Kick

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Synopsis

Filled with a wealth of revealing new material and insight, the biography of the vivacious, unconventional—and nearly forgotten—young Kennedy sister who charmed American society and the English aristocracy, and would break with her family for love.

Encouraged to be “winners” from a young age, Rose and Joe Kennedy’s children were the embodiment of ambitious, wholesome Americanism. Yet even within this ebullient group of overachievers, the fourth Kennedy child, the irrepressible Kathleen, stood out. Lively, charismatic, extremely clever, and blessed with graceful athleticism and a sunny disposition, the alluring socialite fondly known as Kick was a firecracker who effortlessly made friends and stole hearts.

Moving across the Atlantic when her father was appointed as the ambassador to Great Britain in 1938, Kick—the “nicest Kennedy”—quickly became the family’s star. Despite making little effort to fit into British high society, she charmed everyone from the beau monde to Fleet Street with her unconventional attitude and easygoing humor. Growing increasingly independent, Kick would also shock and alienate her devout family by falling in love and marrying the scion of a virulently anti-Catholic family— William Cavendish, the heir apparent of the Duke of Devonshire and Chatsworth. But the marriage would last only a few months; Billy was killed in combat in 1944, just four years before Kick’s own unexpected death in an airplane crash at twenty-eight.

Paula Byrne recounts this remarkable young woman’s life in detail as never before, from her work at the Washington Times-Herald and volunteerism for the Red Cross in wartime England; to her love of politics and astute, opinionated observations; to her decision to renounce her faith for the man she loved. Sympathetic and compelling, Kick shines a spotlight on this feisty and unique Kennedy long relegated to the shadows of her legendary family’s history.

Chapters

  • 001_Kick_harperintro

    Duration: 07s
  • 002_Kick_Prologue

    Duration: 04min
  • 003_Kick_Chapter_01

    Duration: 20min
  • 004_Kick_Chapter_02

    Duration: 22min
  • 005_Kick_Chapter_03

    Duration: 11min
  • 006_Kick_Chapter_04

    Duration: 12min
  • 007_Kick_Chapter_05

    Duration: 09min
  • 008_Kick_Chapter_06

    Duration: 15min
  • 009_Kick_Chapter_07

    Duration: 18min
  • 010_Kick_Chapter_08

    Duration: 15min
  • 011_Kick_Chapter_09

    Duration: 28min
  • 012_Kick_Chapter_10

    Duration: 17min
  • 013_Kick_Chapter_11

    Duration: 19min
  • 014_Kick_Chapter_12

    Duration: 06min
  • 015_Kick_Chapter_13

    Duration: 09min
  • 016_Kick_Chapter_14

    Duration: 12min
  • 017_Kick_Chapter_15

    Duration: 13min
  • 018_Kick_Chapter_16

    Duration: 12min
  • 019_Kick_Chapter_17

    Duration: 08min
  • 020_Kick_Chapter_18

    Duration: 11min
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