Week 8:  Assignment 4

Citizens of London:  The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson

If you are a lover of World War II history and would like to read about it from a British perspective, this book would be a great match for you.  Major players such as Churchill, FDR, Edward R. Murrow, the famous journalist, and John Gilbert Winant, US Ambassador to Britain, are characterized with utmost detail. The author, a former Baltimore Sun correspondent, used many primary sources and set us in the middle of London at this amazing time in history.  After reading this book, you discover that Britain’s citizens were remarkably brave and endured more hardships than we realized.  The storyline is fascinating and the pacing is perfect.

This book would interest history buffs because so many primary sources were used and it doesn’t read like an American textbook.  Additionally, anyone who likes a fast paced book that includes romance, intrigue and drama will love it.

Journey Without Maps by Graham Greene

This is a fascinating account of the famous author’s adventurous trek though Africa’s Liberia in a time when many roads were not yet chartered.   In 1935 Greene aged 31 and his 23 year old female cousin discovered areas of Africa that were not yet colonized by Europeans.  They encounter disease, unusual insects and inhabitants of a country that had an exotic way of life.  Greene finds a new love of life after this dangerous but invigorating journey to a world untouched by western civilization.

 It is Greene’s first travel book and fans of his subsequent books would like to read this adventurous travel account.  Also, people interested in 20^th Century African history would also enjoy it.