Kingmaker

Pamela Churchill Harriman's astonishing life of seduction, intrigue and power, from the bestselling author of A Woman of No Importance

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Kingmaker

By: Sonia Purnell

Narrated by: Louise Brealey

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Summary

An electrifying re-examination of one of the twentieth century's greatest unsung power players, from the bestselling author of A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, TELEGRAPH, ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL TIMES, MAIL ON SUNDAY, DAILY EXPRESS, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, SPECTATOR, IRISH EXAMINER, LONDON STANDARD, NEW YORKER, POLITICO, APPLE BOOKS, TOWN & COUNTRY and OLDIE

'Supremely enjoyable ... With a historian's eye for rigour, a journalist's for detail and a storyteller's for drama' FINANCIAL TIMES

'Rich and riveting' GUARDIAN, BEST BIOGRAPHIES AND MEMOIRS OF 2024

'I've been gobbling up Kingmaker ... For years, Pamela's achievements were overshadowed by gossipy whispers about her past. Finally, she has a book that is worthy of her' ELIZABETH DAY

'Exhilarating' MAIL ON SUNDAY, BOOKS OF THE YEAR

'Anna Karenina meets West Wing' IRISH EXAMINER, BOOKS OF THE YEAR

When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were scathing - and often downright sexist. Written off as a social climber, her glamorous social life and infamous erotic adventures overshadowed her true legacy. Much of what she did behind the scenes to shape the twentieth century, on both sides of the Atlantic, remained invisible. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how Harriman left an indelible mark on the world today.

There is practically no-one in twentieth-century politics, culture and fashion whose lives she did not touch. Her influence began at age twenty, when her father-in-law, Winston Churchill, engaged her as a "secret weapon" during World War II, wining, dining and seducing Americans over to the British cause against Hitler. It continued later in the US, where she hand-picked Bill Clinton from obscurity and vaulted him to the presidency. It extended further, over five decades and two continents, influencing figures like the Kennedys, Nelson Mandela, Truman Capote, Gianni Agnelli, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem and Frank Sinatra.

Written with the novelistic richness and investigative rigour that only Sonia Purnell could bring to this story full of sex, power, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, Kingmaker sets out Harriman's rightful place at the heart of recent history.

****
'Rigorous but rollicking' NEW YORK TIMES

'Everyone I know on both sides of the Atlantic seems to be devouring Kingmaker' TINA BROWN

'An incredible story, beautifully told, of a remarkable woman whose political influence spanned Churchill to Clinton. Quite a woman, quite a read' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

'Superb and fascinating. I can't recommend it more' LADY ANNE GLENCONNER, bestselling author of Lady in Waiting

'Fascinating and revelatory, written with great aplomb, insight and shrewd analysis. A triumph' WILLIAM BOYD

'As compelling as its subject' TLS

' Riveting and revelatory' THE NEW YORKER

'An alluring new biography' THE ECONOMIST

'Purnell's research is impeccable' SPECTATOR

'Kingmaker is on to something important. Successful women are judged differently than men' AMANDA FOREMAN, GUARDIAN

'Sympathetic, well-researched, busily peopled' OBSERVER BOOK OF THE DAY

'Vivid' NEW STATESMAN©2024 Sonia Purnell

Sonia PurnellLouise BrealeyLittle, Brown Book Group

Entertainment & Celebrities

Historical

Politicians

Politics & Activism

Politics & Government

Women

Women in Politics

Winston Churchill

Inspiring

Imperialism

Entertainment & Celebrities Historical Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Women Women in Politics Winston Churchill Inspiring Imperialism

Critic reviews

A rich and riveting portrait of the daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill, a canny diplomat who exerted remarkable influence on mid-20th-century politics

Pamela Churchwell Harriman [is] a figure who might have been invented by Jilly Cooper . . . the world's almost only diplomat-cum-courtesan, knew everyone, went everywhere, wore fabulous frocks, and helped shape post-war British and American politics

I've been gobbling up Kingmaker ... For years, Pamela's achievements were overshadowed by gossipy whispers about her past. Finally, she has a book that is worthy of her

Her life story is a terrific romp, and this biography an exhilarating read, a treasure trove of top-table gossip. But it also has historical significance. As an intimate of presidents and numerous other leaders, [Pamela Churchill Harriman] was more than a mere courtesan

A very well written biography of one of the major secondary figures of the last century ... Almost Anna Karenina meets West Wing

A riveting biography of a woman who was involved in some way with the most of the important people and events of the 20th century

Everyone I know on both sides of the Atlantic seems to be devouring Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell

Harriman's life from [Winston] Churchill's daughter-in-law to [Bill] Clinton's ambassador to France is full of highs and lows, as she constantly reinvents herself with the one thing people underestimate and can't teach - emotional intelligence and knockout sexual charisma."

An epic, revisionist biography of Winston Churchill's formidable but fun daughter-in-law

Raises disturbing and eternal questions about constraints of female influence, emotional duplicity and sexual exploitation

A wonderfully racy romp [and] a gripping biography of a brave, ambitious woman

A romp of a read

Rigorous but rollicking

A page turner that matches her subject in verve and ambition ... Tremendous

Supremely enjoyable ... With a historian's eye for rigour, a journalist's for detail and a storyteller's for drama, Purnell is extremely persuasive ... Refreshing and timely; meticulously researched ... Pamela, in Purnell's deft hands, blossoms into a fascinating subject

Kingmaker is as compelling as its subject

A thorough account of Harriman's rise which also manages to be a brisk, twisty read ... Riveting and revelatory

Comprehensive and warm ... Purnell gets across the energy and tenacity of her subject ... A very enjoyable account of a fascinating life

In Purnell's hands, Kingmaker becomes a study of the limited means of influence available to ambitious women of Harriman's generation

Purnell makes the case for Pamela as a woman of substance ... Kingmaker is on to something important. Successful women are judged differently than men

Purnell convincingly turns a comic-book enchantress into a sensualist operator, equally fluent in U.N. Security Council resolutions, table linens, and oral sex

Most relevant

I came across this book by accident while browsing in a bookstore and it caught my eye due to its bright cover and title. Being an amateur history buff and hearing the term “Kingmaker”, I immediately thought of The Earl of Warwick (The Wars of the Roses) but I was surprised to find that the subject was, in fact, a woman. Even more surprising was that I had never heard of her. Granted, I have a preference for medieval history as opposed to modern, but I decided to appease my curiosity and expand my knowledge.

It turns out, this book was the best kind of surprise. Extremely well written (and narrated), it read more like a novel than a biography proving the adage ‘truth is stranger than fiction’.

Pamela Churchill Harriman’s life was one that spanned from before World War II as a member of English aristocracy/landed gentry in Dorset to an ambassador to France on behalf of her chosen country, the USA, in 1997. It was filled with ups and downs, scandals, sexual escapades, trials and politics. Despite her gender, she managed to work her way through life leaving her stamp on the modern world. It was fascinating to hear how she intersected with so many from Winston Churchill (his daughter in law) to the Kennedys to Dennis Hopper to Bill Clinton.

For those unfamiliar with her name and story, I will refrain from spoilers, but I will say this: if you have a love for history and are interested in politics, this one is for you. A book that is well researched, informative and engaging, there are definitely worse ways to spend your time.

5 stars 🤓📚

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