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Kingmaker

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Kingmaker

By: Sonia Purnell
Narrated by: Louise Brealey
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About this listen

 An electrifying re-examination of one of the twentieth century's greatest unsung power players, from the bestselling author of A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, TELEGRAPH, ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL TIMES, MAIL ON SUNDAY, DAILY EXPRESS, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, SPECTATOR, IRISH EXAMINER, LONDON STANDARD, NEW YORKER, POLITICO, APPLE BOOKS, TOWN & COUNTRY and OLDIE

'Supremely enjoyable ... With a historian's eye for rigour, a journalist's for detail and a storyteller's for drama' FINANCIAL TIMES

'Rich and riveting' GUARDIAN, BEST BIOGRAPHIES AND MEMOIRS OF 2024

'I've been gobbling up Kingmaker ... For years, Pamela's achievements were overshadowed by gossipy whispers about her past. Finally, she has a book that is worthy of her' ELIZABETH DAY

'Exhilarating' MAIL ON SUNDAY, BOOKS OF THE YEAR

'Anna Karenina meets West Wing' IRISH EXAMINER, BOOKS OF THE YEAR

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 the twentieth century, 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, power, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, Kingmaker sets out Harriman's rightful place at the heart of recent history.

****
'Rigorous but rollicking' NEW YORK TIMES


'An incredible story, beautifully told, of a remarkable woman whose political influence spanned Churchill to Clinton. Quite a woman, quite a read' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

'Superb and fascinating. I can't recommend it more' LADY ANNE GLENCONNER, bestselling author of Lady in Waiting

'Fascinating and revelatory, written with great aplomb, insight and shrewd analysis. A triumph' WILLIAM BOYD

'As compelling as its subject' TLS

' Riveting and revelatory' THE NEW YORKER

'An alluring new biography' THE ECONOMIST

'Purnell's research is impeccable' SPECTATOR

'Kingmaker is on to something important. Successful women are judged differently than men' AMANDA FOREMAN, GUARDIAN

'Sympathetic, well-researched, busily peopled' OBSERVER BOOK OF THE DAY

'Vivid' NEW STATESMAN©2024 Sonia Purnell (P)2024 Hachette Audio UK Americas Historical Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government United States Women Women in Politics Winston Churchill Inspiring Imperialism

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All stars
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Splendid in every way. Not laboured in any way. Beautifully read and narrated with just the right amount of detail.

Splendid

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Fascinating story spoiled by the narration. the voice grating and a lot of basic mis pronunciations of names which you would think would have been researched beforehand . Normally if I don’t like the voice I don’t go on, but story too interesting not too . A shame though .

Fascinating story . Unfortunate narration

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This was a wonderful book, well performed and easy to listen too. Super interesting life and completely underestimated, the insight into Pamela’s life, the relationship with Churchill and behind the scenes of politics, life during the war and diplomacy make this book very worth the read/listen.

What an interesting life!

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Interesting times and human interest, but unattractive people and car crashes relationships, unrelenting greed and politics without much political principle. Pamela isn’t a feminist heroine. She was a highly parasitic person. She explicitly adopted the political views of her partner, rather than fashion her own.
She certainly put the party in politics. The narration mispronounces both Clementine and Churchill, which is pretty astonishing…

Not enough soul?

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Amazing life of this lady and all the behind scenes work she did for good

Captivating

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Another amazing woman from history highlighted in this book. Great story and well read. Enjoy

Great

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Interesting life and research . Not keen on the narration style as it rather takes from the story for me on this occasion

Interesting life

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Far too long. Could not get on with narrator either .
Such bad pronounceation of some words — piano Nobile. For example, I had to give up half way through the book. First half interesting but too drawn out and ultimately study of an unattractive tough woman who I didn’t care enough about to finish the book. Needed a good editor as such an interesting story but ruined by this long drawn out boring book.

Started well but too long

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I enjoyer d discovering the reality behind this story about someone I knew little about. However sometimes the narrative a bit too gushy - the writer is clearly a fan but I’m not sure the story has enough light & shade. Overall though really compelling!

An incredible story not known widely enough

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I actually shed a tear at the end of this book. I really felt like I knew Pamela and I’ll miss her after spending so long getting to know her through this story.

Amazing

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