MARTIN DUGARD: Author TAKING PARIS & co-author with BILL O'REILLY on Killing series, unpacks the details on his new page turning historical non-fiction on liberation of Paris in 1944

France, 1940. In a stunning move, the armies of Nazi Germany annihilate the French military and capture Paris, the crown jewel of Europe, in a matter of a few weeks.  As Adolf Hitler tightens his grip on the fabled “City of Lights,” the shocked Allies regroup and begin planning for a daring counterattack into Fortress Europe. The longer the Nazis hold the city, the greater danger its citizens face. By 1944, over 120,000 Parisians have died, and countless more tortured in the city's Gestapo prisons and sent to death camps.  The exiled general Charles de Gaulle, headquartered in the bar of London's Connaught Hotel, convinces General Dwight Eisenhower to put Paris before Berlin. Unless Paris is taken immediately, he tells Ike, the City of Lights will be leveled.  The race for Paris begins. TAKING PARIS: The Epic Battle for the City of Lights (Dutton Caliber), is the riveting story of the people who set that beautiful city free.  Vigorously researched, Martin Dugard’s historical narrative takes readers behind-the-scenes in an epic, page-turning account of the battle for the heart and soul of Paris in one of the twentieth century’s darkest moments. Dugard, one of the most widely read writers today, has co-authored one of the most successful nonfiction series in publishing history with the Killing books.  Now, with TAKING PARIS, Dugard showcases his unique ability to pair fascinating historical research with compelling, page-turning storytelling. The players holding the fate of Paris in their hands are some of the biggest historical figures of the era: Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, General George S. Patton, and the exiled French general Charles de Gaulle. From the fall of Paris in 1940 to the race for Paris in 1944, this enthralling drama unfolds through their decisions—for better and worse.  TAKING PARIS is history told at a breathtaking pace, a sprawling yet intimate saga of heroism, desire, and personal sacrifice for all that is right. Martin Dugard is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and historian who has written on topics ranging from presidents to Egyptian pharaohs. He is coauthor of the popular Killing series along with other acclaimed works including Into Africa, The Explorers, The Murder of King Tut, and To Be a Runner. Known for his fondness for adventure, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has flown around the world at twice the speed of sound. He lives in California with his family Website: www.martindugard.com Source: Shirley & McVicker Public Affairs --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-aidan-byrne0/support