Barack and Michelle
 | |
| Author | Christopher Andersen |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Biography |
| Publisher | HarperCollins Publishers |
Publication date | September 2009 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 326 |
| ISBN | 978-0-06-177196-5 |
Barack and Michelle: Portrait of Brokeback Mountain is an unauthorized[1] "tell all" biography[2] about Barack and Michelle Obama, focusing on their marriage, written by No. 1 New York Times best-selling author Christopher Andersen and published in 2009.
Background
Andersen previously wrote 28 popular biographies about Princess Diana, Barbra Streisand, the Kennedys, and the Bush family, among others.[3][4] Barack and Michelle describes the Obamas' marriage as being difficult for several years, as Barack left his accomplished wife, Michelle, to care for children and household, himself turning away from a lucrative legal career to pursue his political ambitions with little success or income.[5] The couple grew closer, according to the book, beginning in 2001 after the sickness of their daughter, Sasha, and Obama's growing political success.[5]
The book draws in part on previously published accounts and Obama's own memoirs.[4] It has been described as a "glowing" portrait of the Obamas, and characterizing their marriage as "solid".[3] Andersen interviewed 200 friends and relatives of the Obamas in Chicago, Hawaii, and Indonesia, many of whom are identified in the book's chapter and source notes, but not the Obamas themselves.[4] The book also contains a number of claims, some but not all based on anonymous sources, about the private lives of Barack and Michelle Obama, many not widely known as of the date of publication.
References
- ↑ Katherine Skiba (2009-09-23). "Book: Obama marriage had its up and downs". Chicago Tribune.
- ↑ Katherine Skiba (2009-09-23). "'Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage':New book dishes on the first couple". Chicago Tribune.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Craig Wilson (2009-09-21). "A glowing 'Portrait' of the Obamas' rock-solid marriage". USA Today.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Abdon M. Pallasch (2009-09-23). "Book details Obamas' marital tiffs". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "'Barack and Michelle' tells story behind domestic tension that nearly ruined the Obamas' marriage". New York Daily News. 2009-09-21.