Kingmaker

Pamela Churchill Harriman's astonishing life of seduction, intrigue and power, from the bestselling author of A Woman of No Importance

By: Sonia Purnell

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Paperback | 29 July 2025 | Edition Number 1

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528 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.7 x 13.0 x 3.5

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An electrifying re-examination of one of the twentieth century's greatest unsung power players, from the bestselling author of A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE TELEGRAPH, ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN, MAIL ON SUNDAY, DAILY EXPRESS, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, SPECTATOR, IRISH EXAMINER, LONDON STANDARD, NEW YORKER, POLITICO, APPLE BOOKS, TOWN & COUNTRY and OLDIE

During Pamela Churchill Harriman's life and even after her death, in 1997, her glamorous social life and infamous erotic adventures overshadowed her true accomplishments. She was one of the most powerful women of the 20th century and there is practically no-one in 20th century politics, culture and fashion whose lives she did not touch: from her father-in-law Winston Churchill, to the Kennedys and Gloria Steinem, to Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. Now, for the first time and with a wealth of fresh research, Sonia Purnell unveils the spectacular story of how Harriman left an indelible mark on the world today.

About the Author

Sonia Purnell is a prize-winning and bestselling biographer, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Her latest work Kingmaker: Pamela Churchill Harriman's astonishing life of seduction, power & intrigue, was published to huge media acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. Purnell is interested in setting the record straight on twentieth-century women whose lives have been overlooked, misrepresented or misunderstood by history, works that led to her recently being described as 'one of the most accomplished biographers of our time' (Liza Mundy). Her work on Virginia Hall, A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of Virginia Hall, WWII's Most Dangerous Spy, won the 2020 Plutarch Award for Best Biography and was a New York Times bestseller. Her book First Lady: The Life and Wars of Clementine Churchill was a book of the year in the Daily Telegraph and Independent, and was shortlisted for the Plutarch Award for Best Biography. Her first book, Just Boris: A Tale of Blond Ambition, was longlisted for the Orwell prize.

Industry Reviews

'Supremely enjoyable . . . With a historian's eye for rigour, a journalist's for detail and a storyteller's for drama' - FINANCIAL TIMES

'A page turner that matches her subject in verve and ambition . . . Tremendous' - IRISH EXAMINER

'A wonderfully racy romp [and] a gripping biography of a brave, ambitious woman' - DAILY MAIL

'Everyone I know on both sides of the Atlantic seems to be devouring Kingmaker' - TINA BROWN

'An incredible story, beautifully told, of a remarkable woman whose political influence spanned Churchill to Clinton. Quite a woman, quite a read' - ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

'Superb and fascinating. I can't recommend it more' - LADY ANNE GLENCONNER, bestselling author of Lady in Waiting

'Rigorous but rollicking' - NEW YORK TIMES

'Fascinating and revelatory. A triumph' - WILLIAM BOYD

'As compelling as its subject' - TLS

' Riveting and revelatory' - THE NEW YORKER

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