Citizens of London

The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour

By: Lynne Olson

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Length: 17 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In Citizens of London, Lynne Olson has written a work of World War II history even more relevant and revealing than her acclaimed Troublesome Young Men.

Here is 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, Averell Harriman, and John Gilbert Winant. Drawing from a variety of primary sources, Olson skillfully depicts the dramatic personal journeys of these men who, determined to save Britain from Hitler, helped convince a cautious Franklin Roosevelt and a reluctant American public to support the British at a critical time. The three---Murrow, the handsome, chain-smoking head of CBS News in Europe; Harriman, the hard-driving millionaire who ran FDR's Lend-Lease program in London; and Winant, the shy, idealistic U.S. ambassador to Britain---formed close ties with Winston Churchill and were drawn into Churchill's official and personal circles. So intense were their relationships with the Churchills that they all became romantically involved 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.

Others were honorary "citizens of London" as well, including the gregarious, fiercely ambitious Dwight D. Eisenhower, an obscure general who, as the first commander of American forces in Britain, was determined to do everything in his power to make the alliance a success, and Tommy Hitchcock, a world-famous polo player and World War I fighter pilot who helped save the Allies' bombing campaign against Germany. Citizens of London, however, is more than just the story of these Americans and the world leaders they aided and influenced.

©2010 Lynne Olson (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Ingenious history.... Olson's absorbing narrative does [Winant, Murrow, and Harriman] justice." ( Publishers Weekly)

Makes one wish she had been a "Citizen of London "

Morey's narration brought wartime London, its citizens, and the most moral and noble Americans who stood with them to life. Made me realize why I love the English.

Raced through it

I could not stop listening to this book. I have a keen interest in WW 2 and the British home front and I learned so much. It was thoroughly engaging from start to finish.

Totally worthwhile!

What did you love best about Citizens of London?

It puts a level of character to history that is mind boggling!

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Gilbert Winant, a new hero statesman brought to our consciousness yielding a previously untold story impacting the human content of the times.

Which scene was your favorite?

John Gilbert Winant tending to beleaguered Londoners during the blitz.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The untold stories of front line efforts.

Dense detail & emotionally powerful

Should be required reading for any student of modern history / politics / Churchill or the Roosevelt years.
Impressive!

This should be on your list with Olson's page turner "Last Hope Island" directly following this one which will be a classic.

One of my favorite narrators....

Deep, balanced and riveting

I have been blessed the last 2 years as I have read some deep exposes on America. From Alan Taylor's American Revolutions to John Avlon's "Washington's Farewell" to Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" to Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee to Bradley's "The Imperial Cruise" and Evan Thomas' "The War Lovers" to Scott Anderson's The Quiet Americans for post-WW II, to Halberstam's "The Coldest Winter" and Halberstam's " the Children" and his "Best and Brightest".

This expose was superb. Deep, balanced and conveyed much about the war and its formation. Well worth reading

Great book

So engaging and I learned so much. Olson is so knowledgeable of all that went on in London during WWII and she is such a great writer that I loved every page. It was non fiction that read like a novel - a real page turner. It would make a great feature film, but what would you cut from the book? That would be a really hard choice. And I am ashamed, but not surprised, at how we treated England throughout and after the war.

Great book

I have read many World War II books and I believe this is the best. I learned many things about the nitty-gritty and every day negotiations that the leaders went through and the problems of that they had. It doesn’t have all the glory glory and greatness and beating of your chest that you read in other books. It is very very factual and to the point.

So Glad

So glad it was written and very glad I read it. Much to learn, still, about one of the greatest, most horrific challenges that the world faced mid-century. Buy, read, learn.

I learned so much

Born in England in 1947, I owe a tremendous debt to these fine men for saving my country from being overrun by Germany.

A Paean To John Gilbert Winant...

... With strong supporting characters. Lynne Olson’s love of collectivism as a means to solving power struggles tempers Citizens, but doesn’t significantly dampen its quality of research and storytelling. Similarly, the slightly pedantic style of Arthur Morey’s narration doesn’t significantly diminish the audio experience, at least not at 1.25 speed.