---
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title: "Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour"
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# Anglo-American alliance Deep historical insight WWII era focus Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour

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## Summary

> 📖 Relive the untold stories that shaped freedom’s finest hour!

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- **What is this?** Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
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## Key Features

- • **Humanize History’s Giants:** Experience the personal struggles, romances, and leadership behind the headlines of global conflict.
- • **Rich Primary Source Research:** Dive into meticulously verified letters, memos, and firsthand accounts for unmatched historical accuracy.
- • **Uncover Untold WWII Alliances:** Explore the pivotal American figures who shaped Britain’s survival during its darkest hours.
- • **A Must-Read for History Enthusiasts:** Join thousands of readers captivated by this gripping narrative of courage, diplomacy, and sacrifice.
- • **Award-Winning Author’s Masterpiece:** From Lynne Olson, a critically acclaimed historian known for vivid storytelling and credibility.

## Overview

Citizens of London reveals the crucial role of three American leaders in forging the WWII alliance with Britain, blending rigorous research with intimate personal narratives to illuminate the political and human drama behind the war effort. This used book in good condition offers a compelling, award-winning account that has captivated thousands and ranks highly in history categories.

## Description

The acclaimed author of Troublesome Young Men reveals 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, the handsome, chain-smoking head of CBS News in Europe; Averell Harriman, the hard-driving millionaire who ran FDR’s Lend-Lease program in London; and John Gilbert Winant, the shy, idealistic U.S. ambassador to Britain. Each man formed close ties with Winston Churchill—so much so that all became romantically involved with members of the prime minister’s family. Drawing from a variety of primary sources, Lynne Olson skillfully depicts the dramatic personal journeys of these men who, determined to save Britain from Hitler, helped convince a cautious Franklin Roosevelt and reluctant American public to back the British at a critical time. Deeply human, brilliantly researched, and beautifully written, Citizens of London is a new triumph from an author swiftly becoming one of the finest in her field.

Review: Lynne Olsen Writes a Great History of America and England in WWII - This is the story of the Anglo-American Alliance of World War II, of three men - John G. Winant, American Ambassador to the Court of St James. Averill Harriman, Franklin Roosevelt's Lend Lease Administrator and general "go to" guy and Edward R. Murrow, the magnificently eloquent CBS Correspondent in London - who were instrumental in creating that Alliance and of what they did over the war years from 1940-45 to maintain it. The book is or than that, however. . It's the story of the strains and struggles of two great English speaking nations trying to mount a joint effort to contain Nazi Germany at a time when German might was supreme from the shores of France to the forests of Russia, when British cities were burning, its people starving and America was a toothless giant 3,000 miles away across an Atlantic infested with German U-Boats. It's the story of the strains and struggles, the successes and failures of the relationship, of the men (and women) involved and, like all really good historical writing it captures the imagination, renews and refreshes the memories of those who lived through these times and is hard to put down. The author is Lynne Olson, an experienced reporter with a reputation for good writing and near unanimous credibility as an historian. It was a pleasure to read her book. Moreover those of us living in the US during the run up to War will attest to its historical accuracy. Insofar as the book talks about America's unprepared ness and the deep division in the country between the isolationists and the interventionists it is dead on. I just wish Ms. Olsen had been more emphatic in explaining the fact that Roosevelt was hamstrung on intervention because off the ferocity of isolationist sentiment in the United States and also because of the woeful state of our armed forces. Even if the United States had intervened by a declaration of war or, by some material help to Britain the country was a paper tiger; and intervention in 1940 may well have done more harm than good in the long run Insofar as the book narrates the personal experiences of the three "Citizens" involved it's interesting, and, though I'm not a strong moralist, would have preferred it stuck to the facts of history and skip its many pages about the sexual affairs each of these men had with women in the Churchill family . It's a verbal diorama of almost five years of war - of the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 after the fall of France where "Never (had) so many owed so much to so few" (i.e. the young men of the RAF Fighter Squadrons) - of the Blitz, the sustained strategic bombing of Britain between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, when the City of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed, when more than one million London houses were destroyed or damaged, and more than 40,000 civilians were killed, half of them in London - of the Battle of the Atlantic when German submarines almost brought Britain to her knees via the blockade. Food was rationed and rationed again, clothes were almost; unobtainable; paper for business was so scarce that this writer remembers his law firm sending bond paper so that London law firms could continue to practice. - When hundreds of thousands of Americans bagged their old clothes for Bundles for Brittan - when the tension between the British need for arms and supplies and American reluctance or inability to meet the need was almost unbearable and when these "Citizens of London" poured water on the flames - and likewise on the tensions between British military planners and the Americans over when and how the Americans could involve the Nazi military on the continent. It recounts Operation Torch (the invasion of North Africa) where the American Army was first bloodied - of the air war when the American Eighth Air Force of B-17s took the responsibility for daylight bombing over Germany with the result that until late 1944 when the long range P51 Mustang fighter became available a member of an American air crew had a one in four chance of living through his 26 missions over Germany - of the almost impossible crowding in England when the troops gathered for the D-Day assault on France on June 6 1944 - of the many disagreements between the military staffs of the respective countries, the personal strains between Roosevelt and Churchill, the problems with De Gaulle and the Free French =- and many more. It's all here and very readable. So you would do well to take advantage of the opportunity and read the book.
Review: OLSON'S LITERARY MASTERPIECE - This stellar anthology, woven like a fine tribal tapestry, has already unleashed torrents of superlatives and accolades. It's just that we can't seem to say enough good things about Lynne Olson's documentary. I believe because it gets rarer and scarcer to find anybody willing to go to so much effort to verify so many minute details, books, statements, memos, letters and notes,then blend them into a readable, understandable, interesting, unique, personal, historically-accurate drama about 'The Americans who stood with Britain in it's darkest, finest hour.' These are the tales of unrelenting courage and patriotism; from the top down. Where, not only average, ordinary citizens stood tall---but three uncommon men of authority in high positions in their socio-economic fields in their home country, America, quietly rose to their zenith in business, politics and philanthropic dedication. These three key leaders: Gil Wynant, Averell Harriman and Ed Murrow in the Top Tier, Olson followed with the Sub-set of No.4. and No.5., Dwight D. Eisenhower and Tommy Hitchcock. When the Battle of Britain and the Normandy Invasion plans were drawn each had a vital part to play through a dedicated connection, friendship or by virtue of their position at the time---with one of the Central Leaders of both the United States of America or Great Britain: President Franklin D. Roosevelt with Harry Hopkins or Prime Minister Winston Churchill, or King George VI. Joseph Stalin, leader of Russia, a ruthless dictator who promised the others anything to achieve his communist goals--was beguiling in his attempt to gain total control of Europe at the close of WWII. The Top Tier never stopped their tenacious pressure on the U.S. govenment and FDR, to get involved and step to the plate, "to save Great Britain and Europe before it's too late!" Never! Lynne Olson brings the reader, historian or novice, a power-packed infusion of intimate, personal, private, insider's revelations and spell-binding information on a life-changing subject most of us grew up with daily, for years---and knew very little about; until now! (May 3, 2010) Having known, studied or worked for leaders, especially Eccentric Leaders like Howard Hughes, Bill Lear, Tommy Hitchcock, Henry Ford, Sen. Barry Goldwater, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Harrah, President Ronald Reagan, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Judge Wm P. Clark, Jr., Hon.Thomas C.Reed, Hon.Edwin Meese III; the list goes on: It's easy to recognize the charcteristics and qualities that set the tone of Olson's Top Tier Group; Wynant, Harriman and Murrow. The key was Wynant, more so than Harriman, who built a strong bond of, almost invincible confidence with FDR. Many Eccentric Leaders were upper-society people. Most worked hard and best behind the scenes! These Eccentric Leaders worked best behind the scenes; as a TEAM. To steer the complex 'ship' of state of Great Britain through the perilous waters of behind-the-scenes diplomacy and decorum, generally needing a helping hand or helpful word from a colleague, rather than taking the credit themselves. Good conclusions many times resulted but those results were like small tributes to the dentist who had just performed your root-canal. The main result: FDR's reluctant, almost pained along with America's, Final "Yes" to entry into the war; which eventually prevented Great Britain from being devoured! The Sub-set of Tommy Hitchcock and General Dwight Eisenhower had many similar characteristics and qualities as had the Top Tier---and Olson brought them out masterfully. The Key Qualities for all five was headed by each of them being; GOAL ORIENTED--always with an eye on the prize. EXAMPLE: Two Eccentric Leaders, Howard Hughes developed from scratch (with some financial help from Henry J. Kaiser)and flew at the end of the War(1947)the HERCULES H-4 Flying boat aka "The Spruce Goose." Tommy Hitchcock developed. reconfigured and repowered the famed U.S. fighter plane, with new Rolls Royce engines: the P-51B MUSTANG. He became a flying "ace" like Hughes. Characteristics of Eccentric Leaders: * Generally speaking * 1. Making money. 2.Philanthropy. Helping others less fortunate. 3.Passionate, intense lovers. 4.Many worked with little sleep. 5. Idea people. 6.Never afraid (like Gill Wynant) to go to the top. 7. Ability to cement Trust and Confidence with leaders of Military, Government and Business everywhere. 8. Recognized and appreciated by ordinary citizens. 9. Prescient. 10. Honest. 11. High I.Q'.s 12. Incredibly deep photographic memories--beyond that of normal human beings. 13. Some, not all, had an abiding faith in a Higher Power. Olson captured, like no writer has yet, the Ed Murrow-syle journalist's Magic typewriter/keyboard, pen and voice in "Citizens of London" The mural they painted across the world, then and now, the smoke of ruined, burning homes, destroyed lives and memories. The eerie moan of air-raid sirens in the night followed by the flying "Buzz" bombs---Hitler's latest technical marvel; the V1 and V2 Rockets which could fly across the channel and destroy entire English neighborhoods. The aromas of death---the sounds of war. Olson has brought these unique players, borrowed for the British stage, into the dynamics of battle and exposed the raw side of war with all of it's Glory, Temptations, Adrenalin, Fear, Determination, Courage, Creativity and Compassion. And the compelling reason for all of this? FREEDOM! The research-gathering alone was a Herculean task. I know. I've done it. This work, this book, deserves TWO THUMBS UP! Top Awards to Lynne Olson & Stan Cloud! Thanks for a Great Read!!!

## Features

- Used Book in Good Condition

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #79,353 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #42 in England History #225 in World War II History (Books) #252 in American Military History |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,876 Reviews |

## Images

![Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61QE4++krZL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lynne Olsen Writes a Great History of America and England in WWII
*by J***S on January 29, 2012*

This is the story of the Anglo-American Alliance of World War II, of three men - John G. Winant, American Ambassador to the Court of St James. Averill Harriman, Franklin Roosevelt's Lend Lease Administrator and general "go to" guy and Edward R. Murrow, the magnificently eloquent CBS Correspondent in London - who were instrumental in creating that Alliance and of what they did over the war years from 1940-45 to maintain it. The book is or than that, however. . It's the story of the strains and struggles of two great English speaking nations trying to mount a joint effort to contain Nazi Germany at a time when German might was supreme from the shores of France to the forests of Russia, when British cities were burning, its people starving and America was a toothless giant 3,000 miles away across an Atlantic infested with German U-Boats. It's the story of the strains and struggles, the successes and failures of the relationship, of the men (and women) involved and, like all really good historical writing it captures the imagination, renews and refreshes the memories of those who lived through these times and is hard to put down. The author is Lynne Olson, an experienced reporter with a reputation for good writing and near unanimous credibility as an historian. It was a pleasure to read her book. Moreover those of us living in the US during the run up to War will attest to its historical accuracy. Insofar as the book talks about America's unprepared ness and the deep division in the country between the isolationists and the interventionists it is dead on. I just wish Ms. Olsen had been more emphatic in explaining the fact that Roosevelt was hamstrung on intervention because off the ferocity of isolationist sentiment in the United States and also because of the woeful state of our armed forces. Even if the United States had intervened by a declaration of war or, by some material help to Britain the country was a paper tiger; and intervention in 1940 may well have done more harm than good in the long run Insofar as the book narrates the personal experiences of the three "Citizens" involved it's interesting, and, though I'm not a strong moralist, would have preferred it stuck to the facts of history and skip its many pages about the sexual affairs each of these men had with women in the Churchill family . It's a verbal diorama of almost five years of war - of the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 after the fall of France where "Never (had) so many owed so much to so few" (i.e. the young men of the RAF Fighter Squadrons) - of the Blitz, the sustained strategic bombing of Britain between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, when the City of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed, when more than one million London houses were destroyed or damaged, and more than 40,000 civilians were killed, half of them in London - of the Battle of the Atlantic when German submarines almost brought Britain to her knees via the blockade. Food was rationed and rationed again, clothes were almost; unobtainable; paper for business was so scarce that this writer remembers his law firm sending bond paper so that London law firms could continue to practice. - When hundreds of thousands of Americans bagged their old clothes for Bundles for Brittan - when the tension between the British need for arms and supplies and American reluctance or inability to meet the need was almost unbearable and when these "Citizens of London" poured water on the flames - and likewise on the tensions between British military planners and the Americans over when and how the Americans could involve the Nazi military on the continent. It recounts Operation Torch (the invasion of North Africa) where the American Army was first bloodied - of the air war when the American Eighth Air Force of B-17s took the responsibility for daylight bombing over Germany with the result that until late 1944 when the long range P51 Mustang fighter became available a member of an American air crew had a one in four chance of living through his 26 missions over Germany - of the almost impossible crowding in England when the troops gathered for the D-Day assault on France on June 6 1944 - of the many disagreements between the military staffs of the respective countries, the personal strains between Roosevelt and Churchill, the problems with De Gaulle and the Free French =- and many more. It's all here and very readable. So you would do well to take advantage of the opportunity and read the book.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ OLSON'S LITERARY MASTERPIECE
*by C***R on March 4, 2014*

This stellar anthology, woven like a fine tribal tapestry, has already unleashed torrents of superlatives and accolades. It's just that we can't seem to say enough good things about Lynne Olson's documentary. I believe because it gets rarer and scarcer to find anybody willing to go to so much effort to verify so many minute details, books, statements, memos, letters and notes,then blend them into a readable, understandable, interesting, unique, personal, historically-accurate drama about 'The Americans who stood with Britain in it's darkest, finest hour.' These are the tales of unrelenting courage and patriotism; from the top down. Where, not only average, ordinary citizens stood tall---but three uncommon men of authority in high positions in their socio-economic fields in their home country, America, quietly rose to their zenith in business, politics and philanthropic dedication. These three key leaders: Gil Wynant, Averell Harriman and Ed Murrow in the Top Tier, Olson followed with the Sub-set of No.4. and No.5., Dwight D. Eisenhower and Tommy Hitchcock. When the Battle of Britain and the Normandy Invasion plans were drawn each had a vital part to play through a dedicated connection, friendship or by virtue of their position at the time---with one of the Central Leaders of both the United States of America or Great Britain: President Franklin D. Roosevelt with Harry Hopkins or Prime Minister Winston Churchill, or King George VI. Joseph Stalin, leader of Russia, a ruthless dictator who promised the others anything to achieve his communist goals--was beguiling in his attempt to gain total control of Europe at the close of WWII. The Top Tier never stopped their tenacious pressure on the U.S. govenment and FDR, to get involved and step to the plate, "to save Great Britain and Europe before it's too late!" Never! Lynne Olson brings the reader, historian or novice, a power-packed infusion of intimate, personal, private, insider's revelations and spell-binding information on a life-changing subject most of us grew up with daily, for years---and knew very little about; until now! (May 3, 2010) Having known, studied or worked for leaders, especially Eccentric Leaders like Howard Hughes, Bill Lear, Tommy Hitchcock, Henry Ford, Sen. Barry Goldwater, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Harrah, President Ronald Reagan, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Judge Wm P. Clark, Jr., Hon.Thomas C.Reed, Hon.Edwin Meese III; the list goes on: It's easy to recognize the charcteristics and qualities that set the tone of Olson's Top Tier Group; Wynant, Harriman and Murrow. The key was Wynant, more so than Harriman, who built a strong bond of, almost invincible confidence with FDR. Many Eccentric Leaders were upper-society people. Most worked hard and best behind the scenes! These Eccentric Leaders worked best behind the scenes; as a TEAM. To steer the complex 'ship' of state of Great Britain through the perilous waters of behind-the-scenes diplomacy and decorum, generally needing a helping hand or helpful word from a colleague, rather than taking the credit themselves. Good conclusions many times resulted but those results were like small tributes to the dentist who had just performed your root-canal. The main result: FDR's reluctant, almost pained along with America's, Final "Yes" to entry into the war; which eventually prevented Great Britain from being devoured! The Sub-set of Tommy Hitchcock and General Dwight Eisenhower had many similar characteristics and qualities as had the Top Tier---and Olson brought them out masterfully. The Key Qualities for all five was headed by each of them being; GOAL ORIENTED--always with an eye on the prize. EXAMPLE: Two Eccentric Leaders, Howard Hughes developed from scratch (with some financial help from Henry J. Kaiser)and flew at the end of the War(1947)the HERCULES H-4 Flying boat aka "The Spruce Goose." Tommy Hitchcock developed. reconfigured and repowered the famed U.S. fighter plane, with new Rolls Royce engines: the P-51B MUSTANG. He became a flying "ace" like Hughes. Characteristics of Eccentric Leaders: * Generally speaking * 1. Making money. 2.Philanthropy. Helping others less fortunate. 3.Passionate, intense lovers. 4.Many worked with little sleep. 5. Idea people. 6.Never afraid (like Gill Wynant) to go to the top. 7. Ability to cement Trust and Confidence with leaders of Military, Government and Business everywhere. 8. Recognized and appreciated by ordinary citizens. 9. Prescient. 10. Honest. 11. High I.Q'.s 12. Incredibly deep photographic memories--beyond that of normal human beings. 13. Some, not all, had an abiding faith in a Higher Power. Olson captured, like no writer has yet, the Ed Murrow-syle journalist's Magic typewriter/keyboard, pen and voice in "Citizens of London" The mural they painted across the world, then and now, the smoke of ruined, burning homes, destroyed lives and memories. The eerie moan of air-raid sirens in the night followed by the flying "Buzz" bombs---Hitler's latest technical marvel; the V1 and V2 Rockets which could fly across the channel and destroy entire English neighborhoods. The aromas of death---the sounds of war. Olson has brought these unique players, borrowed for the British stage, into the dynamics of battle and exposed the raw side of war with all of it's Glory, Temptations, Adrenalin, Fear, Determination, Courage, Creativity and Compassion. And the compelling reason for all of this? FREEDOM! The research-gathering alone was a Herculean task. I know. I've done it. This work, this book, deserves TWO THUMBS UP! Top Awards to Lynne Olson & Stan Cloud! Thanks for a Great Read!!!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent book marred by narration
*by M***T on April 7, 2010*

I've read Sir Winston Churchill's six volume epic 'History of the Second World War' a few times which, until this work, had been the only book I had read that explores the characters and relationships of the main actors of the Allies. Hearing about these relationships from a different (and less biased) angle has been fascinating. In addition to Winant, Murrow, and Harriman, Olson spends considerable time examining the relationship between Churchill and Roosevelt - and often contradicts the image offered by Churchill. For me this was the most fascinating aspect of the book. The diversions such as the P-51 Mustang story were very enjoyable too. I think Olson's greatest talent is being able to isolate a few threads in a very complex series of events and highlight them lucidly for the reader (or listener). She does this continuously throughout the book so that you are educated and entertained but with neither a sense of over-simplification nor confusion. I will certainly be buying more books by this author. She has a gift. On a less-enthusiastic note, the narrator - Morey - was a poor choice for a narrator. His delivery is very monotone and lawerly, which is not necessary a bad thing for a work of non-fiction but gets boring at times. What really irritates me are his frequent mispronounciations. I understand that mispronouncing foreign place names is just poor research but there are also mispronounciations of common words. For example, who says 'poobitty' instead of puberty? What narrator doesn't understand the difference between the verb and noun forms of 'defect'? In the phrase 'tank treads had defects' the emphasis is on the first syllable of defects. When the narrator put the emphasis on the second syllable he's saying they started fighting for Germany! These are just two of dozens of egregious errors in the narration. Note: This book on CD is already converted to mp3 so you don't have to do it. I've been waiting for a publisher to do this for years! The audio quality is excellent. So in summary I give 5 stars for the book and 3 for the narration.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
- Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America's Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941

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