adlai Stevenson and then of a young John F. Kennedy. You Learn by Living (1960), published when Roosevelt was seventy-six, offers practical wisdom to younger Americans including chapters on “Learning to Learn” and “How Everyone Can Take Part in Politics.” Her final book, the posthumously published Tomorrow Is Now (1963), acts as a coda to her autobiography and takes her story past 1958 and into the civil rights era.

These books are joined with forty-one selections from Roosevelt’s syndicated “My Day” column, which ran from 1936 to 1962, plus seventeen speeches and articles on the topics of democracy, war, and human rights spanning from 1940 to her hopeful statement in 1962 on the status of women. As a special feature, this volume also includes twenty-five meticulously restored photographs from the first editions of Roosevelt’s books.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

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• Typically 800-1000+ pages
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• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
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The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs