Lynne Olson Knihy

Letci RAF za druhé světové války. Kniha Otázka cti, s podtitulem Zapomenutí hrdinové druhé světové války, strhujícím způsobem předkládá úchvatný a dobrodružný příběh polských pilotů za druhé světové války. Ti uprchli z nacisty porobeného Polska a sehráli klíčovou úlohu při bitvě o Británii v roce 1940. V roce 1938 padlo Polsko do rukou nacistického Německa. Tisíce polských pilotů, vojáků a námořníků, oddaných myšlence osvobození své vlasti, uteklo do Anglie. Z části z nich se zformovala 303. stíhací peruť Královského letectva, které se přezdívalo též „Kościuszkova“ podle proslulého polsko-amerického generála a hrdiny protiruského povstání z roku 1794. Během bitvy o Británii tito letci zničili více německých letadel, než kterákoli jiná stíhací jednotka. Zásadním způsobem tak přispěli nejen k záchraně Británie, ale i k porážce nacismu. Za své husarské kousky a hrdinské činy při obraně britských ostrovů se v Británii stali oceňovanými hrdiny. Oni sami přitom netoužili po ničem jiném, než po návratu domů. Konec války přinesl šokující zvrat: spojenci navzdory slibům věrnosti Polsko opustili a nechali je napospas stalinskému Rusku. Ti z letců, kteří se vrátili do komunistického Polska, často končili ve vězení, jiní dokonce zmizeli. O mnohých ani nevíme, kde mají hrob. Tato kniha líčí osudy několika z nich, a otevírá tak pro českého čtenáře důležité, a přesto málo známé téma.

The narrative highlights the courageous efforts of Polish pilots who, as refugees, joined the RAF to combat the Nazi threat during World War II. Their bravery was pivotal in defending Britain, yet they faced betrayal from the Allies post-war, revealing a poignant tale of valor and abandonment.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this narrative explores the personal and professional lives of three influential Americans in London: Edward R. Murrow, Averell Harriman, and John Gilbert Winant. Their close relationships with Winston Churchill and involvement with his family highlight the complexities of wartime alliances. Lynne Olson draws on primary sources to reveal how these men influenced U.S. support for Britain, showcasing their determination to combat Hitler and the emotional stakes involved in their missions.

Acclaimed as a New York Times bestseller and recognized as one of the year's best by notable reviews, this book captures readers with its compelling narrative and rich themes. It offers an engaging exploration of its characters and the intricacies of their experiences, making it a must-read for those seeking depth and insight in contemporary literature.

In May 1940, Britain was at war with Germany and Neville Chamberlain was Prime Minister, struggling with a poorly prepared defence against Hitler. This book presents an account of how some troublesome young men risked political suicide and vilification as traitors, and paved the way for Winston Churchill to step in as Britain's saviour.

A Mail on Sundaybook of the year. In 1940, Europe was on the brink of collapse. Country after country had fallen to the Nazis, and Britain was known as 'Last Hope Island', where Europeans from the captive nations gathered to continue the war effort. In this epic, character-driven narrative, acclaimed historian and New York Times-bestselling author Lynne Olson takes us back to those perilous days when the British and their European guests joined forces to combat the mightiest military force in history. From the Polish and French code breakers who helped crack Enigma, to the Czech pilots who protected London during German bombings, Olson tells the stories of the courageous men and women who came together to defeat Hitler and save Europe.

Highly dramatic, character-driven history that will attract Olson's loyal readers and appeal to fans of Eric Larson, Ben Macintyre, and other notable authors of World War II historical espionage. The 75th anniversary of D-Day is in June 2019, and Fourcade's spy network was a key element in providing the Allies with intelligence to prepare for the landings. First book in English ever written about Marie-Madeleine Fourcade aside from her memoir, published in 1974.

According to Sir Archibald Sinclair, Britain's wartime air force minister, without the Polish pilots 'our shortage of trained pilots would have made it impossible to defeat the German air force and so win the Battle'. This volume focuses on a small group of five of them, from success to betrayal. Originally published: London: Heinemann, 2003.

The riveting story of a true-life female Indiana Jones: an archaeologist who survived the Nazis and then saved Egypt's ancient temples. In the 1960s, the world's attention was focused on a nail-biting race against time: fifty countries had contributed nearly a billion dollars to save a dozen ancient Egyptian temples from drowning in the floodwaters of the gigantic new Aswan High Dam. It was a project of unimaginable size and complexity that required the fragile sandstone temples to be dismantled, stone by stone, and rebuilt on higher ground. But the massive press coverage of this unprecedented rescue effort completely overlooked the gutsy French archaeologist who made it all happen. Without the intervention of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, the temples would now be at the bottom of a gigantic reservoir. Desroches-Noblecourt refused to be cowed by anyone or anything. As a brave member of the French Resistance in World War II, she had survived imprisonment by the Nazis. Now, in her fight to save the temples, she had to face down two of the most daunting leaders of the postwar world: Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and French president Charles de Gaulle. After a century and a half of Western plunder of Egypt's ancient monuments, Desroches-Noblecourt helped preserve a crucial part of its cultural heritage, and, just as importantly, made sure it remained in its homeland.