What an incredible woman! And what a life she lived!!
Pamela Churchill, Winston Churchill's daughter-in-law, played such a pivotal role in both British and American politics throughout her life, and yet very little really seems to be known about just how important the part she played was. Castigated as a scarlett woman, Pamela Churchill played a key role both during and after WW2, a factor for which Winston Churchill recognised and appreciated.
This is a fascinating read about a clever and tenacious lady. I learnt so much reading this book.

A fascinating and comprehensive biography of a fascinating woman, who seemed to touch the lives of virtually everybody in 20th century politics and culture. She certainly got around! Sometimes admired, often maligned, considered a captivating courtesan or a seasoned diplomat in turn, sent on various missions, particularly during WWII, ending up as US Ambassador to France whilst still arousing controversy wherever she went. Thoroughly researched, entertainingly written, I found the book as captivating as many found Pamela Harriman herself.

Pamela Churchill Harriman was vilified as a courtesan in the top echelons of power. The full story of her life is far more interesting and complex. She was born into an aristocratic family in a time when an education was not deemed attractive for women and marriage was the ultimate goal. We start with her life before WW2, and how she became the daughter in law of Winston Churchill. She is naturally intelligent, curious and very politically astute. In the days before women would be accepted into the actual halls of government she perfected dinner party politics. She was key in keeping American support for the UK during the war. Churchill and Beaverbrook had no hesitation in using her unique skills as they needed. After the war she lived in Europe and in America and got more and more involved in politics over the years. Her networks were unmatchable and entertaining skills achieved far more with her sophisticated approach than most people realised. Ultimately she ended up as French Ambassador and was a key player in the Peace in the Balkans process. The story is extremely well researched and written and treats Pamela with the belated respect she deserved

One of the first programmes I was ever involved in making at the BBC was a three part series looking at the history of Marshall Plan. As part of that we interviewed Averell Harriman. Having read this week’s book, I wish I got to talk to his wife as well. Kingmaker: Pamela Churchill Harriman’s astonishing life of seduction, intrigue and power by Sonia Purnell tells her story. She married Winston Churchill’s son and had a front row seat as World War 2 unfolded. The marriage was not a success but her charms were a considerable emollient to relationship between the USA and UK. After the war and divorce she had affairs with many rich and famous men before marrying the impresario behind The Sound of Music. He died and she married Averell Harriman. After his death she reinvented herself as fundraiser and political fixer for the American Democrat party eventually becoming the US Ambassador to France. An absolutely incredible life.

Kingmaker is a biography of Pamela Harriman, an influential political figure and a truly fascinating woman. While the book offers interesting insights into her life and legacy, I found the writing slightly dry, which made it difficult to stay engaged. Despite its intriguing subject matter, I struggled to finish as my interest waned at times. Overall, it’s an informative read, but ultimately, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea.

From unprepossessing beginnings as the daughter of minor gentry, Pamela Digby married the son of a great politician. Whilst her marriage falters, Pamela managed to become a wartime hostess at the highest level of politics. After her divorce she moved to Paris and became a notorious courtesan, lover of many great men. However it is only after she reconnects with a former lover that Pamela becomes the perfect political player she has always promised.
I was vaguely aware of Pamela Harriman, the US Ambassador to France in the 1990s but this book opened my eyes. Managing to be a biography of a most fascinating woman, Purnell also weaves in much of late twentieth century political history on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite all this Purnell also conveys the fact that Pamela was a heroine with feet of clay, particularly around morals and money.

Pamela Churchill Harriman was certainly a woman beyond her time - married to Winston Churchill's son she did not have a happy marriage but became politically motivated and willing to use her charms to get what she wanted. She moved ever upwards via another two husbands and was heavily involved in American Democrats, Clinton,; an astute woman willing to use her guiles. A thoroughly researched book. It is certainly fact heavy and at times reads like a who's who with rather limited context but overall shows what an extraordinary woman Pamela was. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

A Fascinating Deep Dive into the Life of Pamela Churchill

Sonia Purnell's "The Kingmaker" offers a compelling and in-depth exploration of Pamela Churchill's extraordinary life. The book delves into her influential role during World War II and the post-war era, providing a wealth of historical detail.

The level of research and attention to detail is impressive, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of Pamela's life and the historical context in which she lived. However, the extensive detail can sometimes feel overwhelming, making the book feel longer than necessary.

Despite this, "The Kingmaker" remains a fascinating read for anyone interested in 20th-century history and the lives of influential women.

Pamela Digby married Winston Churchill's son Randolph at the beginning of the war, becoming an ear to Winston during his time as wartime Prime Minister meeting a variety of leaders and diplomats. After the war, her marriage over she became involved with various playboys in Europe but later ended up married to a Broadway producer. Following his death she met up with Averell Harrriman with whom she had had an affair during the war. Once in Washington she became famous for helping the Democrats to victory with Bill Clinton who appointed her as the American Ambassador to France.
An enlightening biography of a successful woman.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When ignoring the author's I would say, forgiving nature, this is one hell of a book about a woman who lead an unbelievable life. Clearly Pamela Harriman was no perfect angel, and did more with what she was given than anyone else would have dared or dreamed, but I felt like her more negative traits regularly found themselves under the rug.
Additionally, whilst being highly detailed in some areas of historical context, others assumed rather more prior knowledge than I had anticipated and so frustrated my progress through the book. Overall, worth a look if you're super interested

This was a fascinating read; I couldn't believe I had never heard of this amazing woman. Pamela's life was extraordinary and her hand in many of the world's most important events cannot be underestimated, though it has been for decades. I'm so glad that this book seeks to right the injustice of her removal from key events and her skill, diplomacy and intellect is finally being celebrated rather than just her beauty and controversy.
From Winston Churchill to Bill Clinton, Pamela was a confidante and sounding board for many of the worlds celebrated leaders, if she'd been a man, it’s hard to imagine what limits and barriers she would have encountered, the sky would have been the limit. That is not to say that Pamela didn't have her faults, the book does not shy away from showing all sides to this complex woman. An interesting read that despite the length I was totally absorbed in.

If this book was fiction, folk would have a hard time suspending their disbelief. The reality that it is truth makes this an even more amazing and incredible book and Sonia Purnell has done a fantastic job of writing it.

My review cannot possibly do it justice but what I can say is that for a woman to spend her first 25 years doing what she did behind the political scenes to bring all sorts of unlikely scenarios to fruition is jaw dropping and I do not believe what she achieved could have been achieved by a man.

Her next 25 years which loosely started as World War II ended was relatively quiet as circumstances tried to do to her what it did to all women who had "to go to work" as men were not available. Circumstances and the people who supported "women should be seen and not heard" failed and she roared into the rest of her life, continuing to achieve the impossible.

Having moved her allegiance across the Atlantic to the US of A, she spent the rest of her life striving to prove to Europe and the French in particular that it would be beneficial to all if they took America seriously. It is a fair conclusion to say she achieved this. I think it is also fair to say that Pamela Harriman was misunderstood by much of the world but the ones that did understand her are in no doubt what she, as a woman, achieved that no man could possibly have done in her place.

Her life was so, so far from being sweetness and light, what with the very ugly behaviour of her family and her many detractors but, in terms of her legacy to the world, she is, at present, unsurpassed.

If you have any interest at all in the way our political world has become what it is over the last 100 years, you need to read this biography: it will astound you.

What an amazing person Pamela was. I had never heard of her until I was lucky enough to read this book. A well written and easy enough to follow along that you’ll get lost in the pages as read find out more details about her life. Highly recommend

Pamela Harriman has crossed my reading path a couple of times in the past - most often as one of Truman Capote's slightly more tangential Swans - namely the one who came and stole Slim Keith's Husband and whose amorous exploits were among those featured in Capote's notorious La Cote Basque 1965. Her reputation was as a modern courtesan, but in this book, Sonia Purnell sets out to re-examine Harriman's life and legacy and position her as a secret political power player who learnt how to exercise soft power as Winston Churchill's daughter-in-law and took those lessons on to the rest of her life - to help Gianni Agnelli while they were lovers and then later to help the Democratic Party back to life in the late 1980s and early 1990s, culminating in her appointment as Amabassador to Paris by Bill Clinton and a role in American involvement in the Balkan conflict.

Considering that Harriman is most often referred to as a courtesan, or as someone who made a study of rich men's ceilings, this is quite a reappraisal. But Purnell makes a strong case for Pamela as a woman who used the skills and talents that she had in the ways that were permitted as a woman at whatever the given time was, and then seeking to improve and better herself and her education throughout her life. I look forward to what I'm sure will be a number of articles in response to this to see what the response is but Purnell has had access to a wealth of papers and interviews to write the book and in her telling the story of Harriman's life is remarkable and compelling - and hard to find parallels to.

What an amazing story! Another formidable woman who has been forgotten or dismissed. Brilliant storytelling and research. I felt I knew this extraordinary woman who lived through extraordinary times. In France, America and the UK she was there to influence top society and politicians. De Gaulle, Churchill and Clinton are amongst the famous leaders who had great respect for Pamela Churchill Harriman. Such an enjoyable and educational read. Loved it!

Kingmaker offers a detailed, fascinating look into the life of Pamela Churchill Harriman, a woman whose influence spanned political and social circles. Married to Winston Churchill’s son, she became a pivotal figure in global events, admired by some and ridiculed by others. The book provides a balanced biography, allowing readers to form their own opinions about this extraordinary woman.

Despite her privileged background—wealth, the Churchill name, and a string of high-profile relationships—Harriman exceeded expectations, carving out significant political power. However, the book doesn't shy away from her flaws, particularly her strained relationship with her only son, Winston Jr., which was marred by her pursuit of success and fame.

The biography is rich with historical and political references, highlighting her connections with powerful figures, though she often alienated women, especially the wives of influential men.

Ruthless yet kind, determined yet complicated, Pamela Churchill Harriman was a force to be reckoned with. Kingmaker is an insightful and comprehensive biography, perfect for those intrigued by her tumultuous, glittering life.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

I had heard of Pamela Harriman in that she was the US ambassador to France and connected to the Churchill family. I did not have any other details but this well researched and comprehensive biography tells you everything you could want to know about one the the most influential women of the 20th century. Her influence began as the daughter in law of Winston Churchill during WW2, opening up the world of international relations and low grade spying and ended as a much feted US ambassador. She transformed herself from an unsuccessful, unattractive debutante to a world class sex siren, at times more famous for her conquests than her intelligence. Courtesan or diplomat? I think history shows us that courtesans need to be diplomats to succeed and Pamela Churchill Harriman lived a life encompassing both aspects.

Fascinating & riveting read. An incredible story of a highly unusual woman who played important political roles on both sides of the Atlantic. I did not know about Pamela Churchill Harriman before I read this very detailed book. The first part is about the World War Two years. Pamela was just 19 at the start of the war. She was newly married to Winston Churchill’s only son Randolph. She had vast influence with Winston & the Americans. She was intelligent, ambitious & very knowledgeable. She sought power & influence throughout her life. A well written & researched biography, full of facts, anecdotes & memories of a full life, lived in the spotlight. Interesting & informative.

I had only really heard of Pamela Churchill in anecdotes from stories around Truman Capote and the Swans and she wasn't painted in a very good light!!
The Kingmaker opens you to the extraordinary women that she was with a life that included friendships with so many of the most powerful political figures in recent history. The author maybe slightly biased towards the ;positive parts of Pamela's life but she does also include the more controversial aspects too.

A long, but very interested read with politics, glamour, love and family relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Kingmaker.

A big book, overflowing with facts, memories, antidotes and everything else you could want to know about Pamela Churchill Harriman

Married to Winston Churchills son she became pivotal to many political world events and was sought after by many, triumphed by some, equally sneered and ridiculed by others the book shows I felt a fair from all perspectives biography/memoir and left the reader to make their own mind up about this extraordinary woman

I confess to never having heard of her, somewhat surprising I guess seeing my ex work and love of Political biographies but try as I might I just couldn’t recollect her at all, even more surprising when I had finished the 625 page book and realised just what she had achieved

Now there is no doubting privilege, money ( and not ordinary wealth we are talking unimaginable amounts ) the Churchill name via marriage and her, shall we say, love of men all mixed together to open the doors she seeked to make her mark however she really went way above even her own expectations once she reached the power she so craved

She was far from perfect, can we say she was a terrible Mother? if the book is to believed then yes she was to her only child Winston ( Jnr ) and success, glitz, sex and fame came way way above her role as a Mum, she seemed indifferent to this but her relationship with her son suffered greatly through their lives and even after her death

Every political and royal name you can muster up from a lifetime of watching the news and current affairs is cited and often quoted in the book, she had remarkable contacts and a almost unworldly fascination to powerful men, women to put it kindly did not ‘take to her’ so readily especially wives of the rich and influential

Ruthless yet kind, demanding yet patient when needed and with cut glass determination Pamela Churchill Harriman was a force to be reckoned with, loved and loathed equally depending on your view and certainly this more than informative book was a great insight into her jubilant yet sullied life

A treat of a book, a long book its true but then it had to be to delve into this turbulent wild life