A groundbreaking account of how Britain became the base of operations for the exiled leaders of Europe in their desperate struggle to reclaim their continent from Hitler, from the New York Times bestselling author of Citizens of London and Those Angry Days When the Nazi blitzkrieg rolled over continental Europe in the early days of World War II, the city of London became a refuge for the … London became a refuge for the governments and armed forces of six occupied nations who escaped there to continue the fight. So, too, did General Charles de Gaulle, the self-appointed representative of free France.
As the only European democracy still holding out against Hitler, Britain became known to occupied countries as “Last Hope Island.” Getting there, one young emigré declared, was “like getting to heaven.”
In this epic, character-driven narrative, acclaimed historian 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. Here we meet the courageous King Haakon of Norway, whose distinctive “H7” monogram became a symbol of his country’s resistance to Nazi rule, and his fiery Dutch counterpart, Queen Wilhelmina, whose antifascist radio broadcasts rallied the spirits of her defeated people. Here, too, is the Earl of Suffolk, a swashbuckling British aristocrat whose rescue of two nuclear physicists from France helped make the Manhattan Project possible.
Last Hope Island also recounts some of the Europeans’ heretofore unsung exploits that helped tilt the balance against the Axis: the crucial efforts of Polish pilots during the Battle of Britain; the vital role played by French and Polish code breakers in cracking the Germans’ reputedly indecipherable Enigma code; and the flood of top-secret intelligence about German operations—gathered by spies throughout occupied Europe—that helped ensure the success of the 1944 Allied invasion.
A fascinating companion to Citizens of London, Olson’s bestselling chronicle of the Anglo-American alliance, Last Hope Island recalls with vivid humanity that brief moment in time when the peoples of Europe stood together in their effort to roll back the tide of conquest and restore order to a broken continent.
Praise for Last Hope Island
“In Last Hope Island [Lynne Olson] argues an arresting new thesis: that the people of occupied Europe and the expatriate leaders did far more for their own liberation than historians and the public alike recognize. . . . The scale of the organization she describes is breathtaking.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Last Hope Island is a book to be welcomed, both for the past it recovers and also, quite simply, for being such a pleasant tome to read.”—The Washington Post
“[A] pointed volume . . . [Olson] tells a great story and has a fine eye for character.”—The Boston Globe
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One of the best books on World War II I have ever read
This was an amazingly interesting book, one of the most interesting I’ve read about WWII. It has parts that are funny (if you don’t let yourself think about what the consequences were for the hapless agents involved) and parts that are so sad that I had tears in my eyes. This book, unlike pretty much any other book I’ve read on the subject, is very much about the smaller countries allied with Britain – Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, and Poland as well as France. The reader does a great job.
Partly about refugees from the Nazis and partly about the politics and military efforts of governments in exile during WWII. Well researched and well written, a good addition to the WWII literature.
For those who like WWII books, this is a must read. I have read many on this subject. However, this book offered a much different perspective on the subject.
I have read a few books about England and WWII. This is at the top of the list. True stories about England and its WWII allies and how they were really good or really bad at supporting them. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Last Hope Island is an historical account of WWII Britain and the Allies who sought refuge there for their governments in exile. It is among other things a tragic story of betrayal by Roosevelt and Churchill as well as some of their generals for short term perceived advantages. The loss of Poland and Czechoslovakia to the Soviet Union for the sake of politics at the cost of thousands of lives is brought out and explained.
Little-known aspects of early WWII from a non-American point of view. It is humbling to consider all the pieces that fell into place to allow the Allies to win, and the heartbreaking loss of life.
This book had great information about little known political and military action during World War II. I have read many, many numbers of books about WW II and had never run across this information. Very interesting read.
I learned so much by reading this book. The part played by the exiled countries in WWII was much larger than I realized. The war would not have been won without the Czechs and Polish soldiers and those two countries were not rewarded for their efforts at all. Lost some admiration for both Roosevelt and Churchill.
Excellent history of exiled leaders in London during WWII. Written like a novel.
WW 11 explained and examined warts and all. Facinating original origins of the BBC. Left me gasping at times. So much is coming out now that restrictions have been lifted. So many stories. I can’t praise this book enough. Any interest in WW11 then get this book. Well researched. I know, I was there for some of it……..M
I read World War Two books quite often and they can get repeative but I found this book to be very interesting.
Adds to your knowledge of the last century and events and conditions world wide now. Credits Lynn Olsen with much information. Excellent
This is a different perspective and I learned a bit but it got bogged down in places and there was too much back and forth to really get any kind of in-depth knowledge.
the author has a great way to bring out new details. this was well researched.