A World to Win (Lanny Budd)
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''A World to Win'' is the seventh novel in
Upton Sinclair Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. (September 20, 1878 – November 25, 1968) was an American writer, muckraker, political activist and the 1934 Democratic Party nominee for governor of California who wrote nearly 100 books and other works in seve ...
's
Lanny Budd Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. (September 20, 1878 – November 25, 1968) was an American writer, muckraker, political activist and the 1934 Democratic Party nominee for governor of California who wrote nearly 100 books and other works in seve ...
series. First published in 1946, the story covers the period from 1940 to 1942.


Plot

In
Vichy France Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its ter ...
, maintaining his cover as a dilettante sympathetic to the Nazis, Lanny insinuates himself among French pro-Nazis
Philippe Pétain Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), commonly known as Philippe Pétain (, ) or Marshal Pétain (french: Maréchal Pétain), was a French general who attained the position of Marshal of France at the end of World ...
and
Pierre Laval Pierre Jean Marie Laval (; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician. During the Third Republic, he served as Prime Minister of France from 27 January 1931 to 20 February 1932 and 7 June 1935 to 24 January 1936. He again occu ...
. Lanny urges Raoul that the French underground should support the capitalist English for now, and return to the
class struggle Class conflict, also referred to as class struggle and class warfare, is the political tension and economic antagonism that exists in society because of socio-economic competition among the social classes or between rich and poor. The forms ...
after Hitler is defeated. Back on the Riviera, which is overrun by oblivious vacationers, Beauty wants Lanny to marry the heiress Lizbeth Holdenhurst; she suspects Lanny is in love with Lizbeth's poor cousin, the writer Laurel Creston. Lanny travels to Spain to gather information on
Franco Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" Prefix * Franco, a prefix used when ref ...
and the Nazis' plans to take Gibraltar. Back in London under the bombing, Lanny updates Rick, who observes that the economic masters in all countries fund criminal thugs to eliminate dissent; Rick says England will fight to the end. Irma and Ceddy say the upper class want an accommodation, leaving Hitler to attack Russia. Rick's son Alfy is flying
Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griff ...
planes defending London; the Budd fighter models have gone out of date, he says, and the outlook is uncertain. Lanny says improved Budd fighter planes will be arriving, if the
RAF The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
can hold out. Lanny reports to
FDR Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
on the English and French collaborationists. In New York, he meets with Nazi operatives, who believe
William Randolph Hearst William Randolph Hearst Sr. (; April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician known for developing the nation's largest newspaper chain and media company, Hearst Communications. His flamboya ...
may be willing to back a coup against FDR. Lanny thinks about Lizbeth and Laurel on his way to San Simeon, where he observes the degeneracy of Hollywood; Hearst is cautious. Back in D.C., Lanny helps FDR write his "Arsenal of Democracy" speech. FDR wants a report on Hitler's plans as to Russia. In Geneva, Monck says the invasion on a 1,100-mile front is imminent. Lanny asks Kurt and
Rudolf Hess Rudolf Walter Richard Hess (Heß in German; 26 April 1894 – 17 August 1987) was a German politician and a leading member of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. Appointed Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler in 1933, Hess held that position unt ...
to get him an appointment with Hitler; meanwhile he goes to Toulon to learn more about the French fleet and to contact the underground. French resistance agents mistake Lanny for a Nazi spy and abduct him, but he buys his way out. In Germany Hitler confirms the plan to invade Russia; he claims Germany will leave the
British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
alone if England settles for peace. They discuss how Germany can support a coup against FDR. Meanwhile Hess, tricked by English intelligence, flies to England to negotiate a peace; he is arrested. Lizbeth's father becomes a major investor in Budd airplanes. Laurel is writing political fiction articles against the Nazis. Laurel suspects Lanny is doing undercover work but discretely asks no questions. FDR assigns Lanny to contact an anti-Nazi physicist working on a German atomic bomb. Lanny prepares for this task with the help of
Albert Einstein Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory ...
in Princeton. Lanny is badly injured when his plane from Newfoundland to England crashes in a violent storm. Rescuers discover Lanny is traveling on two passports; his cover is blown. FDR furloughs Lanny, who needs months to recuperate. Lanny agrees to take a cruise to the South Seas and Hong Kong with Lizbeth and her family. On departing, he discovers that cousin Laurel is also on board. Lizbeth suffers a breakdown when she learns that Lanny and Laurel had known each other previously. In Hong Kong, war breaks out with Japan when the group is separated; Lanny and Laurel had been visiting the widow of
Sun Yat-sen Sun Yat-sen (; also known by several other names; 12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925)Singtao daily. Saturday edition. 23 October 2010. section A18. Sun Yat-sen Xinhai revolution 100th anniversary edition . was a Chinese politician who serve ...
while Lizbeth and her father were at a British Officers' ball. Under bombing, Lanny and Laurel miss the hurried departure of the yacht. In a trance, Laurel channels Lizbeth, who says all were lost when a Japanese warship sunk the yacht. Lanny and Laurel marry, and make their way through China, where Lanny meets with
Mao Zedong Mao Zedong pronounced ; also romanised traditionally as Mao Tse-tung. (26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976), also known as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who was the founder of the People's Republic of China (PRC) ...
in his cave headquarters. The pair travel to Moscow, where Uncle Jesse helps Lanny meet with
Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretar ...
, who pledges to fight Hitler to the end. Fiction set in 1940 Fiction set in 1941 Fiction set in 1942 1946 American novels Novels set in the 1940s American historical novels Novels by Upton Sinclair Viking Press books {{1940s-hist-novel-stub