THE STALIN AFFAIR

This book was very good in that it focused specifically on the relationships between Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. It explained how the Soviet Union went from supporting Hitler in the beginning of World War II to eventually fighting on the side of the Allies. It covered not only the volatile interactions between the Big Three, but also the influence of several other ambassadors and emissaries within a small circle who helped to develop a manageable, if tenuous, working alliance to defeat a common enemy.

Averell Harriman, railroad magnate and one of the richest men in America, was chosen by Roosevelt to act as his “Expeditor,” his personal representative to London. Along with Lord Beaverbrook, another of Roosevelt’s trusted associates, Harriman was to become a pivotal liaison between Churchill and Stalin. Along with his young socialite and journalist daughter Kathy, Harriman developed a close relationship with the Churchill family, and eventually with Stalin in Moscow.

Another influential figure involved in keeping these ego intensive leaders on an even keel was Archibald Clark Kerr, the British Ambassador to Moscow. Formerly the ambassador to China, Kerr lead a controversial and flamboyant lifestyle. Also providing steadying support was Bob Meiklejohn, Harriman’s personal assistant.

From these varying perspectives and a from a terrific amount of interpersonal detail, we see Operation Barbarossa, the Tehran and the Yalta conferences, Lend Lease, Pearl Harbor, and the Potsdam conference come to life. If you have an interest in WWII and like to see some of the inter workings and diplomatic struggles, I think you will thoroughly enjoy this book. Very well researched, with extensive notes and bibliography.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Giles Milton, and Henry Holt and Company for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Giles Milton's book explores the high-stakes diplomatic maneuvering between the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States during World War II, focusing on the chaotic period after Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.

Milton is renowned for his ability to bring historical events to life with vivid detail and compelling narratives. In this instance, he delves into the extraordinary behind-the-scenes efforts of a diverse group of Allied men and women who were tasked with managing the volatile and unpredictable diplomacy of Joseph Stalin.

I feel that this book was more about the sub-cabinet personnel during the war and the behind the scene personal affairs than anything related to the relationship between the three men. And, to be more honest, this was more of a story of Churchill and Stalin than Roosevelt. An interesting piece of history to those who are interested, but I feel there are better books out there than this one.

A well-written, fast paced historical non-fiction, describing an unknown chapter of the Second World War. A treat for all history buffs.

Thanks to the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Giles Milton is so damn good at this. "This" being writing history books that read like fictional dramas. His latest, The Stalin Affair, is as great as I had hoped. Milton looks at the doomed World War II bromance of Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt. For those of you who rolled their eyes at a history reviewer using the word "bromance", please read the book and tell me what word works better. There are specific episodes in this book which read like high school drama only with the fate of the free world on the line.

What I appreciate so much about Milton's writing is how he packs each page with information while making it feel like he is just chatting with you at a pub. Much of this book could read like an extremely boring rehash of diplomatic activities, but instead he makes it feel like a propulsive character drama.

And there is a lot of drama in The Stalin Affair. It is easy to forget that the Allies in World War II were not a collection of countries who loved each other while fighting evil. There were so many gray areas and conflicts that it seems amazing they ever worked together at all.

Milton also makes sure not to lose the other players in the drama. People who often become footnotes in other books, like Averell Harriman, his daughter Kathleen, and Archibald Clark Kerr, are given their due for making the successes of the Big 3 a reality. At the same time, Milton doesn't lose sight of the fact that the leaders of the free world were actively searching for the approval of one of the most evil men in history. This is all balanced out perfectly in the narrative and I could not put this book down.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Henry Holt and Company.)

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy of this look at the relationship set up by the British, Americans and Soviet Union, one that omitted facts, glossed over truths, a relationship that won a war, but destroyed the peace.

War is brutality, this not a surprise, but it seems that many people don't want to admit this. Our boys would never do anything wrong, bomb civilians, machine gun innocent people, execute prisoners. No one likes to think they are on the wrong side of history, especially in fighting a just war. Morality is cast aside, acts that one would never think of doing just happen. Alliances that once thought impossible are made. Choices about the lives of others are literally made by world leaders in a small room, with cigar and pipe smoke. Winston Churchill said it best, "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference of the Devil in the House of Commons." The devil that both Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt were dealing with was Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, a man responsible for the deaths of many of his own countrymen. Once denounced by Churchill personally, and not thought well by people in the United States, Stalin was the enemy to the bigger enemy at the time. And so Uncle Joe became our friend. The Stalin Affair:The Impossible Alliance That Won the War by historian, writer and podcaster Giles Milton is a intimate look at this unlikely coalition, and how these strange bedfellows overlooked many faults in each other to win the war, and create the world we are still dealing with today.

England in 1941 was a country on the ropes. The island nation was dealing with bombs in the capital, shipping sunk at sea, rebuilding an army, and trying to resupply all at once. Things were looking dark, even with American support in material. Until Adolf Hitler turned his army east, attacking his ally Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union, setting off a crisis of faith in the leader that took weeks to recover from. A new front meant new hope, a force to absorb the brunt of the German army, but one that needed material. England sent two men, both rich industrialists to try and make a deal with Stalin, a leader who had been personal attacked by Winston Churchill, and vilified in the American press. Promises were made, material such as trucks, munitions, tanks arrived by boat, and later by trains through Iran. A relationship was built, but a relationship that seemed a little to trusting, a little too sure of themselves. The Soviet Union had ideas for the peace, ideas that neither America nor Britain were aware of, and ones that still reverberate to this day.

A fascinating, almost intimate look at the inner diplomacy in both Moscow and England. Milton has drawn much of his portrayals from the letters and notes of Kathy Harriman, daughter of Averll Harriman who served as Roosevelt's advisor to Churchill and later the American ambassador in Moscow. Kathy was a capable young woman, she learned Russia, was connected and traveled as widely as a young woman could in the Soviet Union. And she wrote down much of what she saw and experienced, which really fleshes out many of this characters even the familiar ones. Milton is a great writer, and very good researcher, capable of bringing together many disparate facts to tell a fascinating story, one that seems very similar to today. Stalin seemed to have a power over politicians, fooling Churchill and Roosevelt in many ways. And getting what he wanted from the post-war world. The writing is very good, and reveals quite a lot of the moral costs made to defeat Hitler, and what war makes good people do. Also it shows that while war is tough on civilians, the rich seemed to eat well, and drink even better. There are some hardships for these rich diplomats occasionally, but I think the people of Stalingrad would like a word.

Another great read from Giles Milton, an author I love to read both for his take on issues, and the fact I learn so much new information on history I thought I knew well. This is a very good account about allowing leaders to get away with things, and how, no matter what the courts say, there should be accounting for a leader's actions in war, peace, and in life.

Giles Milton has a way to write nonfiction that reads like fiction. The Stalin Affair is no exception. The Stalin Affair tells the tale of an unlikely alliance of the “big three,” Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, during World War II. It is more about how Averell Harriman, a railroad magnate, traveled to Britain to serve as a liaison between Rosevelt and Churchill and how he finally got Stalin to be part of the partnership to defeat the nazis.

Thank you, NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co., for this fascinating book!

This was an invited review that I am extremely grateful for, but after reading 26% of the book, I realized I was not the intended audience. While I do read a decent amount of non-fiction history, this seems to be written for someone who is far more familiar with the names and characters of WWII and it was challenging for me to follow and keep track of the events. That being said, I did enjoy the short, action-packed chapters and narrative writing style. I ended up giving up on the book shortly into Part IV, but might come back to it in the future.

I'm sure my struggles with the book are not a reflection of the writing style or quality, and I'm certain many other (frankly, more acquainted) readers would enjoy this. Thank you, NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the opportunity to read the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

This is a fascinating historical review of the three key leaderships that were working together to defeat the Nazi's in WWII. A detailed interesting read that delves into the remarkable negotiations behind Russia, the United States and Britian . Each Ambassador that was a player in the war effort is featured here such as Averell Harriman and Clark Kerr. They were both unique individuals and entrusted with the utmost state secrets. Both Churchill and Roosevelt saw the brillance in establishing negotations with Stalin who was sure to be working with the Nazi's and the most feared leader of his time. The reader truly has an account here of each leaders war room and character. This is a must read for all with a interest in WWII. Excellent research and detail in this book for those interested in WWII history.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity for review. My review opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was such a great look into the lives of Ambassadors Archie and Averell, who in turn interacted extensively with Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt (with the main focus being Stalin)

The story begins when the treaty between the Soviet Union and Germany ended due to Germany invading Russia in WWII. Churchill was concerned about Russia capitulating to Germany therefore there was a rush to create a union between England, the US, and Russia. The only problem was the Soviet Union’s ideals were opposite from Western ideals.

The Ambassadors played a huge role in bridging the relationship between the parties and it is fascinating to have a look into their lives and the impact they made. Averall and his daughter Kathy were really interesting to follow. Kathy’s memories were carefully documented by her letters and records that she had kept hidden for years. Kathy’s records were such a great addition and helped provide so much to this story.
It was interesting to get a closer look at the relationship of Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. There is a feeling that no one quite knew how to read Stalin, and the Ambassadors’ knowledge of Stalin was important to Roosevelt and Churchill’s interactions with Stalin (if only they had listened more).

Reading this book also helps provide insight as to how the world got to where it did after WW2 and why the relationships soured. This book definitely makes you wonder what would have happened in the event England and the US had not come to the aid of the Soviet Union.
I highly recommend this book for history readers. The author does an amazing job of making this an enjoyable read with lots of storytelling involved. I had a hard time putting this book down when I started reading.

This book is well researched and written and presents a detailed look at the how the relationship developed between Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin. The key players in the development where Averill Harriman, in charge of getting Lend Lease material to the Soviets and British Ambassador Archibald Clark-Kerr. Harriman’s daughter, Kathy, also played a significant role and gave some interesting perspectives to the relationships. I recommend this book to those who have an interest in World War II and in particular the development of the relationship between the big Three.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page

Historian Giles Milton tells the remarkable true story of how the Western Allies came to successfully support the Soviet Union in it's life and death struggle with Nazi Germany. It was not always a forgone conclusion that Stalin would win. As he is quoted as saying in The Stalin Affair, without Western aid the Germans would not have been defeated. W. Averell Harriman, along with his fascinating daughter Kathy, plays a central role as the American ambassador. This is a terrific behind-the-scenes look at Kremlin politics, international intrigue, as well as a study of a monstrous dictator who knew how and when to be charming to his foreigner guests. Highly recommended. I appreciated reading this electronic advance reading copy in order to provide a timely review.

A look inside the leadership of the victorious Allies.
It was essential for Churchill and Roosevelt to establish a personal relationship with Stalin and thereby get an insight into his character and resolve. The men for the job of cracking the Stalin enigma were Averell Harriman and Archibald Clark Kerr.

Many in the Churchill’s inner circle felt Stalin should be abandoned to his fate; the Soviet dictator was one of the most murderous leaders in history. Churchill reduced the debate to a simple question: Who was worse, Hitler or Stalin?

The most influential voices in America were intent on keeping alive the wartime alliance after hostilities. Harriman was scorned for his pessimistic warnings, but proved right. He found Stalin better informed than Roosevelt, more realistic than Churchill, in some ways the most effective of the war leaders. At the same time, he was a murderous tyrant. An enigma.

The Stalin Affair by Giles Milton

I have read many of Mr. Giles previous books and this keeps up his ability to write a non-fiction book with precise details while also telling a good story. I would compare him to Ben MacIntyre who have this talent.

This book is about how the Big Three of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin were able to put aside their massive egos and instead focus on plan to overcome Hitler and the Nazis. But the main focus on this book is not the Big Three but instead Averill Harriman, US Ambassador and Archibald Clark-Kerr the British Ambassador to The Soviet Union.

At first, I thought the addition of Kathy Harriman, Averill’s 24 year old daughter as his confident was annoying. What is this kid doing in this story. But at Mr. Giles demonstrates she does play an important part in keeping the peace among the three as well as supporting her father and Clark-Kerr in their efforts to reach solutions among the three leaders as they all held different ideas of what was important.

Is there sex? Yes, but not with Kathy but instead Averill and Archie have not traditional affairs. I think these activities do not take away from what was accomplished not in the telling of this story.

This is not a pure academic book as it reads so well but it is highly resourced with plenty of footnotes.

Well worth a read.

As an avid history lover and reader, I enjoyed reading this subject as well as the interesting plot to turn the war in the Allies' favor. If you enjoy WW2 history then you will no doubt find this fast-paced and fascinating!
Thank you to the author and the publisher for a copy of this book.

What did it take to establish and support the alliance that won World War II? This is what Milton aimes to uncover in this thrilling account of the envoys linking Washington and London to Moscow. The writing is excellent and well-paced. Largely based on unpublished sources, mostly diaries and journals, the captivating story reveals important yet unknown bits of 20th century history. A short-lived alliance that changed the course of history.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance digital copy for review.
--
On Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union: "[In the Red Army,] most lacked weaponry. All lacked information." "Muscovites greeted news of the invasion with horrified astonishment. For the previous two years, they had been fed uplifting stories about Stalin's ongoing alliance with Hitler. Now, in a startling volte-face, they were being told their Nazi ally was a treacherous thug." "Occasionally trenches had to be dug with helmets, since there were no spades."

Churchill: "I have only one purpose, the destruction of Hitler... If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons."

When the UK ambassador to Moscow mentioned wanting an appointment to Washington: "What are you talking about?" asked Churchill, with a booming voice and a scowl on his face. "Don't you realise that I have just appointed you to the most important job in the world?"

"May God help you," [Stalin] said
"God, of course, is on our side," joked Churchill
"And the devil is, naturally, on mine," retorted Stalin with evident relish.

Stalin on the Normandy landings: "[He] was filled with admiration at what had been achieved and told [the US envoy] that "he considered the cross-channel operation unparalleled in history." He used superlative after superlative. It was a "grandiose operation" and "an unheard-of achievement" ... Stalin viewed D-Day as one of the greatest military endeavors of all time."

On Soviet betrayal: "If they expect really to play a part in world affairs, they will have some time to learn to stop eating with their knives." "One cannot help but feel that being an ally of these bastards is only one step better than being their enemy."

On eastern Europe and the Baltics: "Stalin wanted weak neighbors, because weak neighbors could be dominated."

Khrushchev: "[Stalin] stated bluntly that if the United States had not helped us, we would not have won the war."

“The Stalin Affair” by Giles Milton is another example of Milton’s ability to bring history alive. He takes his source material very seriously and uses crafts a narrative that is compelling and hard to put down. He puts the mercurial Stalin in a different light, but never lets the man’s evil be forgotten. Milton is a terrific storyteller and this book is another example of that. Thanks to #netgalley and #henryholt for the opportunity to preview this book.