Citizens of London is an account of the relationship between the Americans and British during WWII with an emphasis on the men who cultivated the alliance prior to the US’s official entry into the war.
The most influential of these men were the charismatic Edward R. Murrow, head of CBS News in Europe, ambitious millionaire Averell Harriman, head of the Lend-Lease program, and John Gilbert Winant, the idealistic US Ambassador to Britain.
The book is at its best when covering the political and personal machinations in which these three men engaged during their time in Europe. (All were romantically involved with members of Winston Churchill’s family.) Of the three, Winant is the one history seems to have forgotten, and his story is fascinating, and a little sad.
Enjoyable and a must read for WWII aficionados. I also highly recommend Olson’s book, Troublesome Young Men.
