Kingmaker: The Life of Pamela Churchill Harriman

Sonia Purnell unveils the life story of one of the 20th century’s greatest unsung power players, Pamela Churchill Harriman.

About the event

When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were scathing. Written off as a social climber, her glamorous social life and infamous erotic adventures overshadowed her true legacy.

From her wartime exploits to her political influence, spanning over five decades and two continents, there is practically no one in 20th century politics, culture and fashion whose lives she did not touch. But much of what she did behind the scenes remained invisible.

Sonia Purnell unveils the spectacular story of how Harriman left an indelible mark on the world today.

About the speaker

Sonia Purnell is a biographer and journalist who has written for The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, and The Sunday Times. Her biography of Virginia Hall, ‘A Woman of No Importance’, won the Plutarch Award for Best Biography and was a New York Times bestseller. Her first book, ‘Just Boris’ was longlisted for the Orwell prize.