This book has Pulitzer Prize for History all over it. Lynne Olson has written a fascinating insight into the men and women who lived in London during World War II, or roughly 1939-1946. Without rehashing too many common themes (such as the over studied friendship between Roosevelt and Churchill), Olson focuses on key people who were in the backdrop of historical events. People like the brilliant and bookish US Ambassador to Great Britain, the flamboyant millionaire heir who operated the Lend-Lease program, the young and innovative CBS News reporters who changed journalism, and many others. The book includes insights into how the Americans swarm into the country (having 1.8 million in the country just prior to the Normandy invasion), dramatically change the dynamics, and then disappear as the war moves to the continent. There are anecdotes about the pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain (many of whom were Polish), the women who volunteered in amazing ways, and the common citizen who survived the blitz.

There are points in the book that drag a bit — but that’s expected in a book of this size (about 500 pages). And at times the theme of “citizens in London” is taken to an extreme as Olson explores everything from the battle in North Africa to the lethargic culture of Washington DC in the early 40’s. But ultimately, all the themes bring the reader back to how it impacted London, and specifically the people in London. It’s very well done and the kind of new telling of old stories that gains attention from the folks at Pulitzer.

You’ll love this book if you enjoy history, particularly about World War II. There are better options if you want to learn about the war itself, or about the politics of that war, but nothing will capture the human element like this book.