"The days from May 24 to May 28, 1940, altered the course of the history of this century, as the members of the British War Cabinet debated whether to negotiate with or to continue the war against Hitler. The decisive importance of these five days is the focus of John Lukacs's new book." "Lukacs takes us hour by hour into the critical unfolding of events at 10 Downing Street, where Churchill and the members of his cabinet were painfully considering their war responsibilities. Lukacs also investigates the mood of the British people, drawing on newspaper and Mass-Observation reports that show how the citizenry, though only partly informed about the dangers that faced them, nevertheless began to support Churchill's determination to stand fast."--BOOK JACKET.

The Hinge of Fate -- The turning point. Two accounts -- The awesomeness of the German tide -- Black Fortnight -- Problems of British morale -- Distrust of Churchill -- Opinions and sentiments -- "Outwardly calm, inwardly anxious." -- Friday, 24 May -- Hitler's halt order -- The Germans before Dunkirk -- Calais -- Hitler and the Conservatives -- The two Rights -- Chamberlain -- Appeasers -- Halifax -- The War Cabinet -- Churchill and Roosevelt -- The British press -- "A slight increase in anxiety and a slight decrease in optimism." -- Saturday, 25 May -- An English weekend -- The French: Weygand and Petain -- Halifax and the Italian ambassador -- Churchill and the Defence Committee -- "Depression is quite definitely up." -- Sunday, 26 May -- An agitated day -- Three meetings of the War Cabinet -- Chamberlain, Halifax, Churchill -- Disagreements between Halifax and Churchill -- Scarcity of news: "A mandate to delay judgment and not to worry." -- "In Westminster Abbey." -- Monday, 27 May -- What was happening at Dunkirk -- The Belgians surrender -- American considerations -- Three War Cabinets and a walk in the garden -- "You'd have been better off playing cricket." -- Tuesday, 28 May -- Morale, opinion, and the press -- "We cannot possibly starve the public in this way." -- Foreigners and refugees -- Churchill's instructions and the first War Cabinet -- His statement in the Commons -- The second War Cabinet -- Churchill's coup -- He comes through -- Survival -- A long-range view of the war -- The meaning of Dunkirk -- "It is time to face up to facts." -- Halifax redux -- An antiquated Britain -- Churchill and Europe -- Fortissimo.