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The General's Women

Susan Wittig Albert (Goodreads Author)

4.04 · Rating details · 445 Ratings · 111 Reviews

Set during the chaotic years of World War II, The General's Women tells the story of the conflicted relationship between General Dwight Eisenhower and Kay Summersby, his Irish driver/aide, and the impact of that relationship on Mamie Eisenhower and her life in Washington during the war. Told from three alternating points of view (Kay's, Ike's, and Mamie's), the novel chart ...more

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Published March 7th 2017 by Persevero Press

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Jan 13, 2017 Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2017

I wanted to read this book ever since I read that Susan Wittig Albert was writing a book about Dwight Eisenhower and Kay Summersby. I have previously read Loving Eleanor and A Wilder Rose by the author and I love how she can write about real life people and making them come alive and I'm happy to say that she has once again managed to do that with The General's Women.

It's not only the people that she manages to portray in an authentic way, Wittig Albert has a knack for writing about the time and ...more

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Feb 09, 2017 Jennie Rosenblum rated it really liked it

Told from three points of view this is a well researched book of the relationships between Eisenhower and his wife and Eisenhower and his driver/lover. It is right on the edge of non-fiction with all the facts, people and historical events that are so elegantly told in this book. I have to admit that I am a bit of a history buff and this book totally fit that need without some of the dryness you read in a lot of non-fiction or the unbelievability to see in some historical fiction. I was slightly ...more

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Mar 08, 2017 Brenda rated it it was amazing

My favorite genre is historical fiction, I love that I can learn history without all the dry facts that tend to bog down history books. This book written by Susan Wittig Albert was an exceptional read. I hate to admit that I have not read any books by this author, but I now have her on my radar.

This story about Eisenhower and Kay Summersby is told in three voices, Ike, Kay and Mamie. These three different perspectives adds diversity and context to the story. Susan's account of the war zone, staf ...more

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Aug 10, 2017 Erin Al-Mehairi rated it really liked it

Susan Wittig Albert’s books are always a pleasure to read and I had really enjoyed A Wilder Rose a few years back, which was about the writing of the Little House books. The General’s Women sounded interesting to me, since it featured the two loves of General Eisenhower and I love war time stories, which is the setting, so I dove in once I received my complimentary review copy in the mail.

Susan, of course, conducts such an enormous amount of research for her books and with this one it was obviou Susan Wittig Albert’s books are always a pleasure to read and I had really enjoyed A Wilder Rose a few years back, which was about the writing of the Little House books. The General’s Women sounded interesting to me, since it featured the two loves of General Eisenhower and I love war time stories, which is the setting, so I dove in once I received my complimentary review copy in the mail.

Susan, of course, conducts such an enormous amount of research for her books and with this one it was obvious she endeavored no less utilizing real letters, diaries, news clippings from the characters. As readers, we learn a lot about Eisenhower, his part in World War II, and even some of the jobs of women in WWII, such as that of his love interest, fashion model Kay Summersby. She was assigned to drive General Eisenhower, but as even most scholars in the nation know, became one of his dearest confidantes about the war and not only his mistress. His wife, Maime, is back on the home front dealing with her own issues as well as his own, not to mention the gossip of Kay.

Susan pieces together the story, starting with when Kay was assigned to drive Eisenhower, and shows us the dynamic of these three. It’s not a tawdy love triangle she writes, however, but one fraught with dignity, respect for each character from history, and compassion. Sympathy for each of them grace the pages of her well-told story while giving Kay also her due from an historical perspective for all she helped Ike accomplish during the war.

Each other sub-character in this dramatic novel is intricately created and woven in as well as description and detail of time and place that immerses us as readers so we can have a full experience. Susan is known for memoirs and non-fiction as well, which lends itself to this book as the main characters are real people, but she also writes in a way that leads us through the pages enthralled in the story, far from something we might read only for information. It’s pleasurable to turn the pages, but yet we gain knowledge as we do not only about his relationship with the women in his life, but about his pursuits in WWII.

Historical fiction lovers, especially those interested in tales from WWII, should pick up this book for its dramatic intensity and realness. You’ll feel like you stepped off a plane into the time period and have a bird’s eye view. Thanks to Susan for giving us another gripping read. Highly recommended! ...more

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Aug 16, 2017 Donnell rated it it was amazing

Since I have this longing to have been a uniformed WAC in the center of things in Europe during WWII, reading this book helped me to live out that fantasy. Then add the fantasy of an intense romance with the guy in charge of EVERYTHING--and we are over the top.

Notable to me is the way the General had his "family" during the War, so similar to the way Washington had his family during the Revolution. Martha, of course, wisely made sure she was often part of that family. Mamie, in contrast, stayed Since I have this longing to have been a uniformed WAC in the center of things in Europe during WWII, reading this book helped me to live out that fantasy. Then add the fantasy of an intense romance with the guy in charge of EVERYTHING--and we are over the top.

Notable to me is the way the General had his "family" during the War, so similar to the way Washington had his family during the Revolution. Martha, of course, wisely made sure she was often part of that family. Mamie, in contrast, stayed away.

Biggest takeaway from this: Kay Summersby was one of the most important soldiers of the War. Not only did she do an abundance of needed, quality work for the man in charge--including driving his car under fire, and especially when coupled with her ambulance runs during the Blitz--and she deserves being honored just for that. When you add in the fact that she basically kept the General sane so he could do the job he needed to do--she becomes one of the indispensables. Yet she was air brushed out of history.

Meanwhile, back in Washington, Mamie spends the war hiding in her apartment and drinking. Yet she gets the general, the ticker tape parades and the White House afterwards.

This whole scenario puts a light on the economic situation where men were pressured to marry and stay married because they offered women pretty much their only career path if they wished to have children. At the same time, it highlights how having an heterosexual affair, especially if one was an important person who was married, meant needing to be more secretive than Caitlyn Jenner ultimately had to be.

Something else is going on here. Pretty incredible the way, when Kay's tell-all Past Forgetting was in the works, the Eisenhower family wanted the General to be impotent--basically to protect Mamie's image as a not-cuckoled wife. Personally, she does not deserve the General having his image as a robust leader of men, and the world, besmirched in this way so Mamie can look better. The whole thinking too, ignores the fact, that even if it was true, and no actual intercourse took place--all that took pace: the physical trying, the emotional and intellectual closeness--was just as "bad" if one wants to be judgmental.

It's almost as if the family takes a lion and wants to turn him into a gelded kitty cat. He deserved better.

In a way, the General's return from the war to a conventional, 1950's life, was a model for what all the warriors were supposed to do. I can see that, after the incredible dangers and adventures that had been faced, many men would have been happy to slip into 1950's conventionality, at least for a time. But from the General's life we can see that this ignoring of all that had gone on during the war and the need to conform to an almost Victorian code upon return, could be almost like a burying alive.

Its probably the author's intention, but you come away from the book just disgusted with, and resentful of, Mamie. Here's a woman who stopped having sex with her husband years earlier and then expected him to save the world as a celibate. At the same time you see the deep, rich, loving relationship he has with Kay and you feel not only is Mamie wrong but so are all the stuffy institutions that side with her. ...more

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Feb 18, 2017 Linda Zagon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association(BPA) for the ARC of "The General's Women" by Susan Wittig Albert, for my honest review. "The genre of "The General's Women" is historical fiction.
The author writes about General Dwight Eisenhower during the timeline of World War Two when American entered the war, with England, and Europe. I find that the author describes General Dwight Eisenhower as dedicated, hardworking, an organizer, and a planner. The General is I would like to thank NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association(BPA) for the ARC of "The General's Women" by Susan Wittig Albert, for my honest review. "The genre of "The General's Women" is historical fiction.
The author writes about General Dwight Eisenhower during the timeline of World War Two when American entered the war, with England, and Europe. I find that the author describes General Dwight Eisenhower as dedicated, hardworking, an organizer, and a planner. The General is very stressed and to alleviate it, likes to play golf, bridge. ride horses and loves dogs.
The author in setting the story introduces us to Kay Summersby, an Irish volunteer driver in London, who is assigned to drive Eisenhower around. Kay Summersby at the time is getting divorced and planning to marry an American, who is also getting a divorce. Kay has driven ambulances during the bombings in London, and is adept in driving in darkened damaged streets. Dwight becomes dependent on Kay's ability as a driver, and enjoys her company.
The author also describes Mamie Eisenhower,who is in Washington as a jealous, overbearing, insecure and manipulating wife. Mamie is portrayed as constantly tired and at times is physically weak. Mamie is proud of her husband, but really isn't involved with the wartime secrets. Mamie is extremely jealous.
Eisenhower and Kay become friends, and companions. Dwight is always busy, but when he has free time, he rides horses, or plays bridge with Kay. Kay becomes more than a driver and assists in the offices,responding to certain letters, and setting up activities for the men.
When Mamie sees a picture in Life Magazine of Dwight with his team, Kay included, she is furious. Mamie's social circle of friends constantly add to Mamie's frustration.
Susan Wittig Albert describes Eisenhower and Kay's friendship to more like an "affair" during this time. She bases this on" "Kay's Memoirs","Ikes" letters", and fellow officers wartime diaries",as well as news clippings."
We do know that after the war Eisenhower becomes president and is with Mamie. I did enjoy this novel of" The General's Women" and would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction. ...more

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Aug 03, 2017 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, fiction, historical-fiction

"The General's Women" is the story of Dwight D. Eisenhower, world class general (and later President of the United States) and his relationship and subsequent affair with his driver at the height of World War II, Kay Summersby. This is a fascinating story that I don't think that I have ever heard before. I feel like most of what I know about Eisenhower is very much limited to his military career and his career as President, as well as his life in Gettysburg after retirement (I grew up about 30 m "The General's Women" is the story of Dwight D. Eisenhower, world class general (and later President of the United States) and his relationship and subsequent affair with his driver at the height of World War II, Kay Summersby. This is a fascinating story that I don't think that I have ever heard before. I feel like most of what I know about Eisenhower is very much limited to his military career and his career as President, as well as his life in Gettysburg after retirement (I grew up about 30 minutes south of Gettysburg). I love historical fiction that can inform, enlighten, and entertain. This book does all three quite well!

I don't know about you but I think of Eisenhower as being a pretty serious guy, especially during World War II where the movement and success of American troops lay heavily on his shoulders. As this book shows, he had a deeply personal side and a bit of a passionate side as well. I love when history is turned on it's head and really appreciated how the author was able to show this side of Eisenhower. I feel like he became more real to me, flaws and all, after reading this book.

Eisenhower loved his wife, Mamie, and appreciated the role that she played as a partner, mother of his children, and military wife but he often got frustrated with her (understandable; Mamie does seem a bit high maintenance to me to say the least). I loved that the author included Mamie's POV in this book. We see the struggles that she and Ike had in their marriages and how they pushed an pulled with regard to power in many ways. Kay is the opposite of Mamie in many ways. She is down to earth. She is committed to her job. She seems calmer and more steady even with all of the chaos that is going on around her.

I found the Author's Note in the book fascinating too. Even though Kay seemed content in quietly carrying on her relationship with Ike, she does eventually write a memoir. The motivation for why she does this is fascinating to me! I'd love to find a copy of her memoirs. Overall, this is a fascinating portrait of the more personal side of one of our great military men. ...more

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Apr 27, 2018 Debbie rated it it was amazing

This book was SO interesting. I enjoy all of Susan Wittig Albert's books and this was really a good read. I never had heard this story, but I'm glad I saw it at the library. I brought it home, my hubby saw and picked it up and read it in 3 days....he will tell you eh doesn't like to read.....right.

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Apr 07, 2017 Rebecca rated it liked it

The General's Women is a very readable introduction to the lives and careers of Kay Summersby and Mamie Eisenhower, and through them to the wartime experiences of many women. Susan Wittig Albert did her research; her descriptions of London and Tangiers are believable and rich with detail.

If this book had been sold as a biography I probably would have rated it higher. Unfortunately, it was not factual enough to be labeled biography and not quite entertaining enough to make a good novel. The voice ...more

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May 07, 2017 Susan rated it liked it

Changed my rating from four stars to three when I remembered the many days when I did not pick up this book about Eisenhower's marriage to Mamie and relationship with Kay Summersby, his driver during World War II. Despite her extensive research, Susan Wittig Albert has written a novel rather than a work of nonfiction. I found myself frustrated by not knowing which parts were fiction and which were fact.

Yes, many of the details about locations and dates are fact, and the conversations are probabl ...more

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Mar 21, 2017 Lori Walker rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have been reading Susan Wittig Albert books for many years with great enjoyment. I love her mystery series, but these historical biographical novels are quickly becoming favorites as well. She clearly puts a lot of research into her books, and writes with a style that is easy to read and understand. She takes a situation that might not be something we would be interested in reading about and turns it into something great. The General's Women is about Eisenhower, and I was glad she didn't go st ...more

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Sep 05, 2017 Mystica rated it it was amazing

This was a book which combined the best of many genres. History in great descriptive detail and then the person behind the great character - his life, loves and the women he fell in love with.

General Ike Eisenhower was a character. Leading from the front, he was successful combining the Allied forces with American troops to halt the German Nazi tide in Europe. Success came to him slowly. Very slowly. For sixteen years he languished almost forgotten and then the rise and the promotions came very ...more

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Jun 05, 2018 Joy Rosynek rated it really liked it

This is a fictionalized account of the relationship between Dwight Eisenhower, his wife, Mamie and his driver, Kay Summersby. Thoroughly researched and very believable, the intimate and intense love affair that occurred during the second World War and the choices that Eisenhower and others made for him that lead to the White House. Of interest is the cover up of the story that Kay tries to tell before her death and what is intimated in other people's memoirs, such as Truman's and Bradley's. At t ...more

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Aug 10, 2017 Willie Latane rated it really liked it

True the author of historical novels has license with the material they write about. I appreciated the material at the end of the book which listed what was true and what was not. That helped me understand it better. It was a good book. I just wish that the ending has been different. Kay Summersby would have made a hell of a first lady!!

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Aug 17, 2017 Karen rated it it was amazing

Really loved this book! Enjoyed reading every minute!❤❤❤❤ ...more

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Oct 21, 2017 Debby rated it liked it

WWII story about Eisenhower and his Irish assistant, Kay Summersby. Lots of insight into the daily life of the Supreme Commander, and his "Official Staff Family". Talks about the the British Blitz, the plywood villages set up to distract the Germans, buzz bombs, the stark difference of WWII in America where not much was impacted to the stark deprivation of people living in the war zone. Also mentions that for some "lusting" after a woman is equal to intercourse with a woman.

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Aug 22, 2017 Steve rated it liked it

This book goes on.....................and on..............and on........................

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Mar 11, 2017 Gloria rated it really liked it

An easy to read, exceptionally enjoyable book that engages one from beginning to end.
Susan Wittig Albert does such an excellent job with historical fiction. She imparts a feeling
for the period and provides a great number of very accurate historical facts. This is the story of Dwight Eisenhower, Kay Summersby, and Mamie Eisenhower with others of Eisenhower's women alluded to in the book. While reading the book, I had great sympathy for Kay though the relationship was obviously doomed from the s ...more

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Apr 06, 2017 Lucy Meeker rated it it was amazing

Shelves: war, world-war-2, novel, history, american-history, american-literature, fiction, historical-fiction, adult-fiction

I found the subject matter of this book to be very fascinating. An engaging story with great characters that are captivating and a must-read for any history lover.

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Mar 01, 2017 Deborah Crain rated it it was amazing

I am a big fan of Susan Wittig Albert, and have enjoyed all of her historic fiction books on Laura Ingalls Wilder, Eleanor Roosevelt and now The General's Women. This is a well written, compelling read about the relationship between Dwight Eisenhower, Kay Summersby and Mamie Eisenhower during WWII. You are cheering for Ike and Kay during the war, when he is facing challenge after challenge in defeating Hitler. Kay is his touchstone, who keeps Ike on an even keel, and able to continue leading und ...more

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Mar 10, 2017 erica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was yet another stellar book from the author. I am loving this series of historical fiction. Interesting, well written, and clearly carefully researched. Now I wish I had the chance to meet Ike and Kay. I think I would have liked them. Thumbs up!

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Feb 19, 2017 Janilyn Kocher rated it it was amazing

Reading The General's Women is like using a knife through soft butter, it's effortless and it spreads smoothly. The story is about General Eisenhower and Kay Summersby and their relationship during World War II. Albert's depiction is realistic and poignant. It was a relationship that lived on borrowed time, intense as it happened, but doomed to endure. The author has a very thorough epilogue followed with a synopsis of her research. Albert sheds light on the rocky path of revisions Summersby's t ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Annette rated it liked it

Source: Free paperback copy from Susan Wittig Albert.
Rating: Good.
My Thoughts:
The Generals’ Women is a work of fiction. When I began reading the book, I had to remind myself this is a fiction piece. As big of a historical figure as Dwight D. Eisenhower, it is easy to become wrapped up in the story believing this is a biography.
In the past, I’ve read several nonfiction books on Eisenhower as the central figure or as apart of the World War II story. The General’s Women is not a strong military sto Source: Free paperback copy from Susan Wittig Albert.
Rating: Good.
My Thoughts:
The Generals’ Women is a work of fiction. When I began reading the book, I had to remind myself this is a fiction piece. As big of a historical figure as Dwight D. Eisenhower, it is easy to become wrapped up in the story believing this is a biography.
In the past, I’ve read several nonfiction books on Eisenhower as the central figure or as apart of the World War II story. The General’s Women is not a strong military story. References are made to the battles and the advancement of the war. Meetings Eisenhower attended with ambassadors, heads of state, generals and other military are mentioned.
The story’s emphasis is on the relationship Eisenhower had with his driver, Kay Summersby. Mamie Eisenhower, back at home in America is apart of the story but not a strong part. She seemed more like a secondary character. The spotlight is on Eisenhower and Kay.
I was glad, Susan Wittig Albert, documented her research on the people discussed in the book in the “Author’s Note.” Mamie Eisenhower’s granddaughter wrote a biography on Mamie, as well as a few other sources were studied. Kay Summersby wrote a memoir and this is utilized.
Even thought Albert explains what is fictionalized in the story. I want to mention my feelings on how I feel about historical figures who are written about in a book. It is a guess as to what are people’s motives, feelings, and thoughts. Husbands and wives who have been together many years, parents who are close to their children, and best friends don’t know everything about each other. Only the individual and God know the true self behind the flesh. Maybe Eisenhower deeply loved Kay Summersby or cared for her or it was a wartime romance. During a time of war, sexual relationships between people happen. Afterwards, on reflection, that is when a person can adequately make a judgment about what happened.
The General’s Women is an interesting and entertaining story. It personalizes the military figure of Eisenhower. He is shown as the human with emotions behind the military uniform.
I have empathy for both Eisenhower and Kay. Both people spent time together during a war. They depended on one another. They had chemistry. They developed feelings. But the relationship did not last.
I have lived long enough (age 53) that I have heard several stories from people who loved a person but the relationship did not continue. They ended up marrying another person. They spent the rest of their life remembering that great love. It is sad. But this is the reality of life. There really is no happily ever after. ...more

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Mar 10, 2018 CC rated it really liked it

As a lover of both biography and historical fiction, I was incredibly interested to read this account of the love affair between Dwight D. Eisenhower and Kay Summersby. Known the world over as a stoic, modest leader it humanizes the former president in a way that many accounts cannot. The author has clearly worked tirelessly to research not only Mrs. Summersby's life, but also her final days to try and bring as much of the truth to light as possible despite the lengths that history has gone to b As a lover of both biography and historical fiction, I was incredibly interested to read this account of the love affair between Dwight D. Eisenhower and Kay Summersby. Known the world over as a stoic, modest leader it humanizes the former president in a way that many accounts cannot. The author has clearly worked tirelessly to research not only Mrs. Summersby's life, but also her final days to try and bring as much of the truth to light as possible despite the lengths that history has gone to bury her and her story. Susan Wittig Albert's passion for her subject matter is, in a word, infectious. I was wrapped up in this tale almost immediately.

A major disappointment for me though, were the chapters on Mamie Eisenhower. The narrative, switching between perspectives of the General and Kay, then putting us with Mamie during the same time frame, would have been sound but it quickly became apparent that not much is known, or at least proven, about Mrs. Eisenhower during that time. Some chapters simply repeat most of what we've just learned about Ike and Kay from the chapter preceding it, turns of phrase and all. The repetition in describing these character actions and interactions can be tedious as an obvious bid to pad out the text. I do understand though, from reading the extensive Author's Notes at the end of the book, that beyond the accepted public persona, information about what Mamie really got up to is closely guarded by the Eisenhower family and in fact none of her own letters to her husband were ever published. The truth about how Mamie felt about these years may never be known, and certainly whatever she said to her husband is shielded from history. I suppose I just think if this is the case that the book may have been better served not using Mamie as such a central character, as there was plenty of interesting material about the General himself, his aide, and their extended 'family'. Mamie's chapters by comparison are very weak with the obvious lack of concrete information to rely on, and momentum is lost.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it made me incredibly sympathetic towards Kay, a brave woman who fought so hard and gave up so much. It's wonderful that her story, her real story with the man she seemed to truly love right to the end of her life, is finally told. ...more

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Nov 16, 2017 Audrey Campbell rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this book, but agree with one reviewer that it went on and on and on. I felt that the author was in total sympathy with Kay over Mamie. It felt to me that once in a while she would realize that she hadn't presented anything about Mamie for a while, and would hurriedly put in some details.

Mamie is presented here as a weak, flighty person by someone who never met her. If you read J. B. West's Upstairs at the White House and his account of Mamie as the president's wife, she sounds like a ...more

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Oct 10, 2017 Andie rated it liked it · review of another edition

The story of Kay Summersby's relationship with General Dwight Eisenhower during World War II has been something often whispered about, but rarely spoken of openly, so it is nice to see Susan Wittig Albert treat her subject with both compassion and affection.

Kay Summersby was coming off a very bad marriage when she was assigned to be the driver for the new American general who was quickly moving up in rank and who was destined to be the Supreme Commander for the Allied forces in the European thea ...more

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Sep 21, 2017 Terry rated it it was amazing

I chose this book because I have enjoyed Susan Wittig Albert's "China Bayles" and "Beatrix Potter" series over the years and also very much enjoyed her historical fiction novel "Loving Eleanor" about Eleanor Roosevelt. It is only in recent years--after I passed the half-century mark--that I've become more interested in history. And in the words of Ms. Albert herself: "If this fictional work leads you to want to explore the real lives of these real people further....that is my reward"; I would ha ...more

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Aug 11, 2017 Ed rated it really liked it

Shelves: great-britain, historical, military

Historical fiction account of the relationship between Gen. Eisenhower and his Irish driver Kay Summersby during WWII. Follows the progress of WWII in Europe from 1942-5 and is absorbing though at times it seems to drag. Eisenhower seems inarticulately taken with Kay and she seems to adore him. For the longest time it had a medieval, chivalrous feel of love without touching, taking place with glances and feelings. Meanwhile, Mamie Eisenhower is shown to be a self-absorbed, jealous woman in Washi ...more

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May 20, 2017 Helen rated it liked it

As the United States enters WWII and two star general Dwight Eisenhower is sent to England, he is assigned a young British (actually Irish) driver, Kay Summersby. That is the beginning of a romance, an affair or just extreme friendship depending on what you interpret from existing documents, memoirs, etc. Essentially this is the story of Eisenhower, commanding and forceful and Summersby, Irish and beautiful (though having seen photos of her, I would say she is striking but not beautiful, but tha ...more

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Feb 04, 2018 Barbara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Well written, and interesting. Interesting both from a historical perspective but also from an emotional one. I liked the epilogue where the author talks about her sources and about which events and conversations are speculation. Sometimes the reading is like reading a series of news events or daily journal entries and a little bumpy. I also thought that the stream of consciousness of, and emotional responses by, Kay’s character were pretty simple and one dimensional. It almost felt as though th ...more

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About Susan Wittig Albert

Susan Wittig Albert

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Susan is the author/co-author of biographical/historical fiction, mysteries, and nonfiction.

THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE, #26 in the China Bayles series

THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that could have derailed a presidency.

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