THE WINDS OF WAR by Herman Wouk

Narrated by Kevin Pariseau

     How FDR’s Lend-Lease Won the War with Russian Blood

This novel and its sequel, War and Remembrance, form one long, long story.  Covered in its pages is the account one American family. Wouk follows the Navy career of Victor Henry in the years leading up to WWII. I found WINDS to be a faithful portrayal of American sentiments in the years between the two world wars.

This book is every bit a narrative history as it is an historical novel.  Wouk gives an insightful opinion on the motives of FDR in instituting the Lend-Lease armament program. His theory is that FDR was a brilliant strategist, carefully calculating how to win the war with as few American lives lost as possible, but at the expense of Russian lives. I think he has a point.

Kevin Pariseau does well in bridging the gap between the story sections and the historical sections. He gives a fine performance; every character gets their own individual voice—a useful skill in such a book with many important characters.