The Daughters of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The daughters of the Allied leaders navigated complex personal and political dynamics during a pivotal historical moment. Can you relate to the challenges of balancing personal aspirations with familial or societal expectations? How have you handled such situations in your life?

2. Katz captures the emotional weight of being a close confidant to influential figures during a time of immense global change. Have you ever had to support someone in a high-pressure situation, and how did that experience affect your relationship with them?

3. The tensions and moral compromises of diplomacy resonate throughout the book. Have you ever faced a situation where you had to compromise your values for the sake of a larger goal? How did it shape your understanding of what is “right” or necessary?

4. The book contrasts the daughters’ privilege and opportunities with the constraints of their time. Have you ever reflected on how your own privileges or challenges have shaped your opportunities and the way you approach your goals?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The book delves into the shifting power dynamics among Allied nations during the Yalta Conference and how these shaped the postwar world. How do you think the themes of diplomacy and trust between nations in the book resonate with current global political issues?

2. The daughters in the book played significant roles despite norms that limited women’s involvement in politics and diplomacy during the 1940s. How does The Daughters of Yalta compare to other nonfiction dealing with women’s role in WWII—e.g., Sonia Purnell’s A Woman of No Importance or Denise Kiernan’s The Girls of Atomic City? What is the relevance of their story to contemporary societies?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Katz use the daughters’ contrasting personalities and backgrounds—Anna’s assertiveness, Sarah’s eloquence, and Kathleen’s stoicism—to reflect broader societal expectations of women during the 1940s?

2. The daughters’ character arcs are shaped by their roles as unofficial yet influential participants in a major historical event. How does Katz develop their individual growth and agency throughout the book? In what ways do their arcs mirror or diverge from their fathers’ political legacies?

3. The setting of the Yalta Conference—both its grandeur and its ruins—is described in vivid detail. How does Katz use the setting as a symbolic backdrop for the negotiations and the tenuous nature of Allied unity?

4. Katz emphasizes the moral compromises made by the Allied leaders in their dealings with Stalin. How does this recurring theme of compromise and betrayal shape the book’s tone and its commentary on the nature of diplomacy?