War and Peace

Publisher's Summary

To mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the stirring climax to Nigel Hamilton's three-part saga of FDR at war - proof that he was WWII's key strategist, even on his deathbed. Nigel Hamilton's celebrated trilogy culminates with a story of triumph and tragedy. Just as FDR was proven right by the D-day landings he had championed, so was he found to be mortally ill in the spring of 1944. He was the architect of a victorious peace that he would not live to witness. Using hitherto unpublished documents and interviews, Hamilton rewrites the famous account of World War II strategy given by Winston Churchill in his memoirs. 

Seventy-five years after the D-day landings, we finally get to see, close-up and in dramatic detail, who was responsible for rescuing, and insisting upon, the great American-led invasion of France in June 1944, and why the invasion was led by Eisenhower. As FDR's D-day triumph turns to personal tragedy, we watch with heartbreaking compassion the course of the disease, and how, in the months left him as US commander in chief, the dying president attempted at Hawaii, Quebec, and Yalta to prepare the United Nations for an American-backed postwar world order. Now we know: Even on his deathbed, FDR was the war's great visionary.

©2019 Nigel Hamilton (P)2019 Recorded Books

FDR’s War Years with Positive Spin

This was the last of a three volume trilogy on FDR during his War time Presidency. The author is clearly an advocate for FDR and not an impartial Biographer. The series attempts to gave a human face and highlight the War time achievements of FDR. Historians are supposed to be impartial but of course they rarely are. I have read extensively on the Allied War leaders heads of State. Churchill by far has the most written about him. Churchill is depicted as majestically flawed but great of heart and above all “magnanimous”. Stalin is depicted as a paranoid, manipulative, sociopath. FDR is depicted as having little true character. He manipulates Politics, The American Public, even his friends and family. His public image is an illusion, few know he is paralyzed, he easily subordinates his principles in an effort to maintain popular support, his marriage is purely a platonic pact for political expediency, he has a large family but he rarely interacts its them except when they are in the role of caretaker since his wife is absent and he has few true friends. FDR was at first seen as catering to the isolationist public allowing the World to burn as America did little to help other than reap profits as an arms dealer. He was in charge when American was caught asleep and ill prepared for War. He forged an alliance with Churchill finally but out of expediency. They appeared true friends until Churchill and his Country lost much of their usefulness to a rapidly expanding USA. As the friendship (if there ever truly was one) cooled FDR denigrated Churchill in an effort to win over Stalin. Stalin of course used the arrogant President much as Hitler did Chamberlain in the eyes of some. That’s a quick summary of several books - not necessarily a correct interpretation.
Nigel Hamilton goes a long way to refine this rather harsh view of FDR. He presents Roosevelt much as William Manchester n others present Churchill - flawed but Masterful. It was definitely worth it to read the trilogy to seem him presented in this light and to see some of his more egregious late War missteps in light of his incredibly poor health n not as signs of his arrogance or ignorance. I must warn all the Churchill devotees that the Author is pretty merciless is his depiction of Churchill especially in the third volume. I’m not sure Nigel Hamilton got that part totally correct but he uses primary source material to back up his assertions just like the books on Churchill do. So this trilogy helps level the playing field for me. It’s a good reminder that using the same source material base Historian’s can put someone on a pedestal or knock them off a pedestal.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Sad that it didn't cover consequences of R's death

I would have given it 5 Stars if it had covered the repercussions of Roosevelt's death (the book ends immediately after Roosevelt dies) . Otherwise it was fabulous.

Abrupt Ending!!

Interesting book, but the ending is incredibly abrupt with no analysis or conclusion. It may be that a future book will carry forth the story, but this ending, spoiler alert! (FDR was dead. The end.) was far too jarring and colored my opinion.

A wonderful informative read

Engaging from the first word! History as it should be ,a page turner. Presents Churchill and Stalin as flesh and blood characters! FDR we need you!