Spanning the Century: The Life of W. Averell Harriman, 1891-1986 (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Short-tempered, humorless, intolerant and not especially articulate, Harriman nevertheless made himself useful to several presidents as an expediter, fixer and diplomat. Best remembered as FDR's wartime emissary to Churchill and Stalin, he went on to serve as secretary of commerce under Truman and roving ambassador under Kennedy and Johnson. He was governor of New York from 1954 to 1958, and an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1956. In this authorized, deeply researched and candid biography, Los Angeles Times reporter Abramson presents new material on Harriman's difficult relationship with his father (railroad baron E. H. Harriman), his struggle to overcome shyness and stuttering, his formative experiences at Groton and Yale, his business career and management of the Harriman fortune, his adventures as an international polo star, his three marriages and, late in life, his central role in concluding a nuclear test-ban treaty with the Soviets. Abramson succeeds in bringing this enigmatic figure, one of the most important of the Cold Warriors, to vivid, three-dimensional life. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Here is the first full biography of a man whose diplomatic contacts spanned Stalin and Le Duc Tho, who served presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson and sought the office himself, and who was governor of New York and inherited a great family fortune. Although Harriman is best remembered for his diplomatic missions during World War II, journalist Abramson, using interviews with associates, family members, and Harriman himself, fills out other aspects of his public and private life, from business career to later diplomacy, from polo games to his wartime affair with Churchill's daughter-in-law, who years afterward became Harriman's third wife. Unfortunately, the story often proceeds in a manner too plodding for most general readers, who remain adequately served by Harriman's memoir, Special Envoy to Churchill and Stalin ( LJ 10/15/75. o.p.) and by Walter Isaacson and Evan Thomas's biography The Wise Men ( LJ 10/15/86). Still, given Harriman's importance, many academic libraries will need this book. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/92.
- Robert F. Nardini, North Chichester, N.H.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 779 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1St Edition edition (July 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688043526
• ISBN-13: 978-0688043520
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #444,686 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Through book about an important politican and diplomat., November 18, 2004

By	Peter LaPrade (worcester ma) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Spanning the Century" is the only biography on W. Averill Harriman out there. Harriman, who nearly lived for 100 years, was an important civil servent who started to make his mark in World War I as a businessman who helped the Navy. From there, Harriman served Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson and Carter as an employee of the State Department, and Averill had a deep friendship with Winston Chruchill(in fact, Ave helped to implement Land Lease for both Churchill and Stalin). In the 50's, Ave was a one-term Democratic Governor of New York. In fact, he wished to be called "governor" when addressed. Abramson's book addresses Harriman's faults and mistakes, as well as the good he did as a public servent, and Abramson helps to restore the reputation of E.H Harriman, a major railroad tycoon, and Ave's father. At over 700 pages, you will learn everything about him. A throughly and mastefully done book. It did help that Harriman cooperated with releasing a ton of material for Abramson to use.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spanning the Century: the Life of W. Averell Harriman 1891-1986, November 8, 2009

By	M. Davidson "school librarian" (B.C. West Coast) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

An interesting book for all those who want to know more about the American polititians of the 20th Century and particularly the history from one man's perspective of World War II.

This book is well written and accurate.