Somebody has to be the grinch, so let it be me. I was disappointed by the book. Mainly because of what there's no mention of in it. I was particularly interested in the dinners during Harry Hopkins' lengthy tour of wartime Britain in January 1941 (of which the U.S. press was mostly disapproving), since his impressions of Britain's and Churchill's will and ability to fight it out would be key to how far FDR would support Britain despite the U.S. Neutrality Acts. The first of these diplomatic dinners and other meals was at Ditchley, the country estate owned by Ronald Tree (grandson of Chicago's Marshall Field), one of the places Churchill used as an alternative to Chequers during full-moon periods of bombing by the Germans. There is an eye-witness account of it in Tree's 1975 memoirs *When the Moon Was High: Memoirs of Peace and War, 1897-1942* (London: Macmillan), with some more discussion in Matthew B. Willis, *Wartime Missions of Harry L. Hopkins* (Pentland Press, 1996) and in Robert Sherwood's *Roosevelt and Hopkins* (Harper & Brothers, 1948). But in this new book by Cita Stelzer, where you'd expect something, if not indeed the most compelling account, there isn't. Nor is Tree's book in her bibliography, nor if I recall correctly the Willis and Sherwood books.
On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 6:47 AM, Nigel Guest <[email protected] > wrote: > Can confirm it is an excellent read - as a volunteer at Chartwell it is > quite interesting how many visitors want to know the 'Great Man's' eating > habits and favourite food, I now have the ammunition to provide the answers. > The book is full of fascinating insights into the diplomacy of the dining > table. > It is also well written and almost 'un-put downable' - thoroughly > recommend. > > Nigel Guest > > > On 16 December 2011 04:43, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Well, I figured that Canadians would have the sophisticated discernment >> to appreciate true quality writing. >> >> And as Churchill wrote to his mother (this may not be 100% correct). >> "This is a pushing age and we must push as hard as we can." >> >> I've ordered Cita Stelzer's book. >> >> Jonathan Hayes >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Terry Reardon <[email protected]> >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Sent:* Thu, December 15, 2011 2:29:56 PM >> >> *Subject:* Re: [ChurchillChat] Re: Cita Stelzer >> >> From another of the former Colonies. >> Amazon Canada shows the paperback to be released on February 2nd, 2012. >> Your volume, Jonathan, is, of course , also available, north of the >> border. >> Terry Reardon >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> *From:* [email protected] >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Sent:* Thursday, December 15, 2011 3:53 PM >> *Subject:* Re: [ChurchillChat] Re: Cita Stelzer >> >> You can get it now at www.amazon.co.uk. I've ordered many books from >> them and they have no problem in shipping to the former colonies. My >> recently published book, No Lilies or Violets, is also available from >> amazon.co.uk, as well as amazon.com. (Shameless self-promotional plug). >> >> Best regards, >> >> Jonathan Hayes >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* PatFinn1940 <[email protected]> >> *To:* ChurchillChat <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Thu, December 15, 2011 9:59:57 AM >> *Subject:* [ChurchillChat] Re: Cita Stelzer >> >> Oh, this sounds like an excellent read! Just to see the menus would >> be worth buying the book!! When might it be available in the US? >> >> Pat Finnegan >> >> On Dec 15, 3:55 am, "Allen Packwood" <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > Dear all, >> > Corresponding with Cita Stelzer on a separate issue yesterday, reminded >> > me that her new book, Dinner with Churchill, has just been published in >> > the UK and has been on the Evening Standard's best seller list these >> > past weeks. It is a fascinating look at Churchill's life from an >> > entirely different angle: his personal diplomacy at the dinner table >> > where he used his formidable gifts of conviviality, intelligence, >> > humour, memory, anecdotal ability, hospitality all of which helped him >> > to charm and ultimately to persuade his allies of his strategic >> > policies. >> > Cita's book contains many anecdotes, menus, seating plans and photos, >> > many of which have never been seen before, many found in our Archives. >> > It's a very good read and perhaps particularly at a time of feasting and >> > over indulgence. >> > >> > Allen >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "ChurchillChat" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to churchillchat+ >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "ChurchillChat" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "ChurchillChat" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "ChurchillChat" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "ChurchillChat" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChurchillChat" group. 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