Description:
From internationally bestselling historian Giles Milton comes the remarkable true story of the motley group of Allied men and women who worked to manage Stalin's mercurial, explosive approach to diplomacy during four turbulent years of World War II.
"Grippingly entertaining. Unlike most books about war, it is serious history, yet light as a feather."-- The Times Literary Supplement In the summer of 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, shattering what Stalin had considered an ironclad partnership. There were real fears that Stalin's forces would be defeated or that the Soviet leader would once again strike a deal with Hitler. Either eventuality would spell catastrophe for both Britain and the United States. Enter W. Averell Harriman: a railroad magnate and, at the start of the war, the fourth-richest man in America. At Roosevelt's behest he traveled to Britain to serve as a liaison between the president and Churchill and to spearhead what became known as the Harriman Mission. Together with his fashionable young daughter Kathy, an unforgettable cast of British diplomats, and Churchill himself, he would eventually manage to wrangle Stalin into the partnership the Allies needed to defeat Hitler. Based on unpublished diaries, letters, and secret reports, The Stalin Affair reveals troves of new material about the path to Allied victory, full of vivid scenes between celebrated and infamous World War II figures. Includes eight pages of black & white photos.
Brief description: Giles Milton is the million-copy internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen works of narrative history. His books have been translated into twenty-five languages. He is also the writer and narrator of the acclaimed podcast series Ministry of Secrets. He lives in London.
Review Quotes:
"Milton turns this true story of high politics into an addictive, gossipy, alcohol-fueled, action-packed thriller that sweeps the reader effortlessly through the ups -- and downs -- of the alliance."
--The Spectator World
-- The Times Literary Supplement "The Stalin Affair is a good read--notably so if you want to know what the leaders had to drink."
--The Wall Street Journal "This is one of the slimmest books about this alliance but a worthy entry into its historiography."
--Seattle Book Review (5 out of 5 stars) "The author ably navigates this complicated narrative, and readers with an interest in political and military history will find it to be an engaging, colorful read. Milton mixes personal details with historical sweep to tell a significant tale."
--Kirkus Reviews "A breezy, boozy romp."
--Publishers Weekly "In addition to relying on a vast archive of official records of events, Milton also uses accounts written by some of the less prominent observers of this political alliance which brings a sense of immersion and immediacy to The Stalin Affair. . . . Outstanding writing and research make The Stalin Affair an authoritative and lively account that shows how despite tensions, strong egos and different approaches to leadership, these unlikely partners worked together to win the war."
--BookPage (starred review) "The story of Churchill and Roosevelt coming to terms with Stalin has often been told, but historian Milton here focuses beyond these three outsized figures to their subalterns. . . . By bringing these indispensable people and others out of their titanic leaders' shadows, Milton humanizes what is often lost in the grand sweep of history."
--Booklist "At a time when Moscow and Washington stand again at a perilous crossroads, Giles Milton looks back to the brief period when America and the Soviet Union were on the same side during the Second World War. The burgeoning 1940s 'Special Relationship' with Britain is rightly well-known and perhaps well-understood, but Milton's 'in the room' account of the personalities of Moscow sheds much needed light on the other great alliance intent on defeating Hitler. He also reminds us why this most unlikely coalition did not--and could not--survive victory."
--Sonia Purnell, The New York Times bestselling author of A Woman of No Importance "Another roller-coaster ride from Giles Milton. Endlessly surprising."
--Anthony Horowitz, The New York Times bestselling author of Magpie Murders "Giles Milton has mined new information to portray a convincing account of the relationship between the Second World War's 'Big Three'. This book might read like the screenplay of a gripping movie, yet every word is accurate and verified."
--Andrew Roberts, The New York Times bestselling author of Churchill Walking with Destiny