Eight days at Yalta How Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin shaped the post-war world

Historian Preston (Paradise in Chains) describes how "war-weary" British prime minister Winston Churchill, "seriously ill" U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Soviet autocrat Joseph Stalin planned the end of WWII in this spirited, behind-the-scenes account of the February 1945 Yalta Conference. Preston mixes foreign policy critique--arguing, for example, that if the U.S. had threatened Russia with curtailing the Lend-Lease program for military allies, Poland might have been better served by the negotiations, and if Churchill and Roosevelt had been better briefed on the progress of the Manhattan Project, they might not have been so keen to have the Red Army join the fight against Japan--with vibrant descriptions of backstage activities, including Soviet intelligence agents intercepting British and American communications and "half-starving" Romanian prisoners of war reviving dilapidated palace gardens. Preston brings to the fore secondary characters like Anna Boettiger, Roosevelt's daughter, who curtailed access to her father while looking after his health, and reveals how Stalin's unwillingness to compromise over Eastern Europe, FDR's focus on the United Nations, Churchill's determination to retain control over Hong Kong, and the exclusion of "irksome" French leader Charles de Gaulle helped to shape the post-WWII order. Colorful personalities, piquant details, and a diverse array of perspectives make this a satisfying introduction to the subject. Agent: Michael Carlisle, InkWell Management. (Mar)

During the Yalta Conference, held February 4--11, 1945, during World War II, the "Big Three" Allied leaders--Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt--met to discuss the fate of post-war Europe. In a straightforward narrative, historian and author Preston (A Higher Form of Killing) details issues the leaders discussed: the creation of the United Nations, the Soviet occupation of Germany, the borders of Poland, and the entry of the Soviets into war against Japan. Preston also considers the impact of what was referred to as the spheres of influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Using memoirs, personal letters, and official correspondence from the three leaders, Preston considers their personalities and interactions. The author details the planning that went into the Yalta Conference, as well as its longstanding impact on the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. This book can be compared to Yalta: The Price of Peace (2010) by S. M. Plokhy and The Allies (2018) by Winston Groom. VERDICT This examination into the Yalta conference is a solid choice for readers of popular history who want to understand the lessons and legacy of Yalta--as important now as ever.--Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Lib. of Congress, Washington, DC

On the Yalta conference's 75th anniversary, this insightful history recounts its enormous, if teeth-gnashing, accomplishments.In her latest impressively researched volume, award-winning historian Preston (A Higher Form of Killing: Six Weeks in World War I That Forever Changed the Nature of Warfare, 2015, etc.) emphasizes that the goal of the 1945 meeting was to decide the fate of Germany and the Eastern European nations liberated from Nazi domination. The author astutely points out that while Franklin Roosevelt was not necessarily a deep thinker, he was a master in the rough-and-tumble arena of American politics. He arrived at Yalta confident that he could handle Stalin better than Churchill. Many readers may be unaware that Churchill, despite his charisma and heroism early in the war, was extremely conservative, even for his conservative party. He refused to consider social programs as long as the war continued, a fact that contributed to his defeat in the 1945 election. His fierce opposition to independence for British colonies irritated the Americans as well as many in his own party. Stalin insisted that Eastern Europe must provide a barrieri.e., friendly governmentsbetween the Soviet Union and Germany. Since his armies already occupied the area, there was little the war-weary Allies could do except extract a promise to hold free elections; he duly promised and, within months, reneged. Almost everyone, Preston included, agrees that the two leaders betrayed Eastern Europe at Yalta. She adds that both genuinely wanted a democratic postwar Europe, but this took a back seat to their national priorities. Roosevelt's main priority was persuading Stalin to join the war against Japan, which was proving brutally difficult. Like his hero, Woodrow Wilson, he yearned to create an international organization to enforce world peace. Stalin agreed to both, but at a price. Churchill aimed to preserve British influence. Stalin had no objection and threw him a bone by agreeing not to support Greek communist insurgents.An expert account of an unedifying milestone at the dawn of the Cold War. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.