Franklin and Winston

An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship

By: Jon Meacham

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this “beautifully written and superbly researched dual biography” (Los Angeles Times Book Review), Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer Jon Meacham “paints a powerful portrait of the enormous friendship between World War II allies [Franklin] Roosevelt and [Winston] Churchill” (Vanity Fair).

“Intense and compelling reading.”—The Washington Post

Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were the greatest leaders of “the Greatest Generation.” In Franklin and Winston, Jon Meacham explores the fascinating relationship between the two men who piloted the free world to victory in World War II.

Born in the nineteenth century and molders of the twentieth and twenty-first, Roosevelt and Churchill had much in common. In their own time both men were underestimated, dismissed as arrogant, and faced skeptics in their own nations—yet both magnificently rose to the central challenges of the twentieth century. Theirs was a kind of love story, with an emotional Churchill courting an elusive Roosevelt. The British prime minister, who rallied his nation in its darkest hour, standing alone against Adolf Hitler, was always somewhat insecure about his place in FDR’s affections—which was the way Roosevelt wanted it. A man of secrets, FDR liked to keep people off balance, including his wife, Eleanor, his White House aides—and Winston Churchill.

Meacham’s sources—including unpublished letters of FDR’ s great secret love, Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, the papers of Pamela Churchill Harriman, and interviews with people who were in FDR and Churchill’s joint company—shed light on the characters of both men as he engagingly chronicles the hours in which they decided the course of the struggle.

Charting the personal drama behind the discussions of strategy and statecraft, Meacham has written the definitive account of the most remarkable friendship of the modern age.

©2003 Jon Meacham (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Jon Meacham's Franklin and Winston takes its place in the front ranks of all that has been written about these two great men." (Tom Brokaw)
"Jon Meacham brings [the relationship between FDR and Churchill] to vivid life, shedding new insights into its strange and poignant complexity, and why its legacy has helped shape the modern world." (Richard Holbrooke)

Would that there could still be two such great pillars of strength and self sacrifice!

In times like those in which we find ourselves now living, the story related in this most excellent work serves to tell us that nothing is beyond the realm of human possibility! I pray that we are still up to the current task at hand!

Franklin and Winston Review

Outstanding analysis of the relationship between two key leaders of the Twentieth Century. For a full appreciation of the background of Churchill's interaction with Roosevelt, 'CHURCHILL" by Roy Jenkins is a must read.

Great glimpses and play-by-play

I really enjoyed this, and how it brings these big historical decisions, events and meetings down to very personal experiences.

Oh for this leadership.

Meacham captures the strains and demands of terrible days and the men who led us hitherto. Be mighty fine to have that kind of leadership again to unite us. Bless our current prez Joe.

History of a Productive, Difficult Partnership

Gardner’s reading is excellent. This story is solid Meacham research spun in word-painted prose.

Franklin and Winston Review

Remarkable insight to perhaps the two most important figures in the 20th century. "W" is portrayed as the loyal friend for life-- an eternal optimist who delivered Britian from its darkest hour with the help from his sometimes aloof, and not so loyal Roosevelt, whom the author paints as long on charm, but sometimes as more opportunist than friend. The strong bonds that developed in the early years of the war between these men began to diverge during the pre-'44 plans for D-day, with Roosevelt loosening his ties with Churchill, to curry favor from Stalin. Stalin needed a Normandy diversion to ease Nazi pressure on the eastern front while Roosevelt, unable to predict completion of the Manhattan project, needed access to strategic Soviet airfields in Siberia for America's war against Japan. Churchill, on the other hand, mindful of the complexity of a channel naval invasion (and mindful of hard naval lessons past learned), was not quite ready to stomach the sacrifice in men that was sure to occur at D-day, at least not so soon as the proposed May '44 invasion. The fact that "F" and "W" disagreed is understandable, but the listener is left with a sense of regret that our "great" American president could have been more forthright and less political with the man who viewed Roosevelt among his closest friends. Franklin's cozy relations with "Uncle Joe" are made more distasteful by our retrospective view of the tyrant, a view, in fairness, Roosevelt did not have. While the "F" and "W" relationship was complex, and not completely devoid of emotion by Roosevelt, the traits of confidence and ego which made the "leader" Roosevelt, perhaps prevented the type of fraternal relationship we might have wished for them in retrospect. The author is masterful in providing us with the human frailties among the bundle of traits which made these men great. A very good listen indeed!

A friendship that changed the course of history

I've long been interested in FDR's life and have read several books and watched the wonderful PBS series about the Roosevelts. I've become more interested in Churchill's life via what I read in FDR biographies and through movies like "The Darkest Hour" and John Lithgow's portrayal of Churchill. This book really added some important details to my knowledge of this unique and Thank-God-It-Happened friendship. I shutter to think what would have become of courageous England without things like FDR's inspired "Lend-Lease" program (as FDR explained it to the public, it was like lending a garden hose to a neighbor in need of one). The Brits were so very brave, but taking such a beating from Germany. To me, this book showed how the friendship between these two turned the war around and ensured that the English aren't speaking German today. (This is not to belittle the amazing efforts of Great Britain and her people during the war, but they only had the equipment they had and were significant underdogs for a variety of reasons-none of which have to do with the courage of their forces or their people.)

Thank goodness leaders in the WWII era wrote letters (as did lots of other people). I have no idea how biographers of today will pull together fantastic books like this in the future. Jon Meacham is an excellent writer. If you like WWII history, you'll enjoy this book.

Great book

Fantastic story secrets and events never imagined by the public until you read this very interesting book.

great book on two great leaders

interesting book on two of the great leaders during ww2. not just a book to point put the great leadership of both men but also there flaws and insecuritys. well read book

Makes me hopeful in 2017

As Democracy is currently being threatened, this book reminded me of a beautiful time in our Nation's history. Where we fought against evil as one nation with England.