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)

Very interesting

If you like history and "the story behind the story" you will really like this book as it gives a great deal of insight into the personalities of some of the movers and shakers of WW2. Unfortunately, these personalities will not be well known to the majority of modern readers and that is a major loss to society. The book tells of a truly grand and awful time in our history when the United States emerged as the leading super power in the world.

behind the scenes of WW2

such deep material was difficult to finish. I shed many tears while listening to this book

Terrific story

affairs with Churchill family members. Harriman got involved with Pamela Churchill, Churchill’s daughter-in-law (years later he married her and she became the queen of Washington DC society). Ed Murrow was also in love with Pamela and nearly left his wife for her. Winant fell for Sarah Churchill, Winston and Clementine’s actress daughter. Wartime London was a crucible for romance.The City was full of refugees from every other European capital and as the Americans entered the war, hundreds, then thousands, then more than a million Yanks as Eisenhower prepped for the invasion that would lead to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

England was hanging on by a thread. They needed help but still felt superior to the Americans particularly in military affairs. There was much conflict and tension between the US and Britain even though we were the greatest of Allies. The British Empire was on a downward path and Churchill was highly motivated to keep as much control of their colonies. It was a losing battle as WWII effectively marked the end of Britain’s international preeminence.

This is a very rich and entertaining book, extremely well written and organized. The first half tells the stories of the three Americans and their presence continues to the end of the book. But in the second half, Olson paints with a broad brush the larger story of the end of the war. She also gets into some amazingly interesting details. For example, there is considerable material on the impact of the American soldier on Britain and particularly Britain’s reaction to Black soldiers.

I found the Gil Winant story most interesting. For as much as I’ve read about WWII I can’t believe I’d never heard of him. Winant was a former Governor of New Hampshire and was our ambassador to England throughout the entire war. He was extremely popular with the British people. He was in the habit of wandering the streets and talking to Brits about their experience and sharing it with them. He seems to have been a man who was not controversial but loved and admired by nearly every one. Sadly, after the war he committed suicide which is probably the reason he is lost to history. Harriman, of course, went on to a long career and Murrow continued to be the preeminent journalist in America until his retirement.

This is a must read for any WWII buff or lover of history.

Good but loses focus and then gets judgemental

This is an informative book on many big name (and some lesser name) Americans who were in London for WWII. As the author gets into the later war years, the story understandbly meanders more. At times the book is more gossip column than history and I really did not need to know all that much about the sexual activities of some of the people (especially Churchill women) in the book. To add insult to injury, the sex lists were boring so claiming "spice" doesn't really help on that subject. The author does a very good job of displaying the emotional passions of men like Murrow.

Olson also paints a vivid picture of the suffering of Londoners in general and how the food rationing affected the people in stark contrast to the high living of the wealthy in black market establishments or people in the United States. At times it appears that the author is outraged that the American people did not suffer as much as their British compatriots. Did Americans have it easy compared to the British? Of course, Would the outlawing of girdle production in the U.S. have put an ounce more meat, butter or cheese on the plate of a Briton? No. Having listened to tales from my family in Canada during WWII, sacrfices were made for Britain during the war. Not as much as the Britons themselves, but the deprivations of wartime also illustrate just how much many Britons were living on the shoulders of the people of the Empire and Commonwealth. The book occasionally uses the incorrect term that "England fought alone." This author doesn't fall into that trap often, but England always had Scotland and Wales plus the Commonwealth and the Empire.

One last issue was that near the end of the book the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is called the North AMERICAN Treaty Organization. I don't know if that was in the book or an error by the narrator. The author pointed out what a huge step this was for the United States so the name should be correct. Not a huge deal, but it stood out to me.

Olson also gives a useful re-examination of the Churchill/Roosevelt relationship. Fans of FDR will not like everything that is said but that is history.

Overall I recommend this book for some great stories and new insights. Get ready for a long list of attempted begating however. Plus, keep in mind that this book appears at least to be biased in favor of the Anglophiles.

Like Drinking A Dose of Hope

I have listened to Citizens of London two times now. Five years ago - it was informative, engaging and educational. Five Stars! In 2022, listening to the story of these brave citizens and their leaders who stopped the brutal Nazis from controlling the world filled me with hope that somehow our own world can return to one where values reign, and money is no longer the
Primary G-d. Fact based Inspiration awaits - listen up.

Don’t miss this book

I’m not sure that I have ever learned so much from a book. My eyes have been opened about a subject I’ve read about in several forms throughout the years. I now cannot wait to go visit London to see it through a different set of eyes. This book just moved to my top five best books.

Loved it

We hear so much about Roosevelt and Churchill, D-Day and Iwo Jima, but little about the people who were making things work and communicating. This was a delightful book that filled in some gaps I had. Well read. I'm so glad I tried it!

Great, but slanted

Great book about interesting people in an interesting time in London. Overall impressive work, and I would recommend it to everyone. My only issue was a very slanted positive opinion of those people who would be seen today as the unconstrained liberal side of the equation. Only they were considered worthy. Everyone else was made out to be of lesser character. This despite evidence of bad behavior during and after the war. The actors in the book, including FDR, had little effect on making the world safer or care more, as their actions fell short of the ideology. It always does, humans being human. The recent Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory proves again that the future is unlikely to be different than the past.

Fascinating, Educational, and Inspiring

If you like history, don't miss this book. It's one of the best I've read. It focuses on three influential Americans--Edward R. Murrow, Ambassador John Gilbert Winant, and Averell Harriman--in London in the years leading up the America's involvement in World War II and thereafter. They so empathized with the British and tried to get FDR unstuck, hoping he and Congress would realize the ramifications for the US if the Nazis defeated Britain.

I've read a lot about this period, but the book provides content I'd never seen before. I loved it.

Profound and Essential

I have read many many history books, preferring those related to WWII, (noncombat aspects.) I have never read a book that brought time, place, and people into clearer focus. To learn of these leaders/diplomats and the ways in which English citizens pulled together ("held out" ) during WWII
is, I believe, essential knowledge for American citizens. This accounting of the war puts modern life into a clearer context. I had never heard the story of Ambassador Wynette and his story is one of heroic honor. Others, whose stories are told in this book, were people I had seen on television as a younger person. Having better understanding of their stories gives me deeper appreciation. This author's writing style allows complex events and players to become clear without confusion. This is a book that I will listen to again - also purchase in hardcover as gifts for other history lovers I know. It will probably be one of my all time favorites.