The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson with Helen Gabay

This week we are discussing The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, a thrilling account of Winston Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister of the UK, and some of the darkest moments for England and Allied forces. My guest is Helen Gabay from Richmond, Virginia. She's the mom of an awesome 12-year-old boy, Charlie, and married to Tim, aka "Mr. Fix-it," a talented local contractor. Helen leads a skilled sales team at a major IT advisory company and enjoys working with some of the brightest minds in technology.

Her passions include reading, travel, and history. She studied Political Science, English, and History at The George Washington University. Known for reading obsessively about her travel destinations, Helen often takes her family on walking tours during vacations. In 2020, she had planned a trip to England that fell through, but soon after, she became captivated by Erik Larson’s masterful narrative non-fiction The Splendid and the Vile. Since then, she’s visited London and many of Winston Churchill's historical sites.

Our drink this week is a Gin Gimlet made with Plymouth Gin, which was Churchill’s preferred gin! Helen served the drinks in classic coupe glasses, which was so fun, fancy, and authentic to the story!

Gin Gimlet (with Plymouth Gin)

  • 2 oz. Plymouth Gin Navy Strength

  • 1 oz. lime juice

  • 1/2 oz. part simple syrup

Shake with ice and strain.*

*Helen’s tip: When serving in coupe glasses, fill them with ice water and let them sit for a few minutes to serve cold!

In this Episode

Gin Gimlet invented by Royal Navy to prevent scurvy

Books by Erik Larson

Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts (Churchill’s biography)

Washington Post criticism of The Splendid and the Vile

Expo: The Magic of the White City (Documentary on 1893 World’s Fair)

Sliding Doors Film

WWII Films

Darkest Hour Film

Pearl Harbor Film

Dunkirk Film

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Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott with Juliana Soltis

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Generation X by Douglas Coupland with David How