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One Christmas in Washington: Roosevelt And Churchill Forge the Grand Alliance
by David J. Bercuson, Holger H. Herwig (Narrator: Lloyd James)
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks (2005-11-15)
ISBN: 0786176288
EAN: 9780786176281
Dewy Decimal #: 940.53022
Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
SKU: SA0810440a
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: Exactly as shown - UNABRIDGED, Shrink wrap has been removed and CDs listened to once. In original cases and sleeve. 9 CDs, 11 hours of listening time.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
One Christmas in Washington is a fascinating, in-depth look at one of the most crucial periods in modern history: the Washington war conference of 1941, when two proud and accomplished statesmen struggled to overcome biases, suspicion, and hubris to create what turned out to be the war-winning alliance.
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Customer Reviews
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TEN DAYS IN HISTORY VIVIDLY RECALLED
Rating  (5)
Date: 2005-12-12
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
With his opening words, "Christmas Eve 1941 broke cloudy and rainy in Washington, D.C. Since the dastardly Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor seventeen days earlier.....," listeners became privy to, no, almost a party to the momentous meeting between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. It lasted only ten days, but those were days that gave birth to the Grand Alliance and paved the way to victory in war some four years later.
Voice performer Lloyd James narrates the story crisply and distinctly. His voice is unaccented, pleasant to hear. There is no need for the slightest bit of theatricality on his part as the events and the personalities involved provide more than enough drama. It is as if he is an observer, removed from the fears and emotions of those days, simply telling listeners what occurred. And, that is as it should be.
History has well recorded the results of this conference, which went by the code name ARCADIA, yet listeners will be fascinated by the intimate details of those days in the White House as unearthed by Bercuson and Herwig through diaries, meeting notes, letters and minutes.
We're reminded that a meeting between Roosevelt and Churchill might be subtitled "The clash of the titans." Both were world leaders with healthy egos and wary of one another, yet they worked together to hammer out this agreement despite the posturing of other officials in attendance and a less than warm relationship between Churchill and Eleanor Roosevelt.
It will come as scant surprise to most that Churchill could be a challenging house guest. We hear, "The White House was a changed place with Churchill in residence. Simply put, he turned it into the staff headquarters of the British Empire." Opinions of him among the White House staff were divided. Mrs. Nesbitt, reputedly the worst cook in White House history, had done little to please FDR. However, she took great pleasure and pains to serve special meals during Churchill's visit determining that their guest had a "poor-colored and hungry" appearance.
On the other hand, Lillian Rogers Parks, a maid, caused a ruckus upon learning that Churchill always needed a hot water bottle in bed, and had his Scotland Yard bodyguard inject mice with samples from his cigars. If the mouse didn't fall over dead, Churchill would smoke them.
It is such observations that make "One Christmas In Washington"vivid and colorful, it's a remarkable piece of history related in intimate detail. Don't miss it!
- Gail Cooke
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