{"product_id":"five-days-in-london-may-1940-9780300276510","title":"Five Days in London, May 1940","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"A masterpiece. . . . Nobody has done more than John Lukacs to turn the short history book into an art form.\"--Anthony Beevor \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"As gripping as any novel.\"--Robert Harris \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A short but magnificent history book.\"--Daniel Finkelstein\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The days from May 24 to May 28, 1940, altered the course of the history of the twentieth century, as the members of the British War Cabinet debated whether to negotiate with Hitler or to continue what became known as the Second World War. The decisive importance of these five days is the focus of John Lukacs's magisterial new book. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Lukacs takes us hour by hour into the critical unfolding of events at 10 Downing Street, where Churchill and the members of his cabinet were painfully considering their war responsibilities. We see how the military disasters taking place on the Continent--particularly the plight of the nearly 400,000 British soldiers bottled up in Dunkirk--affected Churchill's fragile political situation, for he had been prime minister only a fortnight and was regarded as impetuous and hotheaded even by many of his own party. Lukacs also investigates the mood of the British people, drawing on newspaper and Mass-Observation reports that show how the citizenry, though only partly informed about the dangers that faced them, nevertheless began to support Churchill's determination to stand fast. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Other historians have dealt with Churchill's difficulties during this period, using the partial revelations of certain memoirs and private and public papers. But Lukacs is the first to convey the drama and importance of these days, and he does so in a compelling narrative that combines deep knowledge with high literary style.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Lukacs\u003c\/b\u003e was professor of history at Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, until his retirement and has been visiting professor at many universities. He is the author of twenty-one books, among them \u003ci\u003eThe Hitler of History\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Duel\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe End of the Twentieth Century\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe End of the Modern Age\u003c\/i\u003e (which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize), and \u003ci\u003eA Thread of Years\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the recipient of numerous academic honors and awards.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Yale University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50522973536530,"sku":"9780300276510","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7bc0623c-37f4-48d8-82cc-08a1bc0a51e8.jpg?v=1756201108","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/five-days-in-london-may-1940-9780300276510","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}