26 Apr Citizens of London
Citizens of London, WWII book by Lynne Olson
(2010) Author Lynne Olson writes about the World War II years in London, in particular “the Americans who stood with Britain in its darkest, finest hours.” The book focuses on three … Edward R. Murrow who broadcast live from the London Blitz, Averell Harriman who wanted to be in the center of it all, and John Gilbert Winant, the US Ambassador to Great Britain during the worst of the war.
This was just an excellent book to read right before my trip to London (in five days!) to see World War II locations. Along with telling us what was happening with her three main players, we read about what was else going on in wartime London with whom and where. As Olson explains, London was the most exciting place on earth, especially during 1944 when the troops were gathering for the upcoming invasion. And that was the same year both my parents were working or visiting there.
The initial reason I chose this book was because I was reading somewhere about Gil Winant who replaced Joe Kennedy as Ambassador to Britain. Whatever I was reading described him as a handsome man so I googled his name to see for myself. Google has no picture but what I read was shocking …
As much as Kennedy had been disliked, Winant was loved. When he arrived for the first time, King George VI personally welcomed him at the train station. Londoners cheered whenever they saw him walking the streets during the bombings.
Then when the war was over, after he had accomplished so much, this man shot himself.
I had to know why.
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour at amazon.com
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