by Labmom55 (York, PA): Tom Lehr once wrote a song about Alma Mahler and her prowess as a romantic enchantress. But Alma couldn’t compare to Pamela Churchill Harriman. Pamela not only lived off her wiles, she used them for political gain during WWII. Of course, her willingness to bed a long list of men meant that she was forever plagued by enemies who thought of her as nothing but a courtesan.
Purnell does an excellent job of giving you the gist of the woman – her need to make a difference in a time when women weren’t allowed to have a seat at the table. Her lack of a formal education haunted her and she was determined to always be informed. Going from a frumpy debutante who was considered washed up at 19, she shape shifted into a glamorous temptress who helped bring American diplomats and journalists around to the English cause. The list of the men she entranced reads like a Who”s Who of American influence. And it didn’t stop with the end of WWII. She just broadened her sphere to include European aristocracy and power players. In her later years, finally married to one of the few men she truly loved, she became a mover and shaker in the Democratic Party. Her influence during the Bosnian Peace negotiations were invaluable. The book is well researched and gives the reader a firm grasp on the times and places. In addition to providing a firm sense of Pamela, it also gave me a new understanding of Winston and Clementine Churchill. The book also focuses on her wrought relationships with her son Winston and her stepchildren through Leland Hayward.
At times the book drags, especially when focusing on the material things. My eyes started to glaze over at the descriptions of her house remodeling, furniture, clothes and jewelry. After the wild first half, the second half is much drier as it concentrates on her attempt to become a mover and shaker within the Democratic Party. But it was interesting getting a close up look at some of the politicians of the more recent past. This was a book club selection and I’ll be curious what sort of discussion it leads to.
