The Kennedys - Amidst the Gathering Storm

I very much enjoyed reading this historical account The Kennedys - Amidst the Gathering Storm - A Thousand Days in London 1938-1940 by Will Swift which concerns Joe Kennedy's ambassadorship in London from 1938-1940.  It provides an insight into the political machinations of the time when Britain and the USA were desperate to prevent another war, while Hitler continued to push the boundaries (literally) in countries adjacent to Germany.  Kennedy is shown to have had a testy relationship with President Roosevelt who seems to have made Kennedy ambassador to prevent his challenging him in the 1940 election.  Kennedy's relationship with the President deteriorated the longer he was in the job as he left Kennedy out of major discussions. Initially most of the Kennedy family, then later all of them joined him in London and enjoyed the "social scene".  However, when war was finally declared Joe was left alone in London and endured the Blitz.  It is a very well-written portrait of a man with a pivotal role in history.  The story of the lead-up to the war was fascinating.  This book is for lovers of history and gives a different perspective of that time. 5/5