Kingmaker

The sensationally gripping and revelatory biography of Pamela Churchill Harriman, one of the most influential women in 20th century politics, from the bestselling author of A Woman of No Importance Pamela Churchill Harriman began her adult life as Winston Churchill''s daughter-in-law and trusted confidante, and was crucial to enlisting American involvement in WWII. She ended it as the American ambassador to Paris under Clinton, where she was a key player in the conflict in Yugoslavia. In between, she was a power broker at many decisive moments of Anglo-American 20th century politics - but up until now she''s been dismissed as a courtesan. In this book, Purnell reclaims Harriman''s legacy and political achievements, and inserts her back into her rightful place in history, just like she did for Virginia Hall in A Woman of No Importance. Kingmaker is full of sex, politics, yachts, fabulous clothes, everyone who was anyone in the second half of the 20th century (from Hitler and Gorbachev to JFK and Gloria Steinem), and is a fascinating reckoning with how women could wield power during these decades. The perfect read for anyone who loved The Crown or Lady in Waiting .

Autorentext

Sonia Purnell

Klappentext

An electrifying re-examination of one of the twentieth century's greatest unsung power players

When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were scathing - and often downright sexist. Written off as a social climber, her glamorous social life and infamous erotic adventures overshadowed her true legacy. Much of what she did behind the scenes to shape 20th century politics, on both sides of the Atlantic, remained invisible. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how Harriman left an indelible mark on the world today.

There is practically no-one in twentieth century politics, culture and fashion whose lives she did not touch. Her influence began at age twenty, when her father-in-law, Winston Churchill, engaged her as a "secret weapon" during World War II, wining, dining and seducing Americans over to the British cause against Hitler. It continued later in the US, where she hand-picked Bill Clinton from obscurity and vaulted him to the presidency. It extended further, over five decades and two continents, influencing figures like the Kennedys, Nelson Mandela, Truman Capote, Gianni Agnelli, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem and Frank Sinatra.

Written with the novelistic richness and investigative rigour that only Sonia Purnell could bring to this story full of sex, politics, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, Kingmaker sets out Harriman's rightful place at the heart of recent history.

Praise for A Woman of No Importance:

'A meticulous history that reads like a thriller' Ben Macintyre

'Riveting' Mick Herron