The splendid and the Vile

This book tells the story of the Battle Of Britain, when the German air force (the Luftwaffe) bombed London and England from 1940 to 1941. It follows Winston Churchill as he became Prime Minister and tried to get America to help out. But, just as importantly, it follows all kinds of other people, like John Colville, one of his private secretaries and Mary Churchill, his 18 year old daughter. Both Mary and Colville, who was only a few years older than Mary, kept meticulous diaries, so we see their private emotional turmoil as well, from Colville's unrequited love to Mary's engagement to someone not very popular with the folks.

So that's why I think it would make a great book for someone who claims to be not interested in history, as they would learn so much and yet be so enamored with the description of the balls and parties, catty remarks about other people and the like. The book really puts you inside the Churchill inner circle, in both public and private views.

To be honest, I got choked up in a few spots, especially at the beginning, as Churchill lays out his plan to the public. So many strong words and ideas made me weak in the knees in longing for a time when both our countries had real leaders, with backbones and integrity and courage and able to use complete sentences. Little things, I know, but I could hardly read them aloud without choking up.

The epilogue was nice, although he never really said what happened to Mary. According to Wikipeida, in 1947 she married Baron Soames, and they had 5 kids, while she continued to stay involved in all kinds of things, from being a writer to being on the board of the Royal National Theater.

A truly page turner history lesson and, once again, Erik Larson has scored a bullseye.