Book Review: Citizens of London by Lynne Olson

Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is an excellent book about Britain and the Anglo-American alliance during World War II. Especially good are the insights into life in London during the Blitz (indiscriminate Nazi bombing of civilian targets) and the relationship between Britain and the United States before America entered the war, during the time they fought together, and immediately after the war. The book focuses on three Americans who helped save England (and, by extension, the United States) by encouraging U.S. entrance into the conflict: Lend-Lease administrator Averill Harriman, newsman Edward R. Murrow, and the lesser-known but vitally important U.S. Ambassador to England, Gilbert Conant. The book is much broader than that, however, and contains many insights into the relationship between English Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt. The information about U.S. indifference to the suffering of the British people and our near-abandonment of Britain to invasion by the Nazis is shocking and shaming. The attitude of the British toward Americans and vice versa is also surprising when one considers the "special relationship" the two countries have had since WWII. If, like me, you are interested in British history, World War II, or both, you will enjoy this book.