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)

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.

WWII in a different light

Where does Citizens of London rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would say this is one of the better audiobooks I've heard. The narrator did a good job and I appreciate not changing tone or accent with so many different characters involved.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Citizens of London?

I was really struck by the long, winding story of George Wynant - the U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. during WWII. He is someone I would really respect and like. What a hard job he had during that time. His own journey from pre-war to post-war is thrilling and heart breaking.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Arthur Morey?

Yes.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No - I just liked seeing a whole new all encompassing view of the events before, during and after World War II. I think overall it increased my understanding of the war.

Makes me not so proud of being an American

What did you love best about Citizens of London?

This book opened my eyes to real life characters in one of the most fascinating periods of world history. Who were Edward R. Murrow, Averell Harriman, Pamela Churchill, Harry Hopkins, Tommy Hitchcock... and most of all: who the heck was John Gilbert Winant? This tells the not-so-flattering story of America and Americans in the crucial 1939 to 1942 timeframe in the last Western bastion of Europe: Great Britain. If you love WWII history, or modern history at all, this is a MUST read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Gilbert Winant, our American ambassador to Great Britain from 1941 to 1946, was my absolute favorite. An idealist, a down to earth lover of people, a man who tried his best to get us to realize that we HAD to back Britain in those dark years. Another great was Tommy Hitchcock, a socialite polo star who was the man who got the P51 off the ground to defend our bombers all the way into Germany and stop the horrific loses we were experiencing due to Arnold's and Spaatz's belief that we didn't need fighter escorts.

Which character – as performed by Arthur Morey – was your favorite?

The reader, Arthur Morey, did an excellent job of reading, or more closely: reporting, this book. All of the characters in this fascinating, angering book were reported with the appropriate exposition that this work of non-fiction needed.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

My anger at FDR for not seeing what was happening in Europe and how it affected not just the USA but the entire world. How he denigrated Winston Churchill in front of our beloved ally, Joseph Stalin. My view of FDR is forever changed... not for the good.

Any additional comments?

As a youth growing up in postwar America, I always thought the US won the war in Europe as well as the Pacific. Being a bit hard on America, this book changed my mind about that. Yes, we were the final, strong push in the west that stopped the Nazis, but almost by accident. Eisenhower comes off quite well, but most of the rest of the high ranking American military leadership does not.

It has added to my desire to go to England before I die. I want to see the physical place that this extraordinary collection of persons inhabited.

Ever hear of John Gilbert Winant? You won’t forget him.

Totally engrossing narrative of the intimate involvement of three Americans during Britain’s finest hour: Averell Harriman, Edward R Murrow, and John Gilbert Winant, the US ambassador after Joseph Kennedy. The importance of Herriman and Murrow is well known, But it turns out that J. Gilbert Winant was perhaps the most important. An incredible public servant, hardly now remembered, he cemented the often – difficult relationship between the two World War II allies. A fascinating man in a trio of fascinating Americans. Highly recommended, especially for World War II buffs. Narration first rate.

Couldn’t stop listening

I knew some of the names of these men mostly from what they did after the war. hearing of their activities in London during the war and how they impacted our countries was mind boggling. Especially how they all worked in their own fields of influence with those around them on the scene. I think the relationship between Churchill and Roosevelt that the book shares sheds a different light on both of these men than I knew. a wonderful book

Excellent read!

Great and little known history of key figures in wartime London. Great story, well told. I highly recommend it.

WWII & Churchll

Detailed portrayals of those who fought to save Britain from Hitler's relentless attacks. Brilliant.

Excellent book, very educational about WWII

I learned a tremendous amount about the political issues of World War II. I never realized how slow the USA was in joining the war and helping defeat the Nazis. Also, what a poor negotiator FDR was and to a lesser extent Winston Churchill was. Stalin laid them in the shade.

good popular history, well read

This book by Lynne Olson recovers some history that is not well-known to Americans, specifically the way in which a few key figures from the US, in the UK during the late-1930s & early-1940s, were instrumental in getting the US (rightfully) into rightfully into World War II. Contrary to the way in which we read this history today, this was a close-run thing, not obvious (especially during the ambassadorship of Joe Kennedy) to US leaders nor UK leaders that a true military collaboration would come to pass in the dark days of 1939 & 1940, when "England stood alone." It is well-worth getting this book if you are interested in the real history of this period or in WWII history.

I have dinged it slightly, 4 stars rather than 5, because the latter half of the book contains familiar material if you are familiar with the period after the US buildup, or of the complicated relationship between FDR, Churchill, DeGaulle & Stalin. And because Lynne Olson's previous book, "Troublesome Young Men - The Rebels who brought Churchill to Power ..." was so much better, more focused, than this one. Hopefully Audible will try to get that book in audio too.

Citizens of the US: Read this!

Thank you Audible for offering this title in one of your sales. Otherwise, I would almost certainly not have discovered a really unique view of WWII. As that time recedes into history, we tend to have a rosy view of the "perfect" and inevitable American/British alliance. Of course the story is really more complicated, more politically and economically nuanced, and much more interesting than that. Seeing the early war years through the eyes of these three American citizens in London gives a whole new perspective as well as a chance to introduce us to them and to lots of other fascinating characters of that time and place. I thought I knew something about Murrow and Harriman; turns out I didn't know much. And Winant I had never heard of. How glad I am to have met him. What do you want from a good history? Fascinating people and the certainty that you will never look at that period in quite the same way again. This book has all that. I found the narrator to be perfect. Every word was clear and he seemed to be really engaged in the reading of it. I gladly followed him through this remarkable listen. I recommend it for all those who are at all interested in the history of WWII, in the rising influence of the media, and in the gray areas of human interaction in times of stress.