by Lynne Olson
First published 2013
Lynne Olson examines America's fierce internal battle from 1939 to 1941, when Hitler's forces conquered Europe while the United States remained on the sidelines. The author reveals how Americans split into warring camps over joining the conflict. Interventionists pushed for supporting Britain, while isolationists demanded the country stay out of European affairs. These factions battled in Washington corridors, newspaper pages, and city streets. Franklin Roosevelt championed aid to Britain as the nation stood alone against Nazi Germany. Charles Lindbergh emerged as the most vocal opponent of American involvement. Their public confrontations embodied the nation's deeper divisions during this critical period. Olson shows how this two-year struggle shaped American foreign policy and national identity. The book captures a democracy wrestling with its global responsibilities as fascism spread across continents.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, politics, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-intrigue
Setting: United States, Europe
Period: 1939-1941
548 pages · Hardcover · Random House