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93 reviews for:
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
Lynne Olson
4.26 AVERAGE
93 reviews for:
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
Lynne Olson
4.26 AVERAGE
If you are interested in WWII especially the relationship between Great Britain and the U.S. this is a must read book. The story of the British-American relationship during World War II was a rocky one, with a lot of ups and downs. This story is told through the story of three men, two which I recognized right away and one which I sadly must admit I didn't. The three men are Edward R Murrow famous for his radio reports out of London to America during the war, Averell Harriman, long time diplomat and John Gilbert Winant the U.S. Ambassador to Britain during the war. I am sorry to say I had not heard of Winant, so his story was the most interesting to me. If you want to view World War II from a different point of view this is a great read.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Citizens of London is beautifully detailed book about the Americans who were in London during WWII prior to the US getting involved and after. They played an integral part in brokering relations between Britain and America, helping to keep Britain going while they led the fight against the Nazis and while we were too "isolated" to get involved. Many of these people were unfamiliar to me, but were the true heroes of winning the war. Chief among them was Ambassador John Gilbert Winant, Edward Murrow and Tommy Hitchcock.
Through the war, we see that some of the other heroes have feet of clay. Men like Roosevelt and Churchill, who do great deeds, think larger than their peers and take chances for the greater good that others shirk away from. And yet, they are far from perfect. They also make bad decisions and their personal and professional choices are often selfish and narrow minded. Citizens of London is all of that and so much more! What eloquence....do people write like that anymore? I could have listened to the words of Churchill, Roosevelt, Edward R. Murrow long into the night. They inspire me to think bigger and act with courage. Read it...you will not be disappointed.
Through the war, we see that some of the other heroes have feet of clay. Men like Roosevelt and Churchill, who do great deeds, think larger than their peers and take chances for the greater good that others shirk away from. And yet, they are far from perfect. They also make bad decisions and their personal and professional choices are often selfish and narrow minded. Citizens of London is all of that and so much more! What eloquence....do people write like that anymore? I could have listened to the words of Churchill, Roosevelt, Edward R. Murrow long into the night. They inspire me to think bigger and act with courage. Read it...you will not be disappointed.
This book revolves around three main American players in wartime London, John Gilbert Winant, the US ambassador, Edward R. Murrow, CBS News Europe, and Averell Harriman, former UP head running the lend lease program. Focusing on life in London and the personal relationships that developed between these men and Britons, the Churchill family in particular, the author gives the reader a different perspective on the lead up to Americas official entry into the War. Well researched and full of personal stories from all walks of life this book brought life in London during the Blitz to life and highlighted many of relationships, both smooth and grating. as well as the shifting dynamics of political and personal lives of the policy makers and policy influencers in a world at war.
I've never read a historical account which so captivated my attention and curiosity. Olson's portrayal of the three key characters of the American/Britain WWII alliance is more than a historical portrayal but rather a drama in itself. The sorrow and passion, excitement and betrayal behind these diplomat's lives engrossed me! She peeled back the friendship facade of FDR and Churchill to reveal the real glue and diplomatic forces in the coming together of two nations to fight for freedom.
Olson tells the interrelated stories of Americans who stayed in London throughout the Second World War, braving the German bombings, then later V-1 and V-2 attacks, with the purpose of supporting the UK in resisting Nazi attacks. Two of the focal people in her story, Edward R. Murrow and Averell Harriman, are well-known, but the third, John Gilbert "Gil" Winant is all but forgotten today. Their work in administering Lend-Lease aid (Harriman), making the war real to US listeners (Murrow), and making the case to Franklin Roosevelt that the UK desperately needed US support (Winant) gave a lifeline to the sole opponent to the Nazi takeover of Western Europe, support which was almost too late. She expands the story to include American military personnel in the UK prior to the D-Day invasion, always keeping the tale focused on the human side. Altogether a well-told, fascinating addition to the war literature.
Listened on Hoopla. Excellent writing and great narrator! I am always amazed at how history comes to life through the people who lived it and made big things happen. Such a tragic, hopeful, devastating, and eventful war on so many fronts. Made me very angry at how selfish America was and how hard it is for governments and those in them to get anything done or even understand the extent of what is occurring in such bureaucracies.
The writer lives in DC, but she sure had sympathies with Britain and its people. Brought to light how much more a country who has the war in their backyard suffers than the one who goes over to help. I had never heard of the 3 Americans who had such an impact so it was great to get a different perspective from their part.
The writer lives in DC, but she sure had sympathies with Britain and its people. Brought to light how much more a country who has the war in their backyard suffers than the one who goes over to help. I had never heard of the 3 Americans who had such an impact so it was great to get a different perspective from their part.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Very good, informative, well-written book. I’ve read LOTS of WWII history but the stories of Gil Weinant and William Hitchcock and the details of the Polish contribution were all new and fascinating. Wish the author had trimmed some of the familiar details about the war AWAY from London a d found the details about the various affairs tawdry and disheartening, but the book itself is highly recommended.
As interesting as a non fiction book may be, it still takes me a while to get through it. I finally finished Citizens of London months after I started.
Citizens of London was a very readable account a small group of Americans who tried to rally their country to help the ailing British in WWII in the years before the United States officially entered the war.
My views of Roosevelt have vastly changed after reading this book. I found myself becoming very frustrated all the times he dragged his feet. It seemed as though he couldn't get through his head that Great Britain was the last hope for Europe and was just barely holding out against Hitler. He just did not get the devastation!
Here's a passage that struck me:
Since the Blitz began, some 43,000 British civilians had been killed by bombs, about half of them in London. As of the spring of 1941, far more British women and children had died in the war that had members of the country's armed forces. More than two million houses were damaged or destroyed; in the central London area, only one house in ten had escaped completely unscathed.
London was falling apart and Roosevelt barely did anything.
Moving on, the book also covered the events after the United States entered the war, showing the mostly strained allied relationship between the two countries. However, the stories of how relationships formed between American soldiers and residents of London were particularly touching. One London couple who lost a son in the war thought of one American soldier as their surrogate son and brought him into their home, letting him stay there during the duration of the war.
I'm glad that I won this book from Goodreads; it was a bit of history that I hadn't known before. And the names of the main three Americans covered in the book: Winant, Murrow and Harriman and their devotion to Great Britain will forever be stamped in my mind. As Winant said said at his farewell dinner before heading back to America, "I shall always feel that I am a Londoner."
Citizens of London was a very readable account a small group of Americans who tried to rally their country to help the ailing British in WWII in the years before the United States officially entered the war.
My views of Roosevelt have vastly changed after reading this book. I found myself becoming very frustrated all the times he dragged his feet. It seemed as though he couldn't get through his head that Great Britain was the last hope for Europe and was just barely holding out against Hitler. He just did not get the devastation!
Here's a passage that struck me:
Since the Blitz began, some 43,000 British civilians had been killed by bombs, about half of them in London. As of the spring of 1941, far more British women and children had died in the war that had members of the country's armed forces. More than two million houses were damaged or destroyed; in the central London area, only one house in ten had escaped completely unscathed.
London was falling apart and Roosevelt barely did anything.
Moving on, the book also covered the events after the United States entered the war, showing the mostly strained allied relationship between the two countries. However, the stories of how relationships formed between American soldiers and residents of London were particularly touching. One London couple who lost a son in the war thought of one American soldier as their surrogate son and brought him into their home, letting him stay there during the duration of the war.
I'm glad that I won this book from Goodreads; it was a bit of history that I hadn't known before. And the names of the main three Americans covered in the book: Winant, Murrow and Harriman and their devotion to Great Britain will forever be stamped in my mind. As Winant said said at his farewell dinner before heading back to America, "I shall always feel that I am a Londoner."
A great read, all about the personal relationships behind the big geopolitical decisions made in Britain and the US during WWII. Particularly interesting views of Roosevelt and Edward R. Murrow. Not just for history nerds! Vivid characters facing mortal danger, falling in love, trying to save the world - I learned a lot, but it's also just a great story.