The Stalin Affair: The Impossible Alliance that Won the War
Impossible Alliance: The Stalin Affair by Giles Milton recounts the Allies’ effort to keep the Soviet Union in the war and the uneasy wartime relationship with Stalin. The listing describes a narrative built from diaries, letters and secret reports, spanning diplomacy in Moscow and the coalition’s post-war tensions.
At a glance
- Covers the 1941 Allied effort to keep the Red Army in the war, focusing on diplomacy with Stalin in Moscow.
- The listing says the narrative draws on diaries, letters and secret reports.
- Follows figures including Averell Harriman, Kathy Harriman, Archie Clark Kerr and Winston Churchill.
Often bought together
Pros and cons
Pros
- A focused account of wartime diplomacy and the unusual Anglo-American-Soviet alliance.
- Personal anecdotes and a distinctive historical perspective are highlighted in customer feedback.
Technical specifications
9 specifications| Publisher | John Murray |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 9 September 2025 |
| Edition | 1st |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 384 pages |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1529398557 |
| ISBN-10 | 152939855X |
| Weight listed | 266 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.8 x 3.4 x 19.6 cm |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers interested in Second World War diplomacy and relations between the Allies and the Soviet Union.
- Readers who enjoy narrative history centred on historical figures, personal accounts and archival material.
Less suited to
- Readers seeking a broad military campaign history rather than a diplomacy-focused account.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
72% 72% - 4 stars
23% 23% - 3 stars
5% 5% - 2 stars
0% 0% - 1 star
0% 0%
Customer feedback describes the book as informative, with personal anecdotes, an engaging writing style and a distinctive view of historical events. The aggregate ratings are largely favourable, though ratings alone do not establish why readers responded as they did. For readers interested in wartime diplomacy, the reported strengths align with the book’s focus on personal accounts and Allied negotiations.
Positive themes
- Customer feedback highlights informative content and abundant personal anecdotes.
- The writing style and historical perspective are also praised in the supplied feedback.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Stalin Affair about?
The listing describes the Allies’ diplomatic mission to Moscow in 1941 to keep the Soviet Union fighting Germany, and the tensions surrounding their coalition with Stalin.
What sources does the book say it uses?
The publisher’s description says the book draws on diaries, letters and secret reports.
How long is the book?
The listing gives a print length of 384 pages.
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