Kingmaker: Pamela Churchill Harriman's astonishing life of seduction, intrigue and power

by Sonia Purnell

There are few at any time who have operated as close to the center of power over five decades and two continents, and there is practically no one in 20th Century politics, culture, and fashion whose lives she did not touch, including the Kennedys, Truman Capote, Aly Khan, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem, Ed Murrow, and Frank Sinatra. Written with the novelistic richness and investigative rigor that only Sonia Purnell could bring to this story full of sex, politics, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, KINGMAKER re-asserts Harriman’s rightful place at the heart of history.

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

At age 20 Churchill’s beloved daughter-in-law became a “secret weapon” during World War II, strategically wining, dining, and seducing diplomats and generals to help win over American sentiment (and secrets) to the British cause against Hitler. After the war, she helped to transform Fiat heir Gianni Agnelli into Italy’s ‘uncrowned king’ on the international stage and after moving to the US brought a struggling Democratic party back to life, hand-picking Bill Clinton from obscurity and vaulting him to the presidency.

From the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, an electrifying re-examination of one of the 20th century’s greatest unsung power players

Picked as Ambassador to France, she deployed her legendary subtle powers to charm world leaders and help efforts to bring peace to Bosnia, playing her part in what was arguably the high-water mark of American global supremacy.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Book Club

512 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

Sonia Purnell is a biographer and journalist who has worked at The Economist, The Telegraph, and The Sunday Times. Her book Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill (published as First Lady in the UK) was chosen as a book of the year by The Telegraph and The Independent, and was a finalist for the Plutarch Award. Her first book, Just Boris, was longlisted for the Orwell prize.

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd like to open this review with a stipulation. Men and women are not treated equally, especially in earlier times, when it comes to sexual conquests. Much of what I write from here can be rebutted with, "But what about the man in this situation?" Totally valid, but this is a biography of Pamela Harriman and she is the focus of the review. Inequity in attitudes of sexual exploits is hereby stipulated so let's get on with the review!

Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell is the biography of Pamela Harriman. If there is one thing everyone can agree on, it is that Harriman lived a hell of a life. You may call it a bad life, a good life, or somewhere in between, but she lived a lot. She was the daughter of an English baron, daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill (I'm going to call him Winston the Younger for simplicity), and US ambassador to France. These are all facts and basically everything else is a lot murkier.

Ultimately, Purnell's treatment fell flat for me because of one major reason. Purnell far too often took the rosier view of Pamela and exaggerated her contributions in some egregious cases. Specifically, Purnell at one points seem to suggest that a picture of Pamela and Winston the younger had a major effect on whether Lend-Lease in World War II would move ahead. This is not an isolated incident and the reader is led to believe Harriman might be one of Churchill's most important assets in World War II. This is not in any way to question Purnell's work factually. Instead, I am merely questioning the level of causality in her conclusions. It probably did not help that much of her work in this book is shaded by new sources which are predominantly from Harriman herself in previously unavailable papers and interviews. Everyone is the hero of their own story.

Unfortunately, this made me wary of Purnell's judgement in the rest of the book as wave after wave of people who hate Harriman with a passion are dismissed or downplayed. She cut off friends and family as soon as they were no longer useful, she used people for money, and she actively would destroy marriages with zero compunction and regard for who would be hurt.

Here's the thing, I would still love to read a book about a person like this! However, I want the author to be as objective as possible. For example, I find FDR to be reprehensible as a person. He used people and discarded them with no remorse to a level only a sociopath could understand. However, as a politician he was masterful and books about that side of him always sell. I think a book which focused on how Pamela used soft power while acknowledging her myriad of personal failings would still be an excellent read without having to exaggerate her importance.

To give Purnell credit, she seems to figure this out towards the middle of the book. For example, Purnell is more willing to point out Harriman's failings as a mother without qualification. (Side note: It needs to be stated that Winston the Younger's father, Randolph Churchill SUUUUCKED.) My problem with the middle section of the narrative is that it began to read like a gossip column because Harriman's life was basically relationship to relationship. Seemingly all of these would end with a cadre of stepchildren who detested her for various reasons. Lawsuits would later abound.

By the time of Harriman's blossoming as a full-blown political power player in American politics, I found myself detached. I don't know how much her PamPAC actually accomplished, but I didn't fully trust Purnell not to inflate her importance. (Tangent: I was young when PamPAC was a thing so I wasn't immersed in politics. However, I vividly remember my father yelling every Sunday at the people on The McLaughlin Group and I never heard Harriman's name. Does that prove anything? Absolutely not. But it popped in my head and I wanted to share it because I thought you might like it.)

Whew, this is a long review for me. Let's end here. Purnell is a good writer and my dislike of this book comes down to the choice of perspective rather than ability. Purnell's previous book, A Woman of No Importance, is on my shelf and I am not dissuaded at all from reading that eventually. Pamela Harriman was hypocritically criticized for her sexual exploits. That doesn't mean she should be excused for her personal failings, though.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Viking Books.)

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It was alright for men to live as she had; for them there was a kind of macho admiration. But not for a woman."

You probably never heard of Pamela Harriman, but she had a front row seat to some of the most important events in history. Pamela was the daughter in law of the iconic British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and later in life she would serve as President Clinton's ambassador to France. I had heard of her before in other books on historical figures and I gotta say that they were rarely nice things.

Pamela Harriman was a very accomplished woman but she's better known for being a slut. She was a promiscuous social climber and self promoter who slept her way to the top. As my dad always says "It's better than sleeping your way to the middle." Pamela loved powerful men and she loved sex. I fully support this but Pamela was bed hopping in the 1940s through 1960s. So she wasn't treated very well in the press.

Pamela used sex to gain power and money. She wanted to be important and it wasn't easy for a woman to gain access to important rooms during her day. She was smart and she later became a fierce advocate for women's rights despite claiming not to be a feminist. I'm happy that Pamela's life is getting reexamined. There are older books written about her but she's apparently painted as a man stealing bimbo, so I won't recommend them.

I'm an advocate for women's rights and women's wrongs. I don't think there's anything wrong with using sex to get power. And being sexual doesn't mean you aren't smart.

Kingmaker is a very interesting and well written book. It's clear that Sonia Purnell respects Pamela and the life she was able to build for herself. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about complicated women.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Vleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alternate title might be Men Behaving Badly. So good, I couldn't stop reading. She was a Political Animal and knew how to work with men in power. And they loved her and remained friends for life.

Had a great time finding old photos online of the various people mentioned. it helped to keep them straight as there were so many.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonia Purnell has a superb literary series of women who, though underrated by men, succeed in male dominated positions. In “A Woman of No Importance” she wrote about Virginia Hall, a woman, though handicapped from an accident, operated the most successful spy ring in France during World War II. Piggybacking on a book she had written about Clementine Churchill she has written a terrific book about a member of Clementine’s household, daughter-in-law, Pamela.

Born to the almost upper class English society Pamela nevertheless hobnobbed with the upper class. Since World War II was imminent she was also acquainted with Kathleen Kennedy and her family since Joseph Kennedy was Ambassador to the Court of St. James. But when war finally broke out Randolph Churchill, the son of Winston Churchill who was on the political outs because of his pre-war pronouncements, asked her to marry him the very night he met her. Pamela agreed and when Winston became Prime Minister she became an important unofficial advisor.

Winston adored her. She had that effect on all men. Except for Randolph. Randolph Churchill was one of he most repugnant human beings of all time. He was a bad drinker, a gambler, and always unfaithful. He spent money he didn’t have and was always bailed out by Winston who had a major blind spot for his ne’er-do-well son. Randolph could not provide for his wife and eventually his own son, Winston. Finally when Pamela was most desperate for money she approached Lord Beaverbrook, Churchill’s wealthy Minister for Aircraft Production, for funds. He agreed. But it’s gonna cost you.

But it wasn’t what you might think at first. England was on the brink of losing the war and needed American aid. Beaverbrook wanted Pamela to, uh, give comfort to any visiting American dignitary who visited 10 Downing Street. At first it was FDR’s closest associate Harry Hopkins who was clearly smitten by Pamela. But her biggest conquest was Averell Harriman who was sent to London to supervise Lend Lease between the two countries. She did her job so well that when word got back to the White House about their couplings FDR had Harriman sent to Russia as Ambassador - possibly the first American ever sent to Siberia.

But when the war ended so did Pamela’s marriage to Randolph. But she had made so many connections during the war and with her beauty she had no problem finding wealthy suitors like Gianni Agnelli from Italy and one of the Rothschilds all of whom lavished jewelry, art and money on her. She also had an affair with Edward R. Murrow. She had a jet set lifestyle and visited the United States often where she resumed her friendships with, among others, the Kennedys. But she also became involved with, and married, theatrical producer Leland Hayward.

Hayward had no money to speak of and for the most part Pamela supported him by selling off much of her jewelry. When he died in 1971 her finances were in shambles. Then she ran into Harriman. She was clearly the love of Harriman’s life and they married in short order although he was in his late 70s at this time. As an heir to the E.H. Harriman railroad fortune he shared his wealth generously with Pamela, much to the consternation of his children from his first marriage.

By this time Pamela had become a US citizen and began to realize that there was more to her than just her pretty face. She had been on the perimeter of government since the 1940s and began to take on the role of fundraiser for the Democrat Party raising enormous sums for Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, and Michael Dukakis, all presidential losers. She needed to back a winner and possibly earn a political post. She became an early supporter and backer of Bill Clinton and guided him through the Washington political jungle. When Clinton was elected president in 1992 he appointed her Ambassador to France. Rather than make this a passive position Pamela befriended French President Jacques Chirac and supported French and US intervention in the Bosnian and Kosovo Wars.

“Kingmaker” was a great read about a woman many thought of as a courtesan but was able to rise above such gossip. After reading this however I don’t feel like I know her any better or what made her tick. She had few women friends but plenty of men loved her and asked her to marry them. Not only was Randolph a skunk but so was her rotten son, Winston. A chip off the old block. She coddled Winston the way the older Winston coddled Randolph. And did she marry Averell out of love or because she was out of money? Her last few years were spent in litigation with the Harriman family because the trusts he had set up were ransacked by trustees, notably Washington insider Clark Clifford. So it seems like, in the long run, she didn’t have very good luck with men either. But you’ll have plenty of good luck if you read “Kingmaker”, Sonia Purnell's crowning achievement.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember ever hearing anything about Pamela Harriman before reading this book, although I must have at least heard something in passing about her, I would think. At the very least, I probably heard her name simply in reference to Winston Churchill, as she was his daughter-in-law during her first marriage. It is always amazing how the accomplishments of women are downplayed in history, to the point where these amazing women are left to be a footnote in history.

The research and details in the book was simply amazing. For example, telling the reader not just that her first husband (Winston Churchill's son) missed the birth of the child, but the name of the woman he was having sex with while Pamela was in labor. I really want access to all these diaries and letters, because it seems to me that they didn't have any filter on the tea.

So many biographies are either dry and boring, or they are extremely bias. This is neither. This book is extremely engaging to the point that you feel like you almost know the people in the book. This is one of the best biographies that I have ever read. Way past 5 out 5 stars.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I have recently read this book on Pamela Harriman and a book on Pat Nixon. I also just started a book on Carolyn Bessette. It strikes me that there is a common theme among these three books. All of the authors are looking to redeem maligned long dead female figures in the fresh light of the metoo movement. I believe this book is the most successful in the attempt because Pamela Harriman did the most work outside of the confines of her marriage. Like the other two books, I did feel that some of the praise was forced.

I wanted to read this book because I read Brooke Hayward's book, "Haywire" a long time ago. I really enjoyed it. At that time, I had never read of someone living the sort of lifestyle Averell Harriman and his wife had. I was fascinated by the maids, the mansion, and mainly the parties where invited guests would sleep over for several nights. Brooke Hayward hated her one time stepmother. I always doubted that anyone could be as horrible as the way Brooke portrayed Pamela. I wanted to read another side.

I discovered that Pamela was a person who enjoyed acquisition. She possessed jewelry, money, houses and well known men. Many of these men were married to other women. Surprisingly, I found reading about Pam's life after she finally married Averell more interesting than her exploits during World War II. For me, the book was at its most interesting when she finally got to marry Averell and promote his politics and herself, eventually becoming Ambassador to France under Bill Clinton.

Was Pamela as bad as her stepdaughter made her out to be? Even though this author is far more sympathetic to Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman, there is much in the book that confirms her greed. I have no idea if Brooke's assessment is fair but, I think it would've been a hoot to have been invited over to sit next to an ostrich pillow and have tea at the mansion or embassy with Pamela.

[Tolkien InMySleep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome re-evaluation of one of the 20th Century's great women; close confidante of Churchill and Clinton (among others); lover of many rich and famous men - yet subject to the familiar double standards that have assaulted women's reputations since the story of Genesis. Sonia Purnell's book is fairly even-handed, acknowledging Harriman's deficiencies, while highlighting the qualities that beguiled so many people.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Kingmaker, British writer and journalist Sonia Purnell writes an exhaustive (528 page/17 hr audiobook) biography of British-turned-American political activist Pamela Churchill Harriman (1920-1997). She was born Pamela Digby and raised in an upper class family, marrying Winston Churchill's son Randolph when she was 19 and he was 28; this marriage was annulled after only a few years but did result in Winston Churchill's namesake grandson. Harriman married twice more, both to much older men, and was widowed in both of those unions; however, her reputation as a courtesan and the numerous affairs she had with other influential men preceded her, similar to her great-great-aunt Jane Digby. In her later life, Harriman became a US citizen and was politically active for the Democratic party, helping to boost Bill Clinton to the presidency in 1992 and serving as US ambassador to France from 1993 until her death in 1997.

Purnell's book on Harriman's life isn't the first biography of her -- it's preceded by Christopher Ogden's 1994 Life of the Party: The Biography of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman and Sally Bedell Smith's 1996 Reflected Glory: The Life of Pamela Churchill Harriman (if not others). This is the first Harriman biography I've read, though, and by biography standards there were a lot of spurious conclusions drawn that seemed to exaggerate or overstate Harriman's contributions -- perhaps because Purnell is a journalist rather than a trained historian (I listened to the audiobook which, per usual, didn't include footnotes, though I presume they're in the print and Ebook versions). I also felt that the middle section of the book, covering Harriman's activities between the 1950s-1970s, dragged, as compared to the sections about her activities during the 194s0 and 1980s-1990s -- I wish this section had been trimmed down. It sounds like she lived quite the interesting life for a woman of her day.

My statistics:
Book 292 for 2024
Book 1895 cumulatively

[Bailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Churchill Heyward Harriman has gone down in history as a punchline and footnote for her notorious sexual exploits but this book does much to recast her legacy in London and Washington over the 20th century and pay tribute to the many ways she exemplified expert diplomacy and statecraft. Although - gosh do I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to hear Truman Capote gossip about her. 😂

Her life was literally a supernova of being in the room and in close circles around literally ALL of the major 20th century figures you could list on paper. Really fascinating account - I recommend to any Churchill, WWII, Cold War, Democrat politics, European affairs, or foreign affairs history junkie. I also think an important reminder of how women like Pamela are vilified for being ambitious and ruthless and adventurous in ways that men have gotten away with since the dawn of time.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long an admirer of Pamela and her “courtesan” skills I found little new news in this book but it was still an enjoyable read. When you learn how she came to the aid of the Democratic Party in the ‘80s you will be shouting “Pamela, where are you in our time of need?”

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third solid bio by this author I’ve read, (Woman of No Importance and Clementine) and I think she is a thoughtful researcher and fine storyteller as well. Was Pamela critical to the passage of Lend Lease? Doubtful, but was she influential when she would fill Churchill in on the Americans’ leanings following her chats with influential Americans at her soirées? I would think so.

This was a woman clearly attracted to powerful men, or to power in general, as held by the men in her circle. She was 100% a political operator, so she used people to her advantage. She was a woman of her time, but probably more promiscuous than most women of her time. She achieved her goals through men. The love of her life was Averill Harriman, and it was sad that they finally married so late in his life.

I took issue with the notion that the men she bedded were just passive captives of her sexual prowess (thank you for the lessons, Ali Khan!), and not also wife cheaters. I also took issue with the author’s frequent use of the term “courtesan” to describe Pamela. Pamela was not a prostitute. She was a woman who used the resources she had, including her social class, to get what she wanted. Did the bio leave me liking Pamela? Not really, especially the end of her life. I found her financial greed with respect to her step-children to be despicable. But the long period in which she lived and the key players with whom she associated (Ed Murrow, Bill Clinton, etc.) makes for an interesting historical overview through the life of an influential female player.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but it has taken me a while to get to this review, so it will not be as detailed or coherent as it would have been had I done it right away after finishing the book. I was familiar with a lot of the biographical detail from the war years, when she was Churchill’s daughter-in-law, but not the Democratic Party activism of her later years, which took place when I was a young adult in the 1980s.
From her experiences during World War II, Pamela was well aware of the devastation of war, and the moral price of victory, and this informed the rest of her life’s work.
She married three times, and each time was devastated by her husband’s finances, though it took egregious, criminal mismanagement to diminish the Harriman fortune. But she was a resilient woman, underestimated by many as a lightweight, mostly because of her gender.
Many famous people crossed her path, and show up in this book: Nelson Mandela, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sally Bedell Smith (!), who wrote an unauthorized uncomplimentary biography, Joan Rivers (also mean), Donald Trump (she called him abrasive, “phony and tacky”), Gorbachev, Katharine Graham, Bill Bradley (who spoke at one of her “issues evenings’ and was described as very smart, but boring), Clarence Thomas (unqualified). She worked to raise money for Democrats, find leaders of the future, and identify policies that would rejuvenate the party. We could use that today..
She was instrumental in bringing the Democratic Party to the center, and promoting Bill Clinton as a candidate. She believed that a superpower that did not protect the vulnerable was not worthy of the name, and helped behind the scenes to forge the Bosnian peace accords. She said that “Europe still looks to the US as the pillar of strength… If democracy and freedom can prevail, it will come from the United States. We have a responsibility to continue to help Europe, a responsibility to … our veterans who gave their lives so Europe could be free.” (408 )How sad to read that in the context of today’s abandonment of Ukraine.
An interesting fact I did not know was that George HW Bush asked Great Britain to look into Clinton’s student “activities”!!!
With her fortune diminished, she stopped staying at Claridge’s in London and switched to The Stafford!
She changed her will 15 days before her death, to the detriment of her son Winston, previously her sole heir, but who had deserted his wife of 31 years, and in favor of her daughter-in-law Minnie.
I want to see the famous Van Gogh, “ White Roses,” donated by Pamela in accordance with the wish of her great love from the war years and her final husband, Averell Harriman, to the National Gallery in DC. It is in the West Building, in Gallery 83, on the main floor.

[Gina Dalfonzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chief issue with this book is one of timing. If it hadn't followed Purnell's brilliant biography of Virginia Hall, "A Woman of No Importance," it might have come across better. But when an author has just told a story of a brave and selfless woman guiding refugees from the Nazis through the mountains while ignoring the excruciating pain from her artificial leg, and then tries to make the case that the glamorous daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill who spent the war living high on the hog was just as heroic ... it falls flat.

For whatever reason, Purnell felt called upon to rescue Harriman from her reputation as a lightweight, and that's fair -- Harriman does seem to have accomplished more than she's usually given credit for, especially in the last part of her life, and she does seem to have offered Churchill and other statesmen important encouragement at crucial times. But Purnell goes to the other extreme. I don't buy that we won WWII in large part because Pamela bedded half the men who crossed the Atlantic. I get annoyed when I'm given a picture of 20th-century history as something that happened while Pamela was busy trying to join in. And I cringe when I read about how important it was that the planning of the Bosnian campaign was something that largely happened on Pamela's sofas, as if that were the most important part of it, or as if no other embassy had ever been the site of such planning. Maybe that's not how Purnell intended it, but that's how it comes off. It's not a good way to write either history or biography. Additionally, Purnell strains herself to defend Harriman from all the people who reportedly had good reason to dislike her, and tries to justify the fact that she used to dump her young son on random people and take off for indefinite periods of time. A little objectivity would have gone a long way.

I don't mean to be unduly harsh. I like Purnell's writing, and she's certainly done her homework. I just hope that her next book is more in the vein of the Virginia Hall biography, and less in the vein of this one.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I started reading this 447-page book, I wondered how so much could be written about someone with whom I was unfamiliar. By the end, I wondered how I could have been unfamiliar with her. Certainly, her life began years before mine, yet the role she played in the events of the late 20th century is something that had escaped me. Regardless, this is the story of a remarkable woman who was much admired and much maligned, and perhaps appropriately so in both regards. I found the writing a bit stilted but the author is to be commended for producing such a detailed and comprehensive account of her subject’s life.

[Winston · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5. Skim-read the second half so this is basically a DNF for me. Loved the idea but the biography execution didn’t grab me and felt a lot like assigned school reading. Bummed Pamela’s story fell flat for me!

[Vero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deși probabil că rolul ei în anumite evenimente istorice este exagerat de autoare, cartea oferă o perspectivă incredibilă asupra vieții aristocrației și a scenei politice în timpul WW2 și a Războiului Rece, acoperind 1938-1996. Super recomand.

[Marjorie Murstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Truth is stranger and in this case more amusing or fascinating than fiction

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost 500 pages. I never heard of Pamela Harriman before, but the title caught my attention. I was hooked by the early chapters. The book was dense with history, Churchill sagas, gossip, trysts, and Pamela. I can't even begin to unpack it all. What a life. I salute the author for packing in the details and for her extensive research . What challenged me most was the writing. It is another level! I felt like I had to read sentences several times because they were written backwards like an old English novel. So not only is it almost 500 pages, but a hard read at that. I also felt quite a bit of authorial intrusion with the author keeping to push feminism on Pamela, and she wanted nothing to do with it. Somewhat in the middle of her life, Pamela dabbled around it, but the author kept insisting that she was for women. Pamela loved everything about being a woman and didnt see anything that discouraged men as good for women. The author pushed some other ideas to the surface that would appeal to a certain audience.

I began to feel that the author filled the book with historic backstory, because there wasn't much Pamela to tote around. Pamela was secretive and alot of her jaunts are heard of but not very told. There were lots of "" in the book of what this one said or that about Pamela, and even fewer direct quotes from Pamela.

But for someone like me who had no idea it was ok. I wanted to hear more about Pamela's inner world. The best parts were the Churchill/Kenny years and the last 3rd of the book the Clinton years until the Ritz pool.

A big benefit - You feel smarter for it. Overall, what I gathered was an elegant, soft, powerful, sexually vibrant woman who was in all the right places at the right times until she wasnt. I'm glad I read the book and want to learn more.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look behind the curtains of history, as only a brilliant, politically astute courtesan who married Churchill's son could have operated. Churchill Harriman was instrumental behind the scenes in Britain's strategy to defeat the Nazis by obtaining American involvement in WWII. Later, as a naturalized American citizen, she was influential in numerous other American politicians and the Democratic Party's success, up to and including guiding Bill Clinton's transition from a bright, ambitious, aw-shucks country bumpkin into a formidable candidate for US President. Clinton appointed her to serve as Ambassador to France, which turned out to be a stroke of genius (even though sex-averse Americans criticized her selection for lack of political experience!), as she charmed Giscard D'Estaing and helped persuade him to help America broker peace in Bosnia. Her personal life is equally fascinating. She was friends with a who's who of famous people, including Gloria Steinem, Gianni Agnelli, Aly Khan, Kay Graham, Jackie Onassis, Truman Capote, Edward R. Murrow, and Frank Sinatra.

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sympathetic biography of Pamela Harriman that focuses on her political ambitions and achievements rather than her private life alone. Sonia Purnell brings Harriman to life as a multifaceted historical figure and places her in the context of changing attitudes regarding women and public life in the 20th century. Purnell clearly admires Harriman and that sometimes means that the less appealing aspects of her character such as her acquisitiveness and inattention to her son receive less attention. Overall, an excellent portrait of an influential woman and her times. The audiobook is well read.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook. The book tells the true story of Pamela Harriman’s fifty years embroiled in power and politics. A controversial figure, often referred to as a courtesan, she knew all the powerful people between 1940-1990 and had influence in much history of that period. The book is long, but there’s much to cover.

[George Zhou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely interesting person, lots of historical accounts. But upon completion of this book, I did not find what I was looking for: how was she able to seduce people, and find talents? What are the things that she say to achieve these goals?

The later half of the book was like a poorly written recommendation letter. I prefer "show and not tell" for stories. And this book is the opposite of that.

[Mary-Patton Davis Eisen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me immensely grateful for all the strong women who came before me and pushed through the double standards, misogyny, and social norms to get us to where we are today. Pamela Churchill was an incredibly strong woman.

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting life and period of time… and really…. it wasn’t that long ago!

[WM D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading a very detailed and interesting book about the life of Pamela Churchill Harriman. She made a name for herself in the Democratic Party and was instrumental in helping Bill Clinton win the presidency. He in turn named her ambassador to France.

[Meredith Goulburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

People really do despise extraordinary women, don’t they? I loved learning about Pamela’s life; she was incredible.

[Kristin Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although often dismissed as a mere courtesan, Pamela Churchill Harriman led a remarkable life and influenced world events from WWII to the war in Bosnia. Her salon in Georgetown was the place to be and her fundraising and keen political instincts kept the Democratic Party alive during the Reagan years. This beautifully written biography tells the true story of a extraordinary diplomat who helped the British war effort and went on to become an ambassador to France in her 70’s.

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an advance reading copy (arc) of this book by NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Pamela Digby Churchill Harriman was groomed to be a rich man's wife. Unfortunately, for her she picked Randolph Churchill, the ne'er-do-well son of Winston. To ensure her place in the family, she had a son also named Winston. She ingratiated herself into the Churchill family and became one of their favorites. According to author Sonia Purnell, Harriman went on to sleep with a number of men in power as England found herself at war with Germany. Harriman then reported back to the elder Churchill with any secrets spilled in the boudoir. Supposedly, she did all of this for her country, but I find that hard to believe. Harriman often lived beyond her means and relied on rich men like Gianna Ignalli, principal shareholder of Fiat, to pay for her lavish lifestyle. After she married, Averill Harriman, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she became quite influential with U.S. politicians. Purnell went so far as to claim that Pamela Harriman single-handedly saved the Democratic Party--something else I find hard to believe. Intelligent, but not likeable, it seemed the 'friends' she made were only after the limelight she provided. Her own son was not close to her, but much like her, he also lived beyond his means and relied on his mother for financial support. The book was interesting, but the author put her on a pedestal and I found little to like about Pamela Harriman.

[Jamie Molea · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the course of reading this book, and looking more into Pamela Churchill Harriman, I came across different reviews on her life. It ranged from broad adoration, to “one of the most exquisite courtesans in history”, to “she slept her way to the top”. If this book is anything to go by, I personally think she lived an absolutely extraordinary life, always to the fullest, and always having a lasting impression on all who crossed her path.

Her experiences were remarkable. From having the confidence of Winston Churchill before and through the heights of the Second World War, to romances with very influential and powerful men in America / Europe during and post War, to eventually becoming one of the most influential women in America. Her status was renown world over, with recognition from notable leaders such as Reagan, Clinton, Gorbachev, Chirac and Mandela. She did extraordinarily well as a woman and achieved feats that even most men of her time had trouble achieving, during an age where women were expected to be nothing more than supportive spouses. She had an elegance about her, a sense of awareness and natural diplomacy skills that made situations easier than they otherwise would have been.

I think it’s also fair to say that some of the criticism levelled at her is somewhat unwarranted. Not only was there an unfair perception of her chasing extremely rich men who did not want her, but there was a double standard aimed at her because of not wanting to conform to this notion that “women should not be involved in the matters of men” - politics. Pamela went against this notion and strived to be involved in public work, a dream which took her 5 decades to fulfil after the War. And as for her men chasing, it was found to be untrue; letters she kept secret were discovered after her death which noted that all the notable men she had been with had wanted to marry her and she had refused, and not the other way around.

And I guess who could blame her for enjoying life along the way. As US ambassador to France, she shared with President Clinton that maybe she had “indulged a little” and had possibly done some stuff she otherwise should not have done - it was post War Paris, the place to be. And who could blame her, and anyone of that generation for wanting to have another go after surviving the War and having what seemed like a second chance at life. “Good for her”, Clinton said of her posthumously.

At her funeral, her grandson read a quote from Winston Churchill’s 1932 essay: “life is a whole, and good and ill must be accepted together. The journey has been enjoyable and well worth making - once”.

Pamela made the most of the cards she got dealt with in life and she made the most of every opportunity she was given. I think she truly lived one of the most extraordinary lives in the 20th century.

Absolutely thrilling read.