Category: History

Franklin and Winston

Reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s magisterial (no other word could do it justice) No Ordinary Time, I am struck by the similarities and differences between Franklin and Winston during the war.

Cork and Orrery

In September 1941 after supper at the White House, “a jolly party”, Franklin Roosevelt asked his guests to name four outstanding leaders. Eleanor chose: Anne Hutchinson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Emily Dickinson and Carrie Chapman Catt. Franklin nominated: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and the Earl of Orrery.

Our Man in New York

While I read about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt I am getting another perspective in Henry Hemming’s Our Man in New York.

A Special Relationship

I once played Piquet, an elegant card game with a scoring system as readily learnt as Real Tennis. Churchill in later life played a lot of Bezique especially when he was Prime Minister in his last term, 1951 – 1955. Franklin Roosevelt favoured Poker during his second and third terms in office.

Franklin and Eleanor

Having lived the war with Alan Brooke I am doing it all over again with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. A friend, the same friend who gave me Tommy Lascelles’ diaries, has given me No Ordinary Time – Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

I Berlin

It is always interesting how two diarists record the same event, in this case lunch at 10 Downing Street on 9th February, 1944.

Trials and Tribulations

Alan Brooke’s diaries have an unexpected dimension. His meticulous accounts of meetings, sherry parties, dinners and time with his family and bird books are what I expected and get. 

Habakkuk

There are only two K tiles in a Scrabble set so, besides being a name, it would not be possible unless in conjunction with a Blank. Cast your mind back to circa 600 BC and you will find the prophet Habakkuk railing against God’s injustice.

The King’s Choice

The King’s Choice is a misleading film title for an English speaking audience – it is not about the Duke of Windsor. The king, as portrayed in the film, bears a remarkably close resemblance to Alan Brooke. If he looks less than happy it is because his wife had died in 1938 and his neutral… Continue reading The King’s Choice

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Royal Reflections

  Yesterday, at the Savile Club, I asked Michael Bloch about the Dukes of Windsor and Sussex. His insights are too interesting to keep to myself and I prevailed upon him to write today’s post; thank you Michael.