The Confidante
The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America
Available Now
For readers of Hidden Figures, A Woman of No Importance, and Eleanor: A Life, the first-ever biography of Anna Marie Rosenberg, whose influence on American history, from the New Deal to the Cold War and beyond, has never before been told. Her life ran parallel to the front lines of history—and her story, though forgotten for too long, is extraordinary, inspiring, and uniquely American.
“An incredible catalog of adventure… a resurrection of history [told with] cinematic color and encyclopedic clarity.”
— The Wall Street Journal
“A magnificent portrait of a political life lived with passion and integrity… Christopher C. Gorham has done his homework, and the depth of his research pays off in this portrait of how one person can make an enormous difference…. Anna’s lists of accomplishments are staggering.”
— THE NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS
“An eye-opening biography of presidential advisor Anna Rosenberg…. This is a fitting tribute to a trailblazer.”
— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Christopher C. Gorham’s authoritative new biography will put Anna Rosenberg where she belongs: among the most outstanding yet unsung women of the 20th century.”
— Nigel Hamilton, prize-winning biographer, and author of the FDR at War trilogy and JFK: Reckless Youth
“The Confidante brings to life the untold story of an American heroine; a guiding influence from the dawn of women’s suffrage, to World War II as FDR's trusted ally, to mid-century policymaking. We should all follow Anna Rosenberg’s lead in fighting for our democracy.”
— Amy Siskind, activist, and author
“Brilliantly embedding Anna Rosenberg’s life story in historical context, THE CONFIDANTE is more than a biography––it is a window into the history of the twentieth century as lived by one of its most important and brave pathbreakers.”
— Jill Watts, Ph.D., author of The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt
“An outstanding narrative-driven debut that exemplifies why we read history in the first place. Anna Rosenberg’s gripping saga should be read by anyone who enjoys a story of achieving success by overcoming long odds.”
— Stephen Puleo, author of Dark Tide, The Caning, American Treasures, and Voyage of Mercy
“Anna Rosenberg was a dynamo of a woman who ably navigated the rough-and-tumble world of American politics, all the way to the male-dominated Department of Defense, wearing her trademark flowered hats like a helmet. Christopher Gorham’s engaging and deeply researched biography The Confidante will leave you with two thoughts: ‘Why did I never hear of this woman before?’ and ‘Thank goodness she's been rescued from obscurity!’”
— Kathryn Smith, author of The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR and the Untold Story of the Partnership that Defined a Presidency
“Until I read this book all I knew about Anna Rosenberg was that she was a favored target of Joe McCarthy's feckless witch hunts. Now I know what scared the Wisconsin senator: Rosenberg was a women who rose to postings that were supposed to be the preserve of men, and she was a patriot who helped us win World War II and protect the home front. Heroine, indeed.”
— Larry Tye, author of Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy