Coffee with Hitler : The British Amateurs Who Tried to Civilise the Nazis

How the British might have handled Hitler differently remains one of history’s greatest ‘what ifs’... A TELEGRAPH AND SPECTATOR HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEARCoffee with Hitler tells the astounding true story of a handful of amateur British intelligence agents who wined, dined and befriended the leading National Socialists between the wars. With support from royalty, aristocracy, politicians and businessmen, they hoped to use the much mythologised Anglo-German Fellowship as a vehicle to civilise the Nazis. A pacifist Welsh historian, a Great War flying ace, a butterfly-collecting businessman... Coffee With Hitler offers a rare glimpse into a motley crew who would provide the British government with better intelligence on the horrifying rise of the Nazis than anyone else. Drawing on newly discovered primary sources, Charles Spencer sheds light on the early career of Kim Philby, Winston Churchill’s approach to appeasement, the US entry into the war and the Rudolf Hess affair, in a groundbreaking reassessment of Britain's relationship with Nazi Germany. ***'Brilliantly readable.' DAILY TELEGRAPH'Squirmingly enthralling.' SPECTATOR'Terrifyingly relevant.' OBSERVER