GEORGE AND LAURA

Theywouldbecalledupontoleadanationinoneofitsdarkesthous-butweretheyuptothetask?Hehadbeenthewild,hard-drindingscionofoneofAmerica'spremierpoliticalfamilies.ShewastheschoollibrarianwithawarmsmileandatracksofSeptember11.2001,theyrosetothechallenge:HebecametheembodimentofAmerica'sfightingspiritandsheassumedtheroleof"Fightingspiritandsheassumedtheroleof"FirstComforter"witheffortlessgrace.Still.thetruenaturefotheirrelationshiphasremainedamytery.Untilnow.Inthestylefohis#1newYourkTimesbestsellerTheDayDianaDiedandTheDayJohnDied,asWellashisbestsellingbooksaboutanotherPresidentandFirstLady,JackandJackieandJackieAfterJacks,ChristopherAndersendrawsonimportantsources-manyspeakinghereforthefirsttime-topaintavivid,sometimesstartling,ofteninspiringportraitofAmerica'sFirstCouple.Amongtheintriguinginsightsandstunningrevelations:Importantnewinformationabout9/11anditsartermath-includingagrippingmoment-by-momentaccountofhowthePresidentandFirstLadycopedasthehorrificdramaunfolded.ThetrueextentofGeorgeW.'sdrinkingproblem,thestrainsifputonhismarriage,andtheultimatumthatchangedhislife-andthecourseofhistory.TheirheartbreakingbattleagainstinfertilityandhowcloseLavracametodyinginchildbirth.Theearlytragediesthatshapedthem,includingthecarcrashcausedbyateenageLaurathattookthelifeofaforever.Laura'ssurprisingbehind-the-scenesinfluenceonU.S.policy——foreignanddomestic.Thepressuresofraisingheadstrongtwindaughtersintheglareofthemedia-andhow9/11hasbroughttheBushesandtheirchildrenclosertogetherthaneverbefore.GeorgeandLauraisacompellinglookattheiruniquepartnership,andthecourage,grace,andhumorthatdefinesit.isastirringwartimesagaoftriumphandtragedyand,aboveall,auiquelyAmericanlovestory.