PDF Citizens of London The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest Finest Hour Lynne Olson 9780812979350 Books
Download As PDF : Citizens of London The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest Finest Hour Lynne Olson 9780812979350 Books
The acclaimed author of Troublesome Young Men reveals the behind-the-scenes story of how the United States forged its wartime alliance with Britain, told from the perspective of three key American players in London Edward R. Murrow, the handsome, chain-smoking head of CBS News in Europe; Averell Harriman, the hard-driving millionaire who ran FDR’s Lend-Lease program in London; and John Gilbert Winant, the shy, idealistic U.S. ambassador to Britain. Each man formed close ties with Winston Churchill—so much so that all became romantically involved with members of the prime minister’s family. Drawing from a variety of primary sources, Lynne Olson skillfully depicts the dramatic personal journeys of these men who, determined to save Britain from Hitler, helped convince a cautious Franklin Roosevelt and reluctant American public to back the British at a critical time. Deeply human, brilliantly researched, and beautifully written, Citizens of London is a new triumph from an author swiftly becoming one of the finest in her field.
PDF Citizens of London The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest Finest Hour Lynne Olson 9780812979350 Books
"Lynne Olson, author of “Citizens of London,†is a bestselling writer of historical nonfiction, aimed mainly at Britain’s critical role in World War II. Her studies are immaculate in both research and writing skills. Her ability to take a reader through complexity and intense human impact without the aridity usually associated with historical commentary is amazing.
In this book three well-to-do Americans wind up in Winston Churchill’s coterie as advisors and watchdogs over the activities between the US and Britain as the war escalates. They eventually end up very sympathetic to the plight of the Britishers and less than approving of the opposition from FDR and reluctant US citizens to getting America involved. The hardy and determined British citizens suffered greatly as the United States refused to come to their assistance in battling the German forces that threatened to obliterate their nation and the misery was exacerbated by this obstinacy.
John Winant was the idealistic US ambassador to Britain, Averell Harriman ran FDR’s Lend-Lease program in London, and Edward R. Murrow was head of CBS news in Europe. They all developed such close ties with Churchill that they were actually considered part of his official circles. More than that, all three became romantically involved with Churchill’s daughters. The author handles this touchy situation with aplomb, sparing the reader any salacious details that would detract from her scholarly approach.
Each of the three had serious personality traits that they were able to muffle as they assisted Churchill with his decisions. All three were immensely wealthy and/or influential, they were idealistic, and their interest in the British situation was genuine. Winant was extremely shy and a poor speaker, but his boyish charm and unquestionable loyalty made him a favorite with the British people. Harriman, an industrial scion, was intensely self-centered and tended towards covert attempts to ingratiate himself with Churchill. He was refereed to as a “bum-sucker†in the book. Murrow was outspoken and given to critical comments about the US in his broadcasts and writings, something greatly appreciated by Churchill in his never ending attempts to get America involved in the war.
When America entered the war after Pearl Harbor, all three, along with Churchill and the rest of the country, were giddy with the decision. The intricate dance of collaboration performed by all the principals throughout the war, and the successful conclusion, is wonderfully chronicled in this intriguing book.
Schuyler T Wallace
Author of TIN LIZARD TALES"
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Citizens of London The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest Finest Hour Lynne Olson 9780812979350 Books Reviews :
Citizens of London The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest Finest Hour Lynne Olson 9780812979350 Books Reviews
- As a devotee of all well written historical biographies of FDR and Churchill, "Citizens of London," by Lynne Olson, lets us share the stories of, "the Americans who stood with Britain in its darkest, finest hour." Although familiar with Averill Harriman from my many sorties into the murky, war-torn, political world of FDR and Churchill, Edward R. Murrow and Gil Winant were peripheral characters in my library.
Murrow, of course, was the CBS radio reporter wunderkind whose "This is London... " signature brought World War II into the homes of Americans on a regular basis, opening their minds and hearts to the plight of Great Britain and the danger of German aggression. His reports from the rooftops of London helped to pave the way for a lifting of isolationism as FDR cautiously prodded America to enter the fray.
John Gilbert Winant, Olson tells us, was a natural leader and the American ambassador who soothed British spirits and soul following former Ambassador Joe Kennedy's brash, appeasement-centered, diplomatic relations. And Averill Harriman, a rich businessman anxious to play power games at a global level, lived large romantically as he cut a wide social swath across London.
When you have a few hours to yourself, pick up this paperback and settle in. I promise you a fascinating read and a thoughtful study of the men who helped lay the foundation for the FDR/Churchill special relationship. They deserve more attention than other authors have given them. - Lynne Olson, author of “Citizens of London,†is a bestselling writer of historical nonfiction, aimed mainly at Britain’s critical role in World War II. Her studies are immaculate in both research and writing skills. Her ability to take a reader through complexity and intense human impact without the aridity usually associated with historical commentary is amazing.
In this book three well-to-do Americans wind up in Winston Churchill’s coterie as advisors and watchdogs over the activities between the US and Britain as the war escalates. They eventually end up very sympathetic to the plight of the Britishers and less than approving of the opposition from FDR and reluctant US citizens to getting America involved. The hardy and determined British citizens suffered greatly as the United States refused to come to their assistance in battling the German forces that threatened to obliterate their nation and the misery was exacerbated by this obstinacy.
John Winant was the idealistic US ambassador to Britain, Averell Harriman ran FDR’s Lend-Lease program in London, and Edward R. Murrow was head of CBS news in Europe. They all developed such close ties with Churchill that they were actually considered part of his official circles. More than that, all three became romantically involved with Churchill’s daughters. The author handles this touchy situation with aplomb, sparing the reader any salacious details that would detract from her scholarly approach.
Each of the three had serious personality traits that they were able to muffle as they assisted Churchill with his decisions. All three were immensely wealthy and/or influential, they were idealistic, and their interest in the British situation was genuine. Winant was extremely shy and a poor speaker, but his boyish charm and unquestionable loyalty made him a favorite with the British people. Harriman, an industrial scion, was intensely self-centered and tended towards covert attempts to ingratiate himself with Churchill. He was refereed to as a “bum-sucker†in the book. Murrow was outspoken and given to critical comments about the US in his broadcasts and writings, something greatly appreciated by Churchill in his never ending attempts to get America involved in the war.
When America entered the war after Pearl Harbor, all three, along with Churchill and the rest of the country, were giddy with the decision. The intricate dance of collaboration performed by all the principals throughout the war, and the successful conclusion, is wonderfully chronicled in this intriguing book.
Schuyler T Wallace
Author of TIN LIZARD TALES - Lynne Olson writes beautifully and her research is wonderful, but the most interesting part of this book to me was not the three Americans living in London during the war years about whom she titles her book. I tired a bit of reading about their various dalliances. The most interesting part of the book, from my point of view, was the relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill and the many important things about which they did not agree. Also, very interesting was her description of the relationship between the English people and the American soldiers stationed in England during the war years. Much of this was new to me even though the events took place many years ago. One can easily see how Olson's research for this book led her to write "Last Hope Island" which is a "must-read" for history buffs of World War II.
- In reading about America's history, and recently reading several other books that deal with this time frame, I find Olson's work to be accurate beyond subjectivism and insightful as it relates to the politics of leadership and conflict. FDR was not my favorite President. America's behavior, but mostly in hindsight, leading up to WWII as she related to other free nations under attack was less than appealing and this book will give the reader some insight which may influence their current outlook. I don't judge the United States behavior "back then" with our current attitudes and perspectives (for instance, the internment of Japanese Americans; which we have tried to repay but in fairness to our past generation may well have seemed the very best solution to the extreme hate directed at those innocents) but do take notice of ideological motivations and self-serving behaviors and wonder how we might be the same today? A good book filled with both historical and personal facts and findings that flesh out a period in the US's and Britain's history that is now lost to our progeny.
