In her latest book, Lynne Olson focuses again on Britain in World War II, this time from an American perspective. This is the engrossing behind-the-scenes story of how the United States and Britain forged their crucial wartime alliance, as seen from the viewpoint of three key American players in London. Drawing from a wide variety of primary sources, Olson depicts the 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.The three -- 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 -- formed close ties with Winston Churchill and were drawn into Churchill's official and family circles. So intense were their relationships with the Churchills that all of them were involved romantically with members of the prime minister's family: Harriman and Murrow with Churchill's daughter-in-law, Pamela, and Winant with his favorite daughter, Sarah.Citizens of London, however, is more than the deeply human story of these three Americans and the world leaders they aided and influenced. Above all, it is a rich, panoramic tale of two cities: Washington, D.C., a lazy Southern town slowly growing into a hub of international power, and London, a staid, class-conscious capital transformed by war into a vibrant cosmopolitan metropolis, humming with energy, romance, excitement, and danger. To those who spent time in wartime Britain, the country seemed like a kind of Brigadoon -- a magical place where courage, resolution, sacrifice, and sense of unity and common purpose triumphed.
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"Citizens of London is a great read about the small band of Americans and their courageous role in helping Britain through the darkest days of early World War II. I thought I knew a lot about that dangerous period but Lynne Olson has taught me so much more."--Tom Brokaw
"Brilliantly bursting with beautiful prose, Olson flutters our hearts by capturing the essence of the public and private lives of those who faced death, touched the precipice, hung on by their eyelids, and saved the free world from destruction by the forces of evil." --Bill Gardner, New Hampshire Secretary of State
"In this engaging and original book, Lynne Olson tells the story of the Americans who did the New World credit by giving their all to help Churchill's Britain hold on against Hitler. Rich in anecdote and analysis, this is a terrific work of history.--Jon Meacham, author of "American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House"
"Like any good history book, this is a reminder: a reminder of how some Americans came to London and rallied to Britain's cause in 1940 and 1941--that is before Pearl Harbor, when Hitler's Germany came very close to winning the Second World War. Citizens of London is really two books in one: a detailed record of what an American ambassador (John Gilbert Winant), a Roosevelt appointee (Averell Harriman) and American broadcaster (Edward R. Murrow) did for the British--and, yes, also for the American--cause. At the same time, it is a detailed account of American/British relations through the War, another tale that is not simple." --John Lukacs, author of "Five Days in London: May 1940"
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"This is history at its most personal and compelling, a group portrait of three fascinating individuals--Winant, Harriman, and Murrow--whose lives intersected at a pivotal moment in the 20th century, when the fates of America and Britain were interlocked. The result is what the English call 'a rollicking read.'"--Strobe Talbott, author of "The Great Exper
About the Author
Olson is former White House correspondent for the Baltimore Sun, and author of Troublesome Young Men: The Rebels Who Brought Churchill to Power and Helped Save England.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By zeev wolfe
Format:Hardcover
This may be Lynne Olson's finest book. Not only is it well written, but it is well researched and packed with information without feeling like you were reading a book report or a textbook. Wartime London comes alive in her descriptions of the 'Blitz' and the way the average person went about their lives during this time of fear, death and privation.
Thrown into the mix are three Americans who had a major impact on the British and how they saw Americans before we go into 'it'. Arriving in 1937, Murrow became famous for his reporting, 'This is London' became his tag line way before 'Goodnight and Good Luck'. Murrow's reports from London of the way the British stood up to the Germans and especially the daily bombing for almost two straight months, brought the horror of war into America's homes prior to December 7, 1941.
Hardly known by the Post-War generation, John Gilbert Winant was American Ambassador to the Court of St. James, during most of the war. He was beloved by the man on the street in London because he spent much of his time walking them and sharing the dangers with his fellow Londoners during the worst of the bombings. He also contributed greatly to the understanding between the British and American servicemen who invaded England before they invaded Fortress Europe.
Though W. Averill Harriman was sent to England, ostensibly to administer the 'Lend-Lease' Program, he seemed to be everywhere in London. He became a close friend of the Churchill's (he had an affair with son Randolph's wife, who he married twenty years later) and an adviser to the British PM during most of the war. In 1944 he was sent to Moskow as our Ambassador to the USSR. But he managed to get invited to Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam.
The best part of Olson's book, is that she doesn't just keep herself to these three men. We get a look behind the curtain at Eisenhower and his Generals (both British and American) and how he spent most of the war, keeping them from each others throats. Eisenhower's job was described as 'dealing with a bunch of high strung pre-pubescent girls', such were all the egos involved. That they all accused him of favoring everyone else, he must have done a fair job.
There are a wealth of great quotes and anecdotes that make the reading of this book the more pleasurable.
Zeev Wolfe
Thrown into the mix are three Americans who had a major impact on the British and how they saw Americans before we go into 'it'. Arriving in 1937, Murrow became famous for his reporting, 'This is London' became his tag line way before 'Goodnight and Good Luck'. Murrow's reports from London of the way the British stood up to the Germans and especially the daily bombing for almost two straight months, brought the horror of war into America's homes prior to December 7, 1941.
Hardly known by the Post-War generation, John Gilbert Winant was American Ambassador to the Court of St. James, during most of the war. He was beloved by the man on the street in London because he spent much of his time walking them and sharing the dangers with his fellow Londoners during the worst of the bombings. He also contributed greatly to the understanding between the British and American servicemen who invaded England before they invaded Fortress Europe.
Though W. Averill Harriman was sent to England, ostensibly to administer the 'Lend-Lease' Program, he seemed to be everywhere in London. He became a close friend of the Churchill's (he had an affair with son Randolph's wife, who he married twenty years later) and an adviser to the British PM during most of the war. In 1944 he was sent to Moskow as our Ambassador to the USSR. But he managed to get invited to Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam.
The best part of Olson's book, is that she doesn't just keep herself to these three men. We get a look behind the curtain at Eisenhower and his Generals (both British and American) and how he spent most of the war, keeping them from each others throats. Eisenhower's job was described as 'dealing with a bunch of high strung pre-pubescent girls', such were all the egos involved. That they all accused him of favoring everyone else, he must have done a fair job.
There are a wealth of great quotes and anecdotes that make the reading of this book the more pleasurable.
Zeev Wolfe
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Roger H
Format:Hardcover
A first class piece of history, this book should be compulsory reading for all Britons, it tells of our American friends who stood shoulder to shoulder with our parents and grandparents during one of the darkest periods in our long history. Brilliantly researched and written.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Jill Meyer
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
"Citizens of London" is a well-written, well-told story of Anglo/British cooperation during WW2. Although author Lynne Olson writes in depth about the three American men she considered the most helpful to the British in persuading the Roosevelt government to aid Britain before Pearl Harbor, she also does justice to the hundreds of thousand American soldiers stationed in England during the war. "Over-paid, over-sexed, and over-here" describes many of the American diplomats and servicemen stationed in the UK. But, the Americans were extremely helpful and generous to the war-weary British population after three years of having gone it alone against the Germans.
Olson also writes about the "special relationship" between the US and the UK. and the relationship - highly spicy at times - between the two heads of state - Roosevelt and Churchill. Olson examines their dealings as well as those by British and American armed forces with Eisenhower, trying to hold together the often tenuous relations with his own staff as well as with the British.
Olson is a very good, even, writer. She's written several other histories of the time. She examines the personalities - often larger than life - of both the Americans and the British involved in the war effort. For the WW2 buff, Olson's book is a valuable addition to their library.
Olson also writes about the "special relationship" between the US and the UK. and the relationship - highly spicy at times - between the two heads of state - Roosevelt and Churchill. Olson examines their dealings as well as those by British and American armed forces with Eisenhower, trying to hold together the often tenuous relations with his own staff as well as with the British.
Olson is a very good, even, writer. She's written several other histories of the time. She examines the personalities - often larger than life - of both the Americans and the British involved in the war effort. For the WW2 buff, Olson's book is a valuable addition to their library.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great political revelation of the pre war condition
Excellent review of situation of the USA and Brittian just before America entered the war and just after. Read more
Published 1 month ago by George Lazur
5.0 out of 5 stars
A page turner
This a fascinating account of 3 influential Americans who had a crucial role in changing US opinion towards helping Britain in WW2. Read more
Published 1 month ago by carolyn penrose
5.0 out of 5 stars
gripping history
substantial history piece, beautifully written. Engrossing and authoritative. A gem and unmissable for WW2 buffs. Well researched and full of original insights
Published 2 months ago by Alan Mackenzie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Citizens of London
My american sister suggested I read it.
I am glad I did.
It sharpened up my knowledge of thatperiod when I was a teenager and did not fully understand what was going on. Read more
I am glad I did.
It sharpened up my knowledge of thatperiod when I was a teenager and did not fully understand what was going on. Read more
Published 3 months ago by kathleen Stansfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Important read
How many people knew how close these three individuals were to the Churchills and many of the most important individuals in wartime London? Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lydia C. Savage
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wartime London
This very informative and readable history interweaves personal stories and public events with great skill. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Bridget Proust
5.0 out of 5 stars
Citizens of London
This book was of particular interest to me since my father was a journalist covering World War II from London in the years 1937 - 1940, approximately. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Linda Sheean
5.0 out of 5 stars
A surprising gem
Excellent! Though I consider myself as some kind of expert in these matters I learned a lot about the relation between the UK & the US during the war. Read more
Published 15 months ago by pemazel
4.0 out of 5 stars
"These are the times that try men's souls."
It is with no small amount of irony that the words Thomas Paine used to rail against a Britain who had an "army to enforce her tyranny" so aptly describes the aura captured in... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Leonard Fleisig
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dissenting opinion - Unfocused, secondary references, not much new
Lynne Olson is a very talented writer; however, she is not a talented historian. As a journalist, Olson can write and keeps the story moving at a very good pace through the first... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2010 by Burgmicester
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