Lynne Olson

Author Event: Lynne Olson
Troublesome Young Men:
The Rebels Who Brought Churchill to Power and Helped Save England
September 18, 2007

On September 18, 2007, the Eisenhower Institute welcomed noted writer and historian Lynne Olson to its Washington, DC office to discuss her newly released book Troublesome Young Men: The Rebels Who Brought Churchill to Power and Helped Save England.

Her book chronicles the story of the Tory 'rebels,' the "daring politicians who challenged the disastrous policies of the British government on the eve of World War II."  The story is set against the backdrop of late 1930s Europe as Hitler's Nazi empire continues to expand across the continent.  Widespread public unrest in Britain and the threat of destruction of basic civil liberties, coupled with Britain's poor preparedness to confront Hitler, roused politicians - namely Harold Macmillan, Robert Boothby, Leo Amery, Ronald Cartland, and Lord Robert Cranborne - to revolt against Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and to elevate Winston Churchill as the nation's new wartime leader. 

Olson's presentation offered attendees an inside look at Troublesome Young Men, including her inspiration for writing the book and why she feels these "troublesome young men" are often ignored in the history books. According to Olson, their story is neglected because Churchill was such a monumental political figure that his rise to power was unopposed and inevitable. Troublesome Young Men dispels that myth and presents a compelling account of the political courage that brought Churchill to power and changed the course of history.  Following the presentation, a reception and book signing was held.

Olson and her husband, Stanley Cloud, are co-authors of two books on World War II.  Additionally, Olson wrote the first comprehensive history of women in the civil rights movement in 2002.

Olson began her writing career in 1971 as an Associated Press reporter in Salt Lake City.  Three years later, she was assigned as a correspondent to Moscow, Russia, writing feature articles and covering such events as President Nixon's visit to the Soviet Union and the Apollo-Soyuz space mission.  Following her stint in the Soviet Union, Olson served as a White House correspondent for the Baltimore Sun during the Carter Administration.  Later, she became a free lance writer and a journalism professor.