At the onset of the fourth volume of Churchill's masterful eyewitness history of World War II, prospects are bleak for the Allies. The Japanese have captured Singapore and Burma in a series of bold offensives; meanwhile, aggressive U-boat attacks in the Atlantic were preventing American, British, and Dutch shipping vessels from supplying the war effort. Rommel was turning the tide toward Axis forces in North Africa. Meanwhile, Hitler was pushing inexorably toward Stalingrad. Churchill faced challenges in the field--and considerable criticism at home.

The Hinge of Fate details his success in regaining the upper hand in military endeavors--while bolstering the mood of a pessimistic British public. In addition to broad and deep insight into historical events, this volume documents Churchill's personal relationships with other wartime leaders, including FDR and Stalin, in fascinating detail.