From the fogbound streets of London reeling from the Blitz, Ike and Kay is a thrilling tale of wartime romance, brimming with love, duty, sacrifice and heartbreak, set against the backdrop of the most tumultuous period of the twentieth century.

It is 1942, and war-battered London plays host to the imposing figure of General 'Ike' Eisenhower on a vital mission for the US army. Kay Summersby, an ambulance driver who survived the horrors of the Blitz, is chosen to be his aide, a role that will change her life forever.

Charmed by Ike's affable and disarming nature - so different from the stiffness of British military convention - she accompanies him during the North African campaign against Rommel and the war in Europe against Nazi Germany. Amid the carnage a secret affair unfolds between the General and Kay but rumours of Ike's infidelity reach across the ocean to Washington - and worse yet, to his wife.

In a time where scandal and war threaten to break them apart, can Ike and Kay hold on to their love?

The vivid reimagining of General Eisenhower and Kay Summersby's infamous love affair in London after the second World War

About the Author

James MacManus is the managing director of The Times Literary Supplement. After studying at St Andrews University he began his career in journalism at the Daily Express in Manchester. Joining The Guardian in 1972, he later became Paris, and then Africa and Middle East Correspondent. He is the author of several novels including Black Venus, Sleep in Peace Tonight, Midnight in Berlin and Ike and Kay. He lives in Dulwich, London.

Reviews

'MacManus has shown his ability to take the facts of a famous life and mould them into highly readable fiction.... [his] recreation of an affair conducted in the shadow of world-changing events successfully combines intimacy with an awareness of the wider picture' The Sunday Times

'The fascinating dramatisation of the true story of a secret love affair that contributed to the Allied victory during World War II... a deeply emotional read' Daily Mail

'Offers a convincing picture of three crucial years of the Second World War and a devastating account of the culture in which male entitlement to sexual and emotional comfort was a given' TLS

'A cracking wartime romance; sensitively and engagingly told' Roger Moorhouse, author of Berlin at War

'An epic piece of historical fiction... the danger of war and the uncertainty of survival is conveyed through MacManus's in-depth research... a relatable, and compelling story' The Lady

'In Ike and Kay, James MacManus has captured the powerful and little-known relationship between General Eisenhower and his Irish driver Kay Summersby during and just after the Second World War. With keen eye for historical detail and strong narrative voice, MacManus has expertly and artfully painted an intimate, authentic portrait of love, duty and sacrifice against the backdrop of the greatest events of the 20th century. Masterful!' Pam Jenoff author of The Orphan's Tale

'Thoroughly researched' Irish Independent

'Ike and Kay sets the backdrop for an important time in history... [and] brings to life controversial romances and characters that shaped world history during the twentieth century' Buzzfeed

Book Information
ISBN 9780715652954
Author James MacManus
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Duckworth
Publisher Duckworth Books