Tim Bouverie

After the fall of France in June 1940, only Britain stood between Hitler and total victory. Desperate for allies, Winston Churchill did all he could to bring the United States into the conflict, drive the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany apart, and persuade neutral countries to resist German domination. By 1942, after the German invasion of Russia and Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the British-Soviet-American alliance was in place. But it was an incongruous coalition, divided by ideology and riven with mistrust and deceit. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin were partners in the fight against Hitler, yet they were also rivals who disagreed on strategy, imperialism and the future of Europe. Through an unprecedented range of vivid first-hand accounts and unpublished material, we enter the rooms where the critical decisions were made - revealing the political drama behind the military events. Compelling, fast-paced narrative history at its best, Allies at War offers a completely fresh perspective on the Second World War and origins of the Cold War.

A landmark history of the alliance that won the war and made the peace by the Sunday Times-bestselling author of Appeasing Hitler‘An astonishing achievement. Compellingly told, immensely wide-ranging and utterly fascinating … Superb’ JAMES HOLLAND‘The best book I have ever read about the politics of the Second World War’ TIM SHIPMANAfter the fall of France in June 1940, only Britain stood between Hitler and total victory. Desperate for allies, Winston Churchill did everything he could to bring the United States into the conflict, drive the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany apart and persuade neutral countries to resist German domination.By 1942, after the German invasion of Russia and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the British-Soviet-American alliance was in place. Yet it was an improbable and incongruous coalition, divided by ideology and politics and riven with mistrust and deceit. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin were partners in the fight to defeat Hitler, yet they were also rivals who disagreed on strategy, imperialism and the future of liberated Europe.Allies at War is a fast-paced, narrative history, based on material drawn from over a hundred archives. Using vivid, first-hand accounts and unpublished diaries, we enter the rooms where the critical decisions were made, revealing the political drama behind the military events. Ambitious and compelling, Allies at War offers a fresh perspective on the Second World War and the origins of the Cold War.''Impeccably researched, elegantly written, and compellingly argued'' THE TIMES''Terrific ... Bouverie is a historian with an exceptional command of his subject'' DAILY MAIL''A new star is born ... Powerful and well researched'' INDEPENDENT

** Sunday Times Bestseller ** 'Astonishing' ANTONY BEEVOR 'One of the most promising young historians to enter our field for years' MAX HASTINGS On a wet afternoon in September 1938, Neville Chamberlain stepped off an aeroplane and announced that his visit to Hitler had averted the greatest crisis in recent memory. It was, he later assured the crowd in Downing Street, 'peace for our time'. Less than a year later, Germany invaded Poland and the Second World War began. This is a vital new history of the disastrous years of indecision, failed diplomacy and parliamentary infighting that enabled Nazi domination of Europe. Drawing on previously unseen sources, it sweeps from the advent of Hitler in 1933 to the beaches of Dunkirk, and presents an unforgettable portrait of the ministers, aristocrats and amateur diplomats whose actions and inaction had devastating consequences. 'Brilliant and sparkling . . . Reads like a thriller. I couldn't put it down' Peter Frankopan 'Vivid, detailed and utterly fascinating . . . This is political drama at its most compelling' James Holland 'Bouverie skilfully traces each shameful step to war . . . in moving and dramatic detail' Sunday Telegraph SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL BOOK WRITING 2020