A Novel of Betrayal

He was unable to reveal all the facts, as some, such as the use of Ultra electronic intelligence, had to remain secret.

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From a historical point of view the book is therefore an incomplete memoir by a leading participant in the direction of the war. The book was a major commercial success in Britain and the United States. The first edition appeared in six volumes; later editions appeared in twelve and four volumes, and there is also a single-volume abridged version. When Churchill assumed office in , he intended to write a history of the war then beginning. He said several times: These were then stored at his home and Churchill wrote or dictated letters and memoranda with the intention of placing his views on the record, for later use as a historian.

The arrangements became a source of controversy when The Second World War began appearing in Churchill was a politician not an academic historian and was Leader of the Opposition , intending to return to office, so Churchill's access to Cabinet , military and diplomatic records denied to other historians was questioned.

It was not known at the time that Churchill had done a deal with Clement Attlee and the Labour government which came to office in Attlee agreed to allow Churchill's research assistants access to all documents, provided that no official secrets were revealed, the documents were not used for party political purposes and the typescript was vetted by the Cabinet Secretary , Sir Norman Brook.

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Brook took a close interest in the books and rewrote some sections to ensure that British interests were not harmed or the government embarrassed. The books had enormous sales in both Britain and the United States and made Churchill a rich man for the first time.


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After Churchill died and archives were opened, deficiencies of his work became apparent. Some of these were inherent in the position Churchill occupied as a former Prime Minister and a serving politician. While Churchill is shown to be the one moral man present, who desires a better post-war world, but is powerless to prevent the tragedy that would un A quick, but full read. While Churchill is shown to be the one moral man present, who desires a better post-war world, but is powerless to prevent the tragedy that would unfold.

This is a novel although written by someone who had great insite into Churchill and the event it covers. It really helped that I had already read a nonfiction book about Churchill Franklin and Winston so I knew the background of their relationship. This story took a much deeper look at the summit with Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at Yalta. It was well written, and I enjoyed the witty dialogue.

Most likely not all wood agree with his depiction of the events I'm having a hard time rating this book. It took me a while to get into, but once I did I found it very interesting. I don't know enough about history or the author to know how close this story is to the real thing. There was some language in it. It would make a good book club book. Nov 24, Stefan rated it really liked it Shelves: A fast historical fiction read that is informing, entertaining, and not the least bit demanding. I enjoyed the passionate characterization of Churchill, and also the less frequent but well done exploration of FDR and Stalin.

Some small fictional situations added more depth and tone to the story, which made it even better. I also found the dialogue to be solidly and wittingly constructed. One of the best fast historical reads that I have read lately. Aug 04, William Shep rated it it was amazing. Stirring account of Winston Churchill's efforts to keep an increasingly feeble yet foolishly optimistic Franklin Roosevelt from betraying him, and the Allied cause, to the brutal and rapacious dictator, Josef Stalin, at the Yalta Conference of February Unfortunately, Roosevelt resembles Chamberlain dealing with Hitler in more so than Wilson at the Versailles Conference of Sep 25, John Yiannoudis rated it it was amazing.

I love the writers not afraid to play the role of God: To me this is exactly what Dobbs is doing here. Intervenes in one of the important historical events of all eras and breaks people and situations in bits and bytes. Then he re-assembles piece by piece characters, passions and strategies.

Aug 19, Barry Nabbs rated it really liked it. The last in the series and while not as strong as the third book, it pieces together the events ending WW2 very well. It is also ironic that while Roosevelt is one of my favourite Presidents, in this novel he is shown as desperate and at times unlikeable in his quest for a legacy. As stated before, I still love this series and it always leaves me wanting to learn more about Churchill.

Jan 22, Mary Beth rated it it was amazing.

Poles apart

Wonderful book, wonderful series. I felt like I was the fly on the wall the entire time. Roosevelt was ailing, but seemed more interested in the hereafter, rather than the here-and-now. Stalin really put one over on him. Churchill tried so hard, but was left out in the cold. He alone, knew what was coming and it wasn't good.

Jun 26, Bradley rated it liked it. The novel is entertaining and Churchill's character is full of life and very sympathetic. Stalin is inscrutable; Roosevelt sick and frail. Good read, overall from the man who brought us everyone's favorite cynical, fictional politician, Francis Urquhart. Horrific consequences of the talks Roosevelt was mostly dead and obsessive about the UN, Stalin wanted all he could get his grubby hands on, by fair means or foul, Churchill obsessed about saving Poland Jun 15, me rated it liked it.

This book in the series is frightfully plodding and lacking in plot, although character development is quite good. Pales in comparison to the first two, especially Never Surrender. I plan to finish the series with the third book. Hopefully, it will be better. Jul 04, Su Cho rated it it was amazing.


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It was funny, intriguing, informative and moving, and at the same time with some parts terribly twisted in nature not content. It was a wonderful book with good parts of fiction intended to conjure emotional responses and make it less boring than a normal history book. Jan 05, Chris Howells rated it liked it. A very interesting read. Did we truly win the war and was the result a good one?

What happened to the Polish nation, which is the reason that the war started in the first place, was truly despicable. Jul 16, Cathy rated it really liked it. Interesting perspective on Yalta. Also an exploration of the power of words and what it means to give your word!

The epilogue contains a tremendous articulation of statesmanship and the complexities of decision making.

Churchill's Triumph (Winston Churchill #4) by Michael Dobbs

Mar 03, Christina added it. Churchill fans will love this one. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Michael Dobbs was born on the same day, in the same hour as Prince Charles in After graduating in he moved to the United States. In the USA he attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, which he funded by a job as feature writer for the Boston Globe, where he worked as an editorial assistant and political feature writer from to He graduated in with an M. In he returned to Tufts where he gave the Alumni Salutation.

He was an advisor to the then leader of the Opposition, Margaret Thatcher, from to and from to he was a Conservative MP speechwriter. He was the Conservative Party Chief of Staff from to In the John Major government, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from to , after which he retired from politics. He became Deputy Chairman, working directly under Maurice Saatchi from to From to he was a columnist for The Mail on Sunday and also wrote column for the Daily Express. From to he hosted the current affairs program Despatch Box on BBC television and has also been a radio presenter.

Nowadays he is best known as the bestselling author of 17 novels up to , such as 'The Turning Point', about Winston Churchill and Guy Burgess, and 'A Family Affair', about the last days of Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street, and also a number of non-fiction works. His writing career began in with the publication of 'House of Cards', the first in what would become a trilogy of political thrillers with Francis Urquhart as the central character. He was the winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award for best historical novel in and in was shortlisted for the C4 Political Novel of the Year.

He has also been a judge of the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and lectures at dozens of literary and fundraising events each year. More tricky is the fictional Marian Nowak, survivor of the Katyn massacre of Polish officers, who turns up as a plumber at the Vorontsov Palace bugged British HQ to win the vital compassion of Frank Sawyers, Churchill's real-life valet.

Nowak's adventures, escapes and masquerading are not far-fetched. Wars are scattered with the free-range valour and luck of brave men moving amid the slaughter.


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He is a well-realised character, fearless, unreasonable, impossible, very Polish an exasperated Churchill begs him to be "the first Pole in history not to jump to conclusions". But he is also a narrative mechanism. Nowak is there to chronicle ordinary people's suffering and relay intelligence about Russian and American purposes. Depressed by the miserable drift of the conference, Churchill listens and is alerted.

So far, so furiously told and compelling. But the novel concludes with the Pole turning up, 18 years later, on Churchill's yacht. This is one survival too many, an improbable ghost come to reproach the old man and provoke him into a defence of his conduct.