best biographies of churchill

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Paul Addison's top 10 books on Churchill

Paul Addison is director of the centre for second world war studies at the University of Edinburgh. He is a former visiting fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and the author of Churchill: The Unexpected Hero recently published by Oxford University Press.

1 My Early Life by Winston Churchill

My top 10 have not been arranged in order of merit - but if they had been, this would still be number one. The best source on the making of Winston Churchill is still Churchill himself. Written in late middle age, his autobiography recalled his unhappy childhood and his youthful quest for glory as a soldier and war correspondent. A classic adventure story, it was also a lament for a vanished age of aristocracy and empire.

2. Churchill: Four Faces and the Man (Various)

First published in 1969, this sparkling collection of essays anatomised Churchill's qualities as a statesman (AJP Taylor), politician (Robert Rhodes James), historian (JH Plumb), military strategist (Basil Liddell Hart) and depressive human being (Anthony Storr). Research has moved on since then, but as an analysis of the essential Churchill the book has never been surpassed. It founded the British school of Churchillians who admire him 'warts and all'.

3. In Search of Churchill by Martin Gilbert

Political biography was a gentlemanly affair of delving into one or two archives until Martin Gilbert came on the scene. As Churchill's official biographer he set rigorous new standards of research, working through scores of manuscript collections and travelling far and wide in search of new material. The six volumes of his life are a towering achievement but not many people have the leisure, this side of retirement, to savour all 7,285 pages. In the meantime there could be no better introduction than Gilbert's highly entertaining account of his methods of writing, and his search for buried treasure: eye witnesses whose recollections had never been recorded, and caches of documents that had lain hidden for decades.

4. Winston Churchill: His Life as a Painter by Mary Soames

Denis Healey used to say that every politician needs a hinterland - an absorbing outside interest beyond the world of Westminster. Churchill found it in painting. He seldom travelled without his brushes and oils and the moment he set up his easel he was lost to the world. Churchill never claimed to be a great artist but he delighted in the landscapes he saw on his travels, domestic scenes from his home at Chartwell, and portraits of his family and friends. The story of his life as a painter, delightfully told by his daughter Mary Soames, is a revelation of the private self who kept the statesman human.

5. Churchill and Secret Service by David Stafford

Churchill's lifelong fascination with secret intelligence is the theme of this riveting book which covers everything from his first encounter with the 'Great Game' on the north-west frontier to his involvement in the Anglo-American inspired coup that led to the overthrow of Mussadiq in Iran in 1953. Though Stafford is at pains to disprove some of the conspiracy theories which implicate Churchill in episodes like the sinking of the Lusitania or the attack on Pearl Harbor, he shows that Churchill played a crucial part in the development of the intelligence services and was no mean hand with a cloak and dagger.

6. Man of the Century: Winston Churchill and his Legend since 1945 by John Ramsden

Ramsden has added a new dimension to Churchill studies with a richly detailed analysis of the growth of his legend since 1945. His book sets out "to understand how that fame was created, perceived, marketed, spun and in some cases even fabricated." In the course of a fascinating conducted tour of perceptions of Churchill around the English-speaking world, Ramsden identifies the publicists and politicians who constructed the legend and the monuments and memorabilia which celebrated him. Such is his eye for detail that he even remarks on Churchill's unassailable lead in commemorative Toby jugs: 22 different designs compared with two each for Baldwin, Chamberlain and Lloyd George.

7. In Command of History: Churchill Fighting and Writing the Second World War by David Reynolds

In writing his war memoirs Churchill had two main aims. The first was to make a fortune for himself and his family while protecting it from the taxman. The second was to create a useable past that would vindicate his judgment as a war leader and assist his activities as a postwar statesman. In a masterly feat of sustained scholarly analysis Reynolds explains how Churchill achieved a triumphant success on both counts. In anyone else Churchill's profiteering, manipulation of the documents, and unacknowledged use of ghost writers would look disreputable, but all is forgiven the saviour of his country.

8. Churchill: The End of Glory by John Charmley

The furore over the so-called 'Charmley thesis' - the case for a compromise peace with Hitler in 1940 - has distracted attention from an otherwise perceptive political life grounded in a coherent critique of Churchill's flaws, and a far from ungenerous appreciation of his abilities. Charmley adopts the sceptical view of Churchill held by most of his contemporaries before 1939, and extends it to apply to his conduct of the war - a debatable but stimulating exercise.

9. The Iron Curtain: Churchill, America and the Origins of the Cold War by Fraser J Harbutt

It is no secret that Churchill is revered by many Americans as a philosopher king and role model for leadership. Whereas in Britain we see him as a man of the past, he is admired in the US as a guide to the present and future. Churchill's unique stature on the other side of the Atlantic owes something to his wartime alliance with Roosevelt, but as Fraser Harbutt shows in a powerfully argued book, the decisive factor was the part Churchill played, while he was out of office, in facilitating the entry of the US into the cold war. The tipping point was his 'iron curtain' speech at Fulton in March 1946.

10. Churchill by Roy Jenkins; Churchill: A Study in Greatness by Geoffrey Best

The competition for the title of best one volume life of Churchill is intense and the result, it seems to me, is a tie between Roy Jenkins and Geoffrey Best. Both authors are comprehensive, accurate, and stylish, but in different ways. Jenkins brings to the subject a veteran politician's feel for office and power, a worldly appreciation of Churchill's love of the good life, and an encyclopaedic appetite for detail. His account is richly descriptive but tends to stick to the surface of events. Best is a more reflective and speculative writer with a historian's flair for the insights that lie just beyond the tangible evidence. By different routes both authors come to the same conclusion, or as Best puts it: 'His achievements, taken all in all, justify his title to be known as the greatest Englishman of his age...in this later time we are diminished if, admitting Churchill's failings and failures, we can no longer appreciate his virtues and victories.'

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By Richard Aldous

• Nov. 13, 2018

CHURCHILL Walking With Destiny By Andrew Roberts Illustrated. 1,105 pp. Viking. $40.

In April 1955, on the final weekend before he left office for the last time, Winston Churchill had the vast canvas of Peter Paul Rubens’s “The Lion and the Mouse” taken down from the Great Hall at the prime ministerial retreat of Chequers. He had always found the depiction of the mouse too indistinct, so he retrieved his paint brushes and set about “improving” on the work of Rubens by making the hazy rodent clearer. “If that is not courage,” Lord Mountbatten, the First Sea Lord, said later, “I do not know what is.”

Lack of courage was never Churchill’s problem. As a young man he was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery fighting alongside the Malakand Field Force on the North-West Frontier , and subsequently he took part in the last significant cavalry charge in British history at the Battle of Omdurman in central Sudan . In middle age he served in the trenches of World War I, during which time a German high-explosive shell came in through the roof of his dugout and blew his mess orderly’s head clean off. Later, as prime minister during World War II, and by now in his mid-60s, he thought nothing of visiting bomb sites during the Blitz or crossing the treacherous waters of the Atlantic to see President Roosevelt despite the very real chance of being torpedoed by German U-boats.

Churchill had political courage too, not least as one of the few to oppose the appeasement of Hitler. Many had thought him a warmonger and even a traitor. “I have always felt,” said that scion of the Establishment, Lord Ponsonby, at the time of the Munich debate in 1938, “that in a crisis he is one of the first people who ought to be interned.” Instead, when the moment of supreme crisis came in 1940, the British people turned to him for leadership. Here was his ultimate projection of courage: that Britain would “never surrender.”

If courage was not the issue, lack of judgment often was. Famous military disasters attached to his name, including Antwerp in 1914 , the Dardanelles (Gallipoli) in 1915 and Narvik in 1940 . So too did political controversies, like turning up in person to instruct the police during a violent street battle with anarchists, defying John Maynard Keynes in returning Britain to the gold standard or rashly supporting Edward VIII during the abdication crisis. His views on race and empire were anachronistic even for those times. The carpet bombing of German cities during World War II; the “naughty document” that handed over Romania and Bulgaria to Stalin; comparing the Labour Party to the Gestapo — the list of Churchillian controversies goes on. Each raised questions about his temperament and character. His drinking habits also attracted comment.

Such is the challenge facing any biographer of Churchill: how to weigh in the balance a life filled with so much triumph and disaster, adulation and contempt. The historian Andrew Roberts’s insight about Churchill’s relation to fate in “Churchill: Walking With Destiny” comes directly from the subject himself. “I felt as if I were walking with destiny,” Churchill wrote of that moment in May 1940 when he achieved the highest office. But the story Roberts tells is more sophisticated and in the end more satisfying. “For although he was indeed walking with destiny in May 1940, it was a destiny that he had consciously spent a lifetime shaping,” Roberts writes, adding that Churchill learned from his mistakes, and “put those lessons to use during civilization’s most testing hour.” Experience and reflection on painful failures, while less glamorous than a fate written in the stars, turn out to be the key ingredients in Churchill’s ultimate success.

He did not get off to a particularly happy start. His erratic and narcissistic father, Lord Randolph Churchill, saw the boy as “among the second rate and third rate,” predicting that his life would “degenerate into a shabby, unhappy and futile existence.” His American mother, Jennie, was often not much kinder, sending letters to him at Harrow that must have arrived like a Howler in a Harry Potter novel. Parental judgments became an obvious spur to fame and attention. “Few,” Roberts writes, “have set out with more coldblooded deliberation to become first a hero and then a Great Man.”

After stints in Cuba, India and Sudan, Churchill achieved instant fame during the Boer War after a daring escape from a South African P.O.W. camp in 1899. That renown propelled him into Parliament, where he soon added notoriety to his reputation by crossing the floor of the House of Commons, abandoning the Conservative Party for the Liberals. Thereafter, wrote his friend Violet, daughter of the future prime minister H. H. Asquith, he was viewed as “a rat, a turncoat, an arriviste and, worst crime of all, one who had certainly arrived.” “We are all worms,” Churchill told her. “But I do believe that I am a glowworm.”

And glow he did, becoming in 1908, at 33, the youngest cabinet member in 40 years and subsequently the youngest home secretary since Peel in 1822. As First Lord of the Admiralty he was credited with making the navy ready for war — his single most important achievement in government before 1940. Even when disaster befell him, Churchill always managed to bounce back. A new prime minister, David Lloyd George, returned him to the wartime cabinet despite the catastrophe of the Dardanelles. When the Liberal Party disintegrated after the rise of Labour, Churchill conveniently “re-ratted” back to the Conservatives, where Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin put him unhappily in charge of the nation’s finances.

By the late 1930s, out of office and despised for his opposition to appeasement, Churchill seemed finished once and for all. But he was ready. “The Dardanelles catastrophe taught him not to overrule the Chiefs of Staff,” Roberts writes, “the General Strike and Tonypandy taught him to leave industrial relations during the Second World War to Labour’s Ernest Bevin; the Gold Standard disaster taught him to reflate and keep as much liquidity in the financial system as the exigencies of wartime would allow.”

Less well known is that Churchill also learned from his successes. Cryptographical breakthroughs at the Admiralty during World War I led him to back Alan Turing and the Ultra decrypters in the second war; the anti-U-boat campaign of 1917 instructed him about the convoy system; his earlier advocacy of the tank encouraged him to support the development of new weaponry. Research for a life of Marlborough (a book that Leo Strauss called the greatest historical work of the 20th century) taught Churchill the value of international alliances in wartime.

If Churchill’s entire life was a preparation for 1940, “the man and the moment only just coincided.” He was 65 years old when he became prime minister and had only just re-entered front-line politics after a decade out of office. It would be like Tony Blair returning to 10 Downing Street today, ready to put lessons learned during the Iraq war to work. Had Hitler delayed by a few years, Roberts suggests, Churchill would surely have been away from front-rank politics too long to “make himself the one indispensable figure.”

Experience certainly did not make success inevitable. In France, Marshal Pétain, revered as the “Lion of Verdun” for his glorious career in World War I, made all the wrong decisions as prime minister from June 1940 onward, equating peace with occupation and collaboration.

Churchill was the anti-Pétain, but what was it that made him “indispensable”? Hope, certainly, and an ability to communicate resolve with both clarity and force. Recordings of wartime speeches can still provoke goose bumps. In the end, Roberts sums up Churchill’s overriding achievement in a single sentence: It was “not that he stopped a German invasion … but that he stopped the British government from making a peace.”

That turned out to be the whole ballgame. After the Battle of Britain was won and, first, the Russians and, then, the Americans came into the war, Churchill knew that “time and patience will give certain victory.” But it also meant a gradual relegation to second if not third place. Britain had entered the war as the most prestigious of the world’s great powers. By its conclusion, having lost about a quarter of its national wealth in fighting the war, Britain had become the fraction in the Big Two and a Half, and was effectively bust. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Roberts tells this story with great authority and not a little panache. He writes elegantly, with enjoyable flashes of tartness, and is in complete command both of his sources and the vast historiography. For a book of a thousand pages, there are surprisingly no longueurs . Roberts is admiring of Churchill, but not uncritically so. Often he lays out the various debates before the reader so that we can draw different conclusions to his own. Essentially a conservative realist, he sees political and military controversies through the lens of the art of the possible. Only once does he really bristle, when Churchill says of Stalin in 1945, “I like that man.” “Where was the Churchill of 1931,” he laments, “who had denounced Stalin’s ‘morning’s budget of death warrants’?”

Some may find Roberts’s emphasis on politics and war old-fashioned, indistinguishable, say, from the approach taken almost half a century ago by Henry Pelling. He is out of step with much of the best British history being written today, where the likes of Dominic Sandbrook, Or Rosenboim and John Bew have successfully blended cultural and intellectual history with the study of high politics. But it would be foolish to say Roberts made the wrong choice. He is Thucydidean in viewing decisions about war and politics, politics and war as the crux of the matter. A life defined by politics here rightly gets a political life. All told, it must surely be the best single-volume biography of Churchill yet written.

Richard Aldous, the author of “Reagan and Thatcher” and “Schlesinger,” teaches at Bard.

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The 10 Best Books By and About Winston Churchill

The prime minister was also a prolific writer and historian.

• Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Winston Churchill is one of those historical figures who almost needs no introduction. As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he led his country through the darkest days of World War II and became a symbol of strength, stability, and effective leadership. But Churchill’s legacy extends far beyond his most famous moment in the spotlight.

Born in 1874 to an aristocratic family, Churchill grew up during the reign of Queen Victoria and bore witness to many events that shaped the 20th century . He served as a war correspondent in his twenties, became a Member of Parliament in 1900, and fought in the First World War, all before his famous tenure as Prime Minister. After the war, his political party was defeated in the general election and he turned his attention to his life-long love of writing, penning a novel and several well-received history volumes. He re-entered the political stage in the 1950s, aggressively denouncing the Soviet Union and serving as Prime Minister a second time from 1951 to 1955.

If you’ve been wanting to learn more about Winston Churchill's unique life and how that shaped his outlook, look no further than this list! Here are the 10 best books by and about Winston Churchill. 

Books By Churchill

The Gathering Storm

By Winston S. Churchill

Churchill’s two identities as wartime Prime Minister and historian came together in his six-volume history, The Second World War . Volume one, The Gathering Storm , sets the stage for World War II. Based on historical research, government documents, and Churchill’s own recollections, the book chronicles Hitler’s rise to power, Germany’s increasingly aggressive military moves in Europe, Britain’s failed strategy of appeasement, and finally Britain's entry into the conflict in 1939. Churchill’s access to primary sources like telegrams, secret orders, and speeches allows him to give an almost minute-by-minute account of events. 

The Hinge of Fate

Volume four of The Second World War finds the Allies in a precarious position. It’s early 1942. The Americans have been attacked at Pearl Harbor , and Singapore has fallen to the Japanese. Yet, in just a few months' time, several decisive military victories will turn the tide of war in the Allies' favor. In The Hinge of Fate , Churchill describes the key decisions that put the Allies on their path to eventual victory. 

Inspiring Winston Churchill Quotes That Will Help You Maintain a Stiff Upper Lip

Triumph and Tragedy

Triumph and Tragedy —the sixth and final volume of The Second World War —chronicles the final months of WWII, from the landings at Normandy on D-Day to Japan’s surrender after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although there have been many other histories of the war written since Churchill published his final volume in 1953, The Second World War  still stands as an important portrait of how people felt about the war in its immediate aftermath, from an author with a unique vantage point.

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The Birth of Britain

Another of Churchill’s multi-volume histories is A History of the English-Speaking Peoples , his account of Britain from the period of Roman occupation up through Churchill’s own lifetime. The first volume, The Birth of Britain , begins when Julius Caesar invades the British Isles in 55 BCE. From there, he covers quite a bit of ground, concluding the volume with the death of King Richard III in 1485. Through all of it, Churchill’s love for his home country shines through. 

Winston Churchill’s Paranormal Encounter Allowed Him to Face His Distant Father

My Early Life

By Winston Churchill

Churchill’s autobiography covers the first 30 years of his life, long before he became Prime Minister. In My Early Life , Churchill recalls his childhood and his years in the British Army. He spent many of his formative years traveling both with the military and as a war correspondent, reporting most famously on the Second Boer War in South Africa. When Churchill published the book in 1930, he was serving as a Conservative Member of Parliament, and had no idea how monumental his next 30 years would be. The book is an important chronicle of the events that would shape Churchill into the giant history remembers him as. 

Books About Churchill

Churchill: Walking With Destiny

By Andrew Roberts

Churchill: Walking With Destiny , written by award-winning author Andrew Roberts, is a newer addition to the canon of historical studies of Churchill. Roberts applies the same level of scrutiny to Churchill as he did in his bestselling biographies of Napoleon and King George III. He seeks to understand what made Churchill the man he was, and draws on an extensive body of research—including previously unreleased historical materials—to find his answers. In his study, Roberts also asks what Churchill’s life, and his successes and failures, can teach today’s leaders in an increasingly unstable world. 

Churchill Style

By Barry Singer

In Churchill Style , author Barry Singer approaches Churchill not as a towering historical figure, but as a person. While most biographies tend to focus on his political philosophies and wartime strategies, Singer explores his personal interests, from the clothes he liked to his iconic cigars. Supplemented by photographs, Churchill Style  allows readers to get to know the man behind the myth. 

The Bittersweet History Behind Armistice Day

By Celia Sandys

Another more personal approach to Churchill’s life comes from his granddaughter Celia Sandys. Sandys shares the story of her grandfather’s participation as a correspondent and combatant in the Boer War, one of the defining conflicts of South Africa. According to Booklist , "this affectionate biographical portrait of a very young, very spirited, and very enterprising Winston Churchill succeeds in foreshadowing the magnitude of the renown he eventually achieved."

Winston's War

By Max Hastings

No list of books about Churchill would be complete without at least one objective account dedicated to his time as Prime Minister during World War II. In Winston’s War , award-winning historian and journalist Max Hastings chronicles Churchill’s experiences, from his election to Prime Minister in 1940 to the end of the war in 1945. During those turbulent years, Churchill not only had to deal with a world war, but also with several problems on the home front that occasionally posed a threat to his own leadership. Ultimately, Hastings is able to paint a full portrait of the years that defined Churchill’s legacy. 

By John Lukacs

In his biography, historian John Lukacs provides a full portrait of Churchill and a thorough assessment of his career. He dedicates chapters to Churchill’s personal life, his relationships with other world leaders like FDR and Stalin, his time as Prime Minister, and his career as a historian. While Lukacs clearly has admiration for Churchill, he does not let that affect his study of his life, spending equal time on Churchill’s failures as he does his successes. 

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The best books on winston churchill, recommended by richard toye.

Winston Churchill: A Life in the News by Richard Toye

Winston Churchill’s role as a global statesman remains immensely controversial. For some he was the heroic champion of liberty, saviour of the free world; for others a callous imperialist with a doleful legacy. Here, historian Richard Toye chooses the best books to help you understand the man behind the myths and Churchill's own role in making those myths.

Interview by Benedict King

My Early Life 1874-1904 by Winston Churchill

Churchill and the Islamic World: Orientalism, Empire and Diplomacy in the Middle East by Warren Dockter

In Command of History: Churchill Fighting and Writing the Second World War by David Reynolds

Churchill and the Dardanelles by Christopher M Bell

Winston Churchill As I Knew Him by Violet Bonham Carter

1 My Early Life 1874-1904 by Winston Churchill

2 churchill and the islamic world: orientalism, empire and diplomacy in the middle east by warren dockter, 3 in command of history: churchill fighting and writing the second world war by david reynolds, 4 churchill and the dardanelles by christopher m bell, 5 winston churchill as i knew him by violet bonham carter.

Y our most recent book is Churchill: A Life in the News . Churchill was making the news even before he became a politician, as a soldier, but also, quite literally, as a journalist. What’s your focus in the book? 

Churchill: A Life in the News  takes the story from his birth. His birth was reported in The Times , actually on the front page, which in those days carried these little personal ads. So that was his first mention in the press. As the son of a well-known politician, Lord Randolph Churchill, he got occasional mentions through his childhood and his teenage years. And then he exploded onto the scene when, as a young man in the 1890s, he joined the army and wrote journalistic accounts of small wars, starting in Cuba , then the North-West Frontier in India, then the Sudan , then the Boer War.

He was a very good journalist, very interesting, and certainly one of the most highly paid. That background also influenced him when he was prime minister. At the time of the Anzio landings , when things were going badly wrong, there was a minor crisis when British journalists had their press credentials withdrawn because they were alleged to be spreading despair. They were restored, and it turned out to be a little bit of a storm in a teacup, but Churchill said in the House of Commons, “Well, I would never have been allowed, when a correspondent during the Boer War, to use the expression, ‘The situation is desperate.’”

In some ways, as a young man, he was pushing the envelope a bit. He was trying to be a little bit controversial, a little bit provocative, but he was doing so with an understanding that he was governed by the rules of censorship —particularly when he was a serving soldier, and also as a journalist. There were strict limits to what you should and should not say. Having operated as a journalist in that context made him less forgiving and less understanding, later, of journalists who he thought were doing things contrary to his government’s interests, basically by being openly critical of him or his ministers.

In the Boer War he went out as a journalist, then joined in the fighting, didn’t he? But in the Sudan he was actually a commissioned officer who was taking money from The Morning Post.

That was not unusual at the time. How were the newspapers to get their news, unless they had people on the spot? As journalism became more professionalized, some very successful papers started to be able to afford to send their own people out, which they certainly were doing in the 1890s.

Not all war reporting was done by soldiers. But there was still quite a tradition of journalism being a letter which a person has written from a faraway place. It appears in the newspaper six weeks later, when it’s made its way all the way across the sea on a fairly slow boat.

So his dual role wasn’t that eccentric?

No, I don’t think so. Maybe he was unusual in the degree to which he had already decided that he wanted to build a political career and was trying to exploit his opportunities to that end. It’s as if, whatever other people are doing, Churchill was doing it times ten. It became a bit more problematic and controversial when he did it because he was trying to make it into such a high-profile thing. But it certainly wasn’t unique.

You have also contributed to another book published in 2020, The Churchill Myths. What aspect of his reputation is that looking at? And to what extent is it looking at his own role in that myth-making?

We start with the statement that this isn’t a book about Winston Churchill. It’s a book about his image and the way it evolved in the years after his death, and the way in which people have attempted to exploit it for various political purposes. At the level of cartoons and films, there is one fixed Churchillian image—with a cigar—and it’s true. But, actually, in terms of the way in which he’s discussed, there has been a significant evolution.

To give two examples during his own lifetime: nobody in Britain criticised Churchill in respect of the Bengal famine. Partly because they probably didn’t care very much about the Bengal famine, if we’re absolutely honest. But also, the information that we now have about the things which Churchill said and did about the Bengal famine weren’t in the public domain—and remained out of it until the 1970s and 1980s when there were various archival releases, publication of people’s diaries and so on and so forth.

“He wanted to be a celebrity politician.”

Even in the 1990s, there was a critical biography of Churchill by Clive Ponting which doesn’t mention the Bengal famine. Now it’s probably one of the major points of criticism levelled at Churchill, if not the biggest point. Without going into the rights and wrongs of that, it takes archival releases, but it also needs historians to decide that this is an important theme and to start making arguments about it.

On the other hand, one of the things that he’s most celebrated for now—explored in the film Darkest Hour —is the question of whether or not the British should try and explore peace terms via Italy in 1940. All these discussions did take place, but we didn’t know that they took place until the early 1970s, when the cabinet papers were released. Churchill, in his memoirs, not only did not mention them, he explicitly said that there was no discussion of the idea of peace terms whatsoever. Now, he may have been doing that to protect other people. We don’t really know. But he was at pains to deny that it happened and yet, now, that is one of the things for which he is most celebrated. Churchill has always been an icon of Britishness , but how that has played out has been very different over time.

One of the things this book, The Churchill Myths, makes clear is that over the last 40 years the Churchill myth has been even bigger in British politics and more dominant than it was, say, in the first fifteen years after his death. Yet he’s a deeply problematic figure. I think you say in the book that Churchill probably wouldn’t even get into the British National Party these days.

Actually, we quote somebody else as saying that. I don’t think I’d go quite that far! His place in public life is very difficult to judge exactly. There were critical plays in the 1970s, but then you might ask whether that was an elite thing that most of the population never saw. How much weight should we attach to these negative representations?

Thatcher and Reagan made a great play with the Churchill myth, as you would expect. George Bush Sr and John Major didn’t particularly. Tony Blair was interested in doing it, but it was a little bit problematic for him because he was a Labour prime minister and there’s no way you’re going to get a big cheer at the Labour Party Conference from mentioning Churchill. During the Kosovo crisis, for example, he mentioned Clem Attlee and Ernie Bevin standing up to fascism and putting himself in that position.

“Churchill has always been an icon of Britishness, but how that has played out has been very different over time”

Let’s move on to the books. One of Winston Churchill’s own books, My Early Life, is the first one. I’m not quite sure when he wrote it, but what story is he telling about himself?

It was published in 1930 and it is very much the story of his early adventures. It covers his childhood, his schooling, the wars I was mentioning earlier. And it concludes with him getting married to Clementine Hozier. The last line is: “And I lived happily ever after.”

He wrote a lot of other autobiographical works, but in contrast to the multi-volume World Crisis and the six-volume Second World War— which were very much based around documents and trying to justify particular courses of action and, often, to exculpate himself from where he had come in for criticism— My Early Life is a more personal book. His memory is certainly not perfect in every respect. He does slip up and, for example, says he makes a speech one year, when actually he made it the year before. But I think it’s the book that would be most likely to win you over to liking Churchill’s personality, even if you didn’t share his politics. There’s an ironic, kind of self-mocking tone to it, which I think casts him in a better light than much of his other more self-justificatory writing. It shows his ability to laugh at himself and the follies of youth and to be a bit more reflective.

“For a lot of people, if they escaped from prison in South Africa in a dramatic way, that would be the thing for which they were famous. Yet a lot of people don’t know that about Churchill”

It’s funny because he publishes it at a point when he’s about to take a sharp turn to the right and campaign vociferously against greater self-government for India. He doesn’t in that period come across in a particularly forgiving or magnanimous light. But this book is humorous and, of course, it’s a pretty exciting story.

For a lot of people, if they were put in prison in South Africa and then escaped in a very dramatic way, that would be the thing for which they were famous. And yet, a lot of people don’t know that about Churchill because there’s so much focus, understandably enough, on the 1930s and the 1940s. Of course, when people make documentaries about him it gets mentioned, but that is still a fact that would come as a surprise to a lot of people. It shows that there was a Churchill before the Churchill with whom we’re all familiar, with this very dramatic and impressive and often quite strange and problematic backstory. This book enriches your understanding of him, even though it’s not a book to be taken literally as an account of everything that he did.

Is he very consciously positioning himself politically in the book in a way that is then interesting in the light of what happened in the 1930s when he was out of power and then what happened in the war? Is he building personal myths about himself? Or is it fairly free of that kind of thing?

I don’t think it’s egregious. In other books—when he writes about Gallipoli, for example—it’s full of, ‘if only this had happened’ and ‘if ships had arrived 10 minutes earlier, then the whole course of the war have been different’—that kind of thing. I think it was possibly easier for him to write a slightly more modest account of a time when he wasn’t that important in politics. In terms of justifying his entire record, there’s considerably less at stake. Some things were at stake. Aylmer Haldane, one of the other people in the prison in South Africa, contested Churchill’s account of whether or not he’d done the honourable thing in escaping in the way he did. It’s not necessarily a trouble free zone.

He starts the book by saying, ‘I was a child of the Victorian age ’. Now, that reads as a simple statement. And it’s obviously true: he was born in 1874. But what was the significance of that? Why does he choose to say it then? It very much relates to the point I was making earlier, about his turn to campaigning on India . In my book on his imperial views, Churchill’s Empire: The World That Made Him and the World He Made , I argue that his views weren’t frozen in time at the end of the Victorian period. He joined the Liberal Party in 1904 and spent 20 years in the Liberal Party. He was perceived by some as a Little Englander and a danger to the Empire when he was a minister in the Colonial Office in 1905-08.

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What he’s actually doing in 1930, having made a swing back to the right throughout much of the previous decade, is re-identifying with his youth and saying, ‘these are my roots’. In that book I say that it was in the interwar years that Churchill decided to become a Victorian. That is to say, there’s image-making going on and, so, although My Early Life is ostensibly a relatively unpolitical book, you can read deeper things into it.

That’s interesting. I’m based in Oxford, where the debate has been raging about Cecil Rhodes. His political vision seemed to involve a union of the British Empire and America imposing peace on the world. It struck me that Rhodes and Churchill were very much contemporaries and that perhaps the ways in which they thought about these things—with Churchill’s History of the English-Speaking Peoples, for example —was very similar. But you’re saying that wasn’t a consistent theme through his political life.

Let’s move on to Warren Dockter’s Churchill and the Islamic World: Orientalism, Empire and Diplomacy . Tell us a bit about this book and why you’ve chosen it.

I’ve chosen it because it relates to the point I was making earlier about some of the complexities of Churchill’s views. It is quite easy to say that Churchill was anti-Indian, but actually, you need to refine this. Churchill was in many respects violently anti-Hindu and was influenced by a key book by Katherine Mayo called Mother India that came out in the 1920s and perpetuated various fairly unpleasant stereotypes about Hindus.

There was a degree to which Churchill was somewhat concerned about the fate of the so-called Untouchables. It wasn’t that he was purely unpleasant but, at the same time, he was more favourable towards Muslims in India. Now, of course, there’s a famous quotation from The River War , his book about the Sudan war in the 1890s, where he says something along the lines that ‘Islam is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia is in a dog.’ Again, he’s got this image of being totally anti-Islam.

“He commented that the Hindu-Muslim divide was the bulwark of British rule in India; in other words, divide and rule”

Warren’s book explores this in interesting ways. He shows the complexities of it. Everybody who attempted to govern the British Empire had to take account of the fact that the British Empire was—to put it one way—the world’s largest Muslim power.

I remain a bit sceptical about how sincere any of Churchill’s efforts to cultivate Muslims were, and particularly his contacts among the princes. I think he was in theory willing to work with them. But he also made a comment in 1939 in the cabinet that the Hindu-Muslim divide was the bulwark of British rule in India; in other words, divide and rule. You can’t look at all these contacts with Muslims, see him being polite to them and conclude that he must have been a really nice, open-minded, progressive guy. There were deeper things going on. But I think it is an important story.

He was Colonial Secretary just after the First World War, and in that role was instrumental in delineating the borders of Jordan, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East as it is now. Does this book tell us something particular about how he thought about that part of the world or what he thought he was doing at that time?

It shows the complexity of the Islamic world, containing Sunni and Shia, and people of various different ethnicities. It’s a very large part of the world. One would be hard pushed to describe Churchill as pro-Arab. He made various unpleasant comments about them, particularly in relation to the Arabs of Palestine. At the same time, he was somebody who was prey to rather romantic visions of the Middle East. He was friendly with T.E. Lawrence, which was obviously crucial in that respect. As Warren shows in his book, Churchill was quite prone to dressing-up games, getting into Arab clothing and hanging about with people like Lawrence and Wilfred Blunt. There was an orientalist appeal that this had for him.

I’ve seen suggestions that Dockter makes the case that, relatively speaking, Churchill was ‘progressive’ in his policy making towards various parts of the Middle East and Islamic World, compared to the orientalist prejudice of many of his contemporaries. It sounds from what you’ve said that you’d treat such claims with a certain amount of scepticism.

I’d be a little bit cautious and I think that Warren would hold back from saying that Churchill was ‘progressive’ as such. I think he’s trying to show, rightly, a more complex picture.

And I do think that—partly through Churchill’s own fault—he gets it in the neck for decisions that were taken in the Middle East in the immediate aftermath of World War I. Churchill gets the blame for having drawn these lines in the sand and created supposedly unsustainable states at the Cairo Conference of 1921. But there are a lot of things that have gone wrong in the Middle East over the past hundred years, only some of which can be blamed on Churchill. Part of the reason why he gets blamed so much is because he was such a showman that he wanted to associate himself with these decisions, whatever they were, even if he wasn’t really the driving force.

Decisions had to be made. Churchill said, ‘Let’s have a conference in Cairo’. So, everybody made their way out to Cairo. This became a famous episode. But if he’d just let the experts get on with it and sign a few memos, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal. He’s paid the price for something which he himself wanted to do. He wanted to be a celebrity politician. He wanted to get the credit for decisions. In some ways that’s been positive for his reputation and in some ways it’s been negative.

Let’s move on to David Reynolds’ In Command of History . This is about his writing career between his two premierships, from when he lost power at the end of World War II to his return as prime minister in 1951. Is that right?

Yes. One of the reasons I admire this book so much is the technical feat of writing it. The genius is really in the structure. Writing a book about writing a book is a very difficult thing to do when what you’re trying to do is cast light on the historical episodes that the book is about. Reynolds has succeeded brilliantly in doing that and getting the balance right. It’s hard to see how it could have been done better. It’s not too long. He had to be selective because there’s an enormous amount of material and he couldn’t cover everything. But I think he basically chose the right bits. Fundamentally, it’s a book about the way in which Churchill tried to manipulate his account of history in order to make himself look better. That’s what it boils down to. The only criticism I have of the book—and it’s not really a very big one—is that with the title, which is obviously great, there is a slight risk of suggesting that Churchill was always successful in getting his interpretation accepted.

Churchill had the great advantage of having access to lots of original documents, which nobody else had access to and, therefore, it was quite difficult for anybody else to refute his account. But people weren’t stupid. There was a lot of publicly available information that people could use to dispute Churchill’s interpretation and they did. One has to be a bit cautious about thinking that ‘In Command of History’ means he laid down this version and then that became the totally authoritative, uncontested version until such time as the archives were open to everyone.

Obviously the Bengal famine was something that he skirted over, but is there a very broad interpretation of events that he gives, that has subsequently been overturned?

One of the important points in the book is that, in the first volume, The Gathering Storm , David rightly points out that you could read it without really knowing that Churchill spent a huge chunk of the first part of the decade campaigning against the ‘Government of India Bill’. Because Churchill generated so many memoranda, so many speeches over the years, it became fairly easy for him to construct a story where he spotted the danger of Nazi Germany earlier than everybody else and then consistently spent all the time up until 1939 talking about this while—supposedly—barely anybody else paid the slightest bit of attention.

Those are the foundations of the heroic narrative, that he was a uniquely farsighted prophet. Historians would now emphasise—and indeed have been doing for about 50 years, if not longer—that Churchill was concerned to obtain political office and that many of his actions and exactly what he said at particular moments was shaped by that. You can go through his speeches and have fun finding the bits where he said really nice things about Neville Chamberlain, for example.

Churchill, from his own point of view, wouldn’t have denied that he was seeking office. He would have asked how he was going to do anything or get what he wanted unless he held office. And, sure enough, he had to hold office, as First Lord of the Admiralty in 1940, before he could obtain the highest office, that of prime minister.

“He would insist to the publishers, ‘Well, I could finish this volume if I had a holiday in Morocco!’ For which they, of course, were expected to pay…”

The book also shows how accounts of particular episodes during the war were shaped by the desire not to offend the Americans post-war, or not to offend Eisenhower. He might have been quite critical of some things Ike did during the war, but that was not the sort of thing to which he was going to draw attention.

This book is also interesting on the technique by which the book was actually written. Churchill was a bit of a nightmare author. He was always late and the book got larger and larger. There were always corrections up until the last minute. He would insist to the publishers or to Time-Life , who were serialising it, ‘Well, I could finish this volume if I had a holiday in Morocco!’ For which they, of course, were expected to pay…

As well as creating this heroic image of himself through the 1930s and during World War II, did Churchill’s book serve almost as manifesto for him taking over again in the early 1950s and completing undone business, or is that overdoing it a bit?

Let’s move on to Christopher M. Bell’s book, Churchill and the Dardanelles . 

The Dardanelles was one of the most controversial episodes of Churchill’s career. Some people might still argue that, if it wasn’t for a few small things going wrong, then it could have been a great success. Again, it’s one of those episodes where Churchill, personally, attracted more opprobrium than was perhaps fully justified. But, at the same time, he walked into the trap. He was exonerated to an extent by the Dardanelles Commission, during the war itself, and he went to great lengths to provide evidence and persuade the commissioners of his righteousness. And it was true that he hadn’t single-handedly ordered this, that it had to have the approval of Asquith as prime minister and all sorts of military figures and other ministers.

“The Dardanelles was one of the most controversial episodes of Churchill’s career.”

His role in the Dardanelles was pretty fundamental but, again, the single hero/villain picture is too simplistic. The book does a very good job of looking at press coverage and shows the ways in which parts of the press, particularly the Morning Post , which by this time had turned against Churchill, were really out to get Churchill and were gearing up to attack him well before things had started to go wrong. Essentially they had some quite weird agendas of their own. At this point he was a Liberal and was seen as a traitor to the Conservative cause.

That was the motivation of the Morning Post , was it, that he was this turncoat?

Reading between the lines. Nobody says, ‘I’m going to do him in because he’s a turncoat’. They say, ‘He’s egotistical, he’s unreliable, he doesn’t listen to military expertise’ et cetera. But it gets so vitriolic that you think, ‘Well, what’s the agenda here, really?’ Chris Bell does a very good job of being very balanced, neither underplaying or overdoing the criticism of what was an absolutely foundational episode and, obviously, very critical for the interpretation of Churchill’s career.

Why did Churchill expend so much time and effort defending himself over the Dardanelles? After the failure of the expedition, he did the honourable thing, resigned and went to fight in the trenches—at least briefly. Why did this episode get under his skin so badly?

I think that he had a deep suspicion that he’d actually really ballsed everything up. If you wanted a psychological reading, based on speculation, you could argue that his sense of guilt was going to be alleviated if he could prove that actually everything was all somebody else’s fault. He was looking for someone else to validate that view. We all do this. We try and explain to ourselves and to anyone who will listen that it couldn’t possibly be us and that, if we did make a mistake, it was entirely understandable at the time, and it was probably somebody else’s fault we did make a mistake, because we didn’t have the right information, or whatever.

I think there’s a powerful urge to self-justification, which we are all prey to and you can imagine how that might operate if you have played a significant role in a colossal military error. I think that did play on his mind and it almost became an obsession: ‘It wouldn’t have gone wrong, if only I’d really been properly listened to’ or ‘if only people had had the courage or conviction to carry on.’ It was as if he was arguing that it would have worked if only they had doubled down. Then it would have been worth it. That would have shown it to be justified.

There’s obviously a direct political motivation. As you mention, he goes to the trenches, but he’s pretty keen to come back, really, not through any lack of physical bravery, but simply because, at a deep level, what he’s really interested in is politics, rather than military affairs. So there’s a practical reason why he needs to justify himself, or thinks that he does. But I think there’s also the more profound psychological motivation to absolve himself.

Lots of people criticized him heavily for it, not just at an official level, but among the population at large. He was held personally responsible for it, wasn’t he?

It’s very difficult to separate out what the papers are saying from what people thought. If you look at World War II, where you start to get Mass Observation diaries, for example, you do see people recalling, or at least being aware of Gallipoli. How much that necessarily had an impact at the time is a bit unclear. There was a famous occasion in, I think, 1923, when he was making a speech and somebody from the audience shouted out, ‘What about Gallipoli?!’ But it wasn’t as if everywhere he went he encountered hecklers who shouted, ‘What about Gallipoli?!’.

Let’s move on to the final book, which is Violet Bonham Carter’s Winston Churchill As I Knew Him . I think this was published in the year he died, but she was a friend of his in his early political career. Is that right?

Yes, throughout his political career, really. She was one of the few close female friends that he had. That’s not to say that he didn’t get on well with women, but most of his close friends were men. That’s not particularly unusual for somebody of his generation or, indeed, probably for many men today. She was, of course, also the daughter of H.H. Asquith and met Churchill early on in his career. She gives this account in the book of the first time they met. At that dinner he says something like, ‘We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glow-worm.’ She captures various memories, which otherwise might not have been recorded.

It was clearly something of a labour of love. It was being prepared for publication before he died. It only takes the story up to 1915. She did think of writing another volume, but never got round to it. It’s full of personal anecdotes and a considerable amount of charm. She was a very determined person. She knew her mind. She didn’t mind telling Churchill off when she thought that he was making mistakes.

There’s a lovely bit of evidence I found in her archive. It was Churchill’s 80th birthday and they were going to publish an edited book, where different people who knew Churchill would provide their memories and reflections. She did contribute. She was the only woman in the book and the editors wrote to her to say they’d like her to write a chapter called ‘Winston Churchill: the Woman’s Perspective’. She refused to do that, saying that it would be as ridiculous to have a chapter called ‘Churchill: the Woman’s Perspective’ as it would be to have a chapter called ‘Churchill: the Man’s Perspective’. She told them she was going to write something else. They got this letter and they wrote back saying, ‘Oh, all right. We accept you’ll write something else. It’s a pity because we would so much have liked to have had ‘Churchill: the Woman’s Perspective’.’ And she writes back and explains it all again which, I have to say, I admire.

“When they met, Churchill said, ‘We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glow-worm’”

But she could be over the top in making a fuss about things. Martin Gilbert, who was Churchill’s official biographer, but in the early 1960s was a researcher, once made the mistake of spelling her surname with a hyphen. And she told him, ‘There’s no hyphen in my name. I’m very very surprised that you should have made this basic mistake.’ She could have been a bit more relaxed about that!

The other thing to say is that nobody quite knows whether, when she first met Churchill, she expected or hoped that he would propose to her. Was she in love with him? If she was, she clearly got over it. We don’t know. When she was writing her own work on Churchill she had a sort of rivalry with Randolph, Churchill’s son, who had started the official biography at the same time. She wrote to him saying, ‘I had all these letters from your father from the early period, but I’ve destroyed them because they’re too personal or too intimate.’ Of course, she may have meant intimate in the political sense. But it’s very sad that that happened and one can only wonder what gossip was in there that we would very much like to have today.

How does her portrait of him compare with his self-portrait in My Early Life ? Did she know him before he was married to Clementine? Does she talk about him largely as a friend in private life, or as a politician, or both?

I think she may have met him as early as 1906, so before he’d really properly met Clementine. Clementine and Winston had a whirlwind courtship in 1908.

How to compare them? You’ve got to remember, there’s a little bit of tension because, rather than just being somebody who wants to give Churchill the best possible write-up, the person she is really concerned about defending is her father. I don’t think there are any particularly obvious points in the book where there is a clash between the two, or at least she manages to nuance it. But, if she had to make a choice between saying something that reflected badly on her father or something that reflected badly on Churchill, then she wouldn’t be afraid to say something critical of Churchill. Whereas Asquith is untouchable. I think that is, actually, an important dynamic.

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But it’s basically an affectionate portrait by somebody who was, on the whole, politically sympathetic to him, particularly during his Liberal phase. She was a lifelong Liberal and the respect that he had for her, which was very genuine, was well illustrated in the general election of 1951. She ran as a Liberal in Colne Valley and he succeeded in getting the Conservative candidate to stand aside. In fact she lost anyway, but he was so determined that she should be elected that he was willing to put the fundamental interest of the Conservative Party to one side.

That was partly a political strategy on his part, because he wanted to appeal to Liberal voters and former Liberal voters and to win them back from Attlee. He wants to play up his own former Liberal credentials and he wants to highlight Liberals and former Liberals whom he’s associated with. But his willingness to challenge the bureaucracy of his own party over this does show the very considerable respect he had for her.

What kind of a book is it? Is she quoting evidence to support points she’s making, or is it a simple memoir , her own recollection at the time of writing?

It’s more of a memoir. She had a researcher working for her on it, so she didn’t just sit there and write it off the top of her head. She definitely made sure she had her factual points of orientation and got her dates right. And she had kept extensive diaries and letters, which have subsequently been published. You do get some discrepancies. The glow-worm quote isn’t in the diary. So, you do wonder, did she just forget to write it in her diary, but remember it clearly and reproduce it years later? Or did her mind play some weird trick on her, or did he say it on some other occasion? One always gets little questions like that.

And in what sense is she using her memory of Churchill up until 1911 to defend her father politically?

If Churchill can be shown to have been virtuously promoting Liberal reforms, that reflects well on her father. I’m certainly not saying she wrote the book on Churchill in order to vindicate Asquith. But it’s a benefit of the book, in a way, because it means she’s not going to be an absolutely uncritical or slavish admirer of Churchill, whether or not she makes all the right criticisms. I think that, for that reason, it becomes a better book because it has that element of distance, while still being admiring.

Finally, I’m curious to get your views on the Churchill book publishing phenomenon—as an insider. Do you see it just increasing with ever greater strength from year to year, or will it reach saturation? What keeps it going?

I think the books I’ve cited show it’s possible to take an original approach to Churchill and take an angle which nobody has ever done before. But there isn’t an inexhaustible supply of people who are willing and able to do that systematically and create new insights.

At the other end, there is a market for what you might call the ‘Churchill’s laundry lists’ angle. Or, if you want to write a book about some aspect of World War II you call it ‘Churchill’s Bomb-Sight Developers’ or something like that. There’s a certain amount of mediocre work that continues to be promoted. And then there are some things that are OK as ‘curiosities’—I won’t name any titles, it would be unfair. They are perfectly alright as far as they go, but they don’t really advance our understanding very much.

Every couple of years another really good book on Churchill comes out and, at the same time, huge numbers that are somewhat indifferent. I expect it will continue in a similar vein for the foreseeable future.

One final question. Is there a particular one volume biography that you would recommend? I’m only aware of Roy Jenkins’ and Andrew Roberts’ , but there may be others.

I would probably recommend Paul Addison’s Churchill: The Unexpected Hero , particularly bearing in mind that not everybody wants to read an awful lot about Churchill and that it is a fairly short one. It’s very scholarly, but very accessible. I think Paul, who died this year, was an excellent historian, who deserves more recognition. When I was running a course on Churchill, that was the book I told my students to read over the summer. That and My Early Life and they’d be well set up with a basic understanding for the start of the year.

That would be my recommendation, rather than an intimidating doorstopper, although Roy Jenkins’ book understandably—and rightly—has a lot of fans.

August 3, 2020

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Richard Toye

Richard Toye is Professor of Modern History at the University of Exeter. He previously worked at the University of Cambridge. He has written widely on modern British and international political and economic history. His critically acclaimed book Lloyd George and Churchill: Rivals for Greatness won him the 2007 Times Higher Young Academic Author of the Year Award.

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Churchill: Walking with Destiny Hardcover – Illustrated, November 6, 2018

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• Print length 1152 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Viking
• Publication date November 6, 2018
• Dimensions 6.5 x 2 x 9.5 inches
• ISBN-10 1101980990
• ISBN-13 978-1101980996
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking; Illustrated edition (November 6, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 1152 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1101980990
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1101980996
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 2 x 9.5 inches
• #16 in Historical British Biographies
• #36 in WWII Biographies
• #117 in World War II History (Books)

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Andrew roberts.

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Walking with Destiny

By Andrew Roberts

By andrew roberts read by stephen thorne, category: historical figure biographies & memoirs | world war ii military history | european world history, category: historical figure biographies & memoirs | world war ii military history | european world history | audiobooks.

Oct 15, 2019 | ISBN 9781101981009 | 6 x 9 --> | ISBN 9781101981009 --> Buy

Nov 06, 2018 | ISBN 9781101980996 | 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 --> | ISBN 9781101980996 --> Buy

Nov 06, 2018 | ISBN 9781101981016 | ISBN 9781101981016 --> Buy

Nov 06, 2018 | 3029 Minutes | ISBN 9780525641728 --> Buy

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Oct 15, 2019 | ISBN 9781101981009

Nov 06, 2018 | ISBN 9781101980996

Nov 06, 2018 | ISBN 9781101981016

Nov 06, 2018 | ISBN 9780525641728

3029 Minutes

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About Churchill

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER One of The Wall Street Journal ’s  Ten Best Books of 2018 One of The Economist ’s Best Books of 2018 One of The New York Times ’ s Notable Books of 2018 “Unarguably the best single-volume biography of Churchill . . . A brilliant feat of storytelling, monumental in scope, yet put together with tenderness for a man who had always believed that he would be Britain’s savior.” — Wall Street Journal In this landmark biography of Winston Churchill based on extensive new material, the true genius of the man, statesman and leader can finally be fully seen and understood–by the bestselling, award-winning author of Napoleon and The Last King of America. When we seek an example of great leaders with unalloyed courage, the person who comes to mind is Winston Churchill: the iconic, visionary war leader immune from the consensus of the day, who stood firmly for his beliefs when everyone doubted him. But how did young Winston become Churchill? What gave him the strength to take on the superior force of Nazi Germany when bombs rained on London and so many others had caved? In Churchill, Andrew Roberts gives readers the full and definitive Winston Churchill, from birth to lasting legacy, as personally revealing as it is compulsively readable. Roberts gained exclusive access to extensive new material: transcripts of War Cabinet meetings, diaries, letters and unpublished memoirs from Churchill’s contemporaries. The Royal Family permitted Roberts–in a first for a Churchill biographer–to read the detailed notes taken by King George VI in his diary after his weekly meetings with Churchill during World War II. This treasure trove of access allows Roberts to understand the man in revelatory new ways, and to identify the hidden forces fueling Churchill’s legendary drive. We think of Churchill as a hero who saved civilization from the evils of Nazism and warned of the grave crimes of Soviet communism, but Roberts’s masterwork reveals that he has as much to teach us about the challenges leaders face today–and the fundamental values of courage, tenacity, leadership and moral conviction.

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Also by andrew roberts.

About Andrew Roberts

Andrew Roberts is the bestselling author of The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War, Masters and Commanders: How Four Titans Won the War in the West, 1941-1945, Waterloo: Napoleon’s Last Gamble and Napoleon: A Life, winner of the Los… More about Andrew Roberts

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Category: historical figure biographies & memoirs | world war ii military history | european world history, category: historical figure biographies & memoirs | world war ii military history | european world history | audiobooks, you may also like.

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A USA Today Book You Won’t Want to Miss A Washington Post Book to Read in November A Christian Science Monitor Best Book of November A Mental Floss Best Book of 2018 An Octavian Report Essential Read for 2019 A New York Post Book That Should Be On Everyone’s Holiday Gift List  A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018 A Lit Hub Best Book of 2018 Shortlisted for the 2019 Plutarch Award “The best single-volume biography of Churchill yet written. . . . Roberts tells this story with great authority and not a little panache. He writes elegantly, with enjoyable flashes of tartness, and is in complete command both of his sources and the vast historiography.” —Richard Aldous,  The New York Times  “Terrific . . . By drawing on many previously untapped sources, Mr. Roberts has produced a more complete picture of his subject than any previous biography.” —The Economist “Even if you’ve read every other book about the former prime minister and seen all the movies, expect revelations. For example: The royal family permitted the author to read King George VI’s diary notes about his wartime meetings with Churchill. That’s a first.” —The Washington Post  “Brilliant, breathtaking, unputdownable . . . the definitive picture of our greatest political leader. All Roberts’s past life has been but a preparation for this hour and this work, and this brilliant book is a fitting crown to his own career.” —London Evening Standard “Roberts’ new biography (★★★★ out of four) stands tall, re-illuminating the well-etched contours of Churchill’s monumental life with scrupulous scholarship and a flair for unearthing the telling detail; looking twice where most biographers have been content to glance once.” — USA Today   “In this season of giving, get (and give) Andrew Roberts’s brilliant new biography. . . . A review last month in  The Times  called it ‘the best single-volume biography of Churchill yet written,’ but it’s more than that. It’s an antidote to the reigning conceits, self-deceptions, half-truths and clichés of our day.” —Bret Stephens,  The New York Times “The best biography of Winston ever written . . . bursts with character, humour and incident on almost every page.” —The Sunday Times  “At a time when every fraud and charlatan is taking refuge in spurious fantasies of Churchilliana, it is salutary to read this brilliant, bracing mega-biography of Winston Churchill and be reminded what Britain’s most famous prime minister was actually like.” —The Guardian “Fantastically readable prose, which flows along in a pitch-perfect combination of erudition and eloquence . . . In brightly engaging chapters, Roberts takes readers through all the stages of Churchill’s adventurous life as a soldier of the empire and then as a professional politician . . . Roberts is a shrewd and experienced biographer.” —Christian Science Monitor “A tour de force of scrupulous selection and astute appraisal, perhaps the best full-scale biography to date in a field where the competition has been crowded and stiff.” —National Review “A stupendous achievement: lucid, erudite, intelligent, but also inspiring. Roberts catches the imperishable grandeur of Churchill’s life as no other historian has done. Roberts does full justice to Churchill’s superhuman range of activity.” —Standpoint Magazine “The best single-volume life imaginable of a man whose life it would seem technically impossible to get into a single volume.” —Daily Telegraph “Roberts brilliantly conjures up one of the most fascinating characters of all time. He enriches the saga with wonderful examples of Churchill’s aristocratic eccentricities, glittering oratory and wit.” —Literary Review “It’s the sort of biography that, one feels, Churchill himself would have wanted: colossal, energetic, deeply knowledgeable, properly critical, but also sympathetic and, in places, deliciously funny.” —Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph “Roberts is a master storyteller.” —The Weekly Standard “[Roberts’s] research is outstanding, based on archival and primary sources . . . What emerges in Roberts’ book is a man full of complexities. . . . Roberts’ book is full of insights and facts that provide a deeper understanding of Churchill.” —Tom Hallman, Jr., The Oregonian “This definitive biography of the storied leader was made possible through unprecedented access to material, including diaries, letters, unpublished memoirs and even the detailed diary notes taken by King George VI.” —New York Post “Terrific . . . Churchill probably lived the most variegated life of any political figure of the 20th century. Moreover, he was obnoxious, charming, emotional, selfish and patriotic. Roberts has captured his complexity in a way that few historians have ever imagined.” —The Boston Herald “Roberts’s brilliant new book is not only learned and sagacious but also thrilling and fun. An award-winning historian and biographer, an expert on statecraft, leadership, and the Second World War, Roberts writes with authority and confidence. Enriched by such previously unseen material as King George VI’s wartime diaries, [Churchill]  should stand as the definitive one-volume Churchill biography.”  —The City Journal “Andrew Roberts has written the best single-volume biography of Winston Churchill to date.” —New York Journal of Books “Widely praised as the best single-volume biography of Winston Churchill ever written, historian and commentator Roberts draws on previously unavailable journals and notes for the robust, engrossing, and nuanced history of the great British leader.” —The National Book Review “Roberts writes gripping narrative history without deserting high scholarly standards. . . . Surely the last word for years to come on Churchill.” — History Today “Like all of Andrew Roberts’s histories,  Churchill  is massively researched and exquisitely written. The author’s sharp sense of humor is often in evidence and warmly complements Churchill’s own. This is a brilliant work, by a very fine historian, on a permanently heroic and always fascinating figure.” — The New Criterion “Wonderful, masterly . . .  There have been few lives as long, momentous, and wide-ranging as that of Sir Winston Churchill, author, adventurer, orator, wit, painter, animal lover, friend, and politician. Andrew Roberts’s masterful, supremely readable biography has a text 982 pages long. It could hardly have been shorter and told so extraordinary a story so well.” —Commentary “The most superb one-volume biography I have ever read—of anyone. . . . Roberts also manages something I thought impossible. He has given us a new, ground-breaking portrait of the man whom many consider to be the greatest ever Englishman. . . . Roberts’s brilliance as a biographer was clear from his very first, of Lord Halifax. Re-reading it in tandem with this magnificent Churchill, one sees yet again just how finely history turns on random and uncertain events. . . . This is a simply wonderful book. A living, poetic, stirring yet thought-provoking portrait of a giant, it will be regarded as a classic for generations to come.” —The Jewish Chronicle “Terrific. . . . [Roberts] is one of the great historians of his generation and he is stupendously readable. . . . Andrew Roberts has captured [Churchill’s] complexity in a way that few historians have ever imagined.” —The American Spectator “Not only is it the best biography I have read this year; it might well be the best I’ve read ever. In terms of Roberts’s oeuvre, this book will surely stand as his masterpiece. This is biography as art, and a finer example one could scarcely hope to read. Why on earth does the world need another biography of Churchill? Before reading this, it would have been hard to say. Afterwards, very easy indeed—because it needed Andrew Roberts to write it.” —The Catholic Herald “Winston Churchill was perhaps the greatest leader of the twentieth century and a person who never ceases to fascinate and inspire. Widely hailed as the best single volume biography of Churchill ever written, historian Roberts’ magisterial biography captures the unfailing spirit of the man who saved Europe in all his flawed brilliance.” —The Octavian Report “In my opinion, the book, Churchill: Walking with Destiny, is the most precious gift of the year 2018—in history, education, knowledge, and literature. . . . If there were a Nobel Prize for historical research, Andrew Roberts would be a perfect candidate.” —The Jerusalem Report “A page-turner . . . full of new material that has not been previously available to Churchill scholars. Roberts manages to mobilize these tremendous sources into a well-paced narrative that is full of exciting passages—which matches  perfectly the venturesome spirit of Winston Churchill.” — Law & Liberty “A complex and compelling depiction of one of the most important political leaders of the 20th century, one sure to enlighten and provoke both those familiar with Churchill and those who may know little beyond . . . a tour de force. Roberts has given us a great gift. He presents a Churchill in all of his complexity. What makes this book essential for those who care about reviving and defending liberal democracy in our time is that it reminds us that, even at moments when old hatreds burn bright and few are willing to swim against the current, it is still possible for great leaders to emerge.” — American Interest “I didn’t think we really needed a new Churchill biography, or, having read so many, that I would find a new one catching up my attention, but Roberts proved me wrong. In addition to new source material, Roberts’s judgments about Churchill, and his keen selection of the most salient details about Churchill thought and action, are superb.” — Claremont Review of Books   “A magnificent and carefully nuanced life and times of Winston Churchill, elegantly written, studded with new research, and deeply imagined. Andrew Roberts accomplishes a minor miracle in offering a fresh, empathetic portrait in an authoritative and fast-paced narrative that never flags. Roberts explores Winston Churchill’s strengths and weaknesses as a leader, his self-centeredness and his generosity, allowing us to feel both Churchill’s personal vulnerabilities as well as his force as a public figure.” —Biographers International Organization “A heroic biography, appropriately matched to the ambition, egotism, and undoubted achievement of the life it describes. It will surely remain the outstanding Churchill biography for many years to come.” —International Churchill Society “The newly definitive one-volume biography of its subject . . . Andrew Roberts has brilliantly reconstructed the life of a titanic figure of the twentieth century within the intellectual context of his times. As such,  Churchill  constitutes a first-rate, authentic work of historical scholarship for our time.” — History News Network “Riveting . . . A masterful biography, rich in detail and insight.” — Booklist (starred review) “A well-researched and exceptionally well-written biography . . . This compelling book is likely to become a standard text on Churchill and will be difficult to keep on the shelves.” — Library Journal (starred review) “This biography is exhaustively researched, beautifully written and paced, deeply admiring but not hagiographic, and empathic and balanced in its judgments—a magnificent achievement.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A clear, well-limned view of a complex figure who, in no danger of being forgotten, continues to inspire. The most comprehensive single-volume biography of Churchill that we have in print and a boon for any student of the statesman and his times.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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11 Best Books On Winston Churchill

“I never gave them courage. I was able to focus theirs.”

Few figures can match the magnitude of Winston Churchill. A massive figure both as a statesman and as a man, Churchill is a figure who has unified and divided people ever since making his first mark in history. A volatile and later disgraced MP who rose to lead his country to victory out of the darkest of days against Fascism, Churchill’s views, morals and private personal characteristics have enthralled and fascinated readers for over fifty years after his death. Join us at What We Reading for the 11 best books on Winston Churchill!   

My Early Life 1874-1904 – Winston Churchill

Who better to start off with than the man himself? In My Early Life 1874-1904 , Churchill takes readers through the opening thirty years of his life as a way of giving readers insight into the makings of one of modern history’s most defining figures. 

The book covers Churchill’s early years, his schooling, his experiences as a war correspondent in South Africa during the Boer War and his first encounters as a young Member of Parliament. Not only is this a valuable resource shedding light on a criminally underrepresented portion of history, but it is also a beautiful read into Churchill’s influences and motivations in his formative years.  

Winston Churchill As I Knew Him – Violet Bonham Carter

Daughter of former Liberal Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and grandmother to the Academy Award-winning actor, Violet Bonham Carter was an acclaimed British politician and diarist. As a leading opposer of appeasement and a huge figure in her own right, she was Winston Churchill’s closest female friend, besides his wife. 

Mainly covering the period during the years of the First World War, Winston Churchill As I Knew Him is a personal collection of unique and private moments from the man himself, showcasing his vulnerabilities and insecurities from one of the darkest points of his life. 

Winston Churchill: His Times, His Crimes – Tariq Ali

Winston Churchill is a figure whose attitudes and ideals have been increasingly scrutinised as time has gone on. A fierce advocate for Imperialism and the preservation of the British Empire during his life, his darker beliefs are put under the spotlight in Tariq Ali’s Winston Churchill: His Times, His Crimes .

This 2022 historical nonfiction book covers some of the lesser-known actions conducted by the former PM that was entrenched in the sorts of values most would consider racist today. From suppression of women’s suffrage, the Bengal Famine, war crimes in Kenya, the advocacy of poison gas against local tribesmen and the 1955 election slogan ‘keep Britain white’, Ali’s 2022 biography is essential for understanding Churchill from all angles. 

The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History – Boris Johnson

One former British PM details the life and times of another in Boris Johnson’s The Churchill  Factor: How One Man Made History . 

This political biography , released to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of his death, details how Churchill’s eccentricities helped to fashion a career that shaped his world, and our one today. There is obviously quite a lot of awe-struck about the book, but Boris Johnson’s admiration for Churchill gives the book so much character and serves to illustrate the influence and legacy Britain’s wartime leader has left behind. 

Churchill: Walking With Destiny – Andrew Roberts 

Possibly one of the most acclaimed books on Winston Churchill ever written, Walking With Destiny comes from the skilled mind of historian Andrew Roberts, author of Napoleon and The Storm of War. 

In the book, Roberts gets given access to never-before-seen transcripts, memoirs, notes from King George VI and personal letters that had previously been withheld from the public to present Churchill in a new light. Walking With Destiny details the fuels and motivations behind the man, attempting to shed light on how one man proved himself to be one of the most unwavering in contemporary history. 

Check Out The Best Books On Franklin D Roosevelt

The Splendid And The Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz – Erik Larson

The summer of 1940 was a period in British history known as ‘ the Blitz ’. In an effort to drain British war efforts and pummel morale to the point of surrender, the German Luftwaffe’s constant bombing raids over British cities have gone down in infamy as the country’s ‘darkest hour’. 

Nominated for Best History & Biography (2020) in the Goodreads Choice Awards, Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile details how Churchill’s defiance in the face of the worst odds imaginable was forged and passed on to the British people. Featuring diary entries, archival evidence and newly classified intel, this WW2 book follows Churchill and his family during their day-to-day existence, detailing everything from his wife’s illicit lover to the members of the PM’s ‘secret circle’. 

The Wicked Wit Of Winston Churchill – Dominique Enright

Along with his staunch ideals, Winston Churchill has gone down in history as one of the quintessential sharp-tongued, snarky Englishmen. 

Dominique Enright’s 2001 book The Wicked Wit of Winston Churchill features the best collection of quips, questions, remarks and comebacks from his lifetime. From his quick wit to his profound understanding of humanity and the horrors of war, it is one of the most invaluable books on Winston Churchill for those looking for a quick read to better understand the complexities of his character.

Churchill: A Life – Martin Gilbert 

Consisting of eight volumes that took over a quarter of a century to write, Churchill: A Life is the single edition of acclaimed historian Martin Gilbert’s work on Britain’s WW2 PM. 

The official biographer of Winston Churchill, Gilbert takes readers through his entire life, how his steadfast beliefs helped steer Britain through its most vulnerable days, but also how he showed himself to be a trailblazer when it came to technology and warfare. Helping to pioneer the use of aircraft, anti-aircraft and tank technology, Gilbert’s work helps showcase how Churchill has become the enduring face of the Second World War. 

Churchill And The Islamic World – Warren Dockter

Churchill and the Islamic World : Orientalism, Empire and Diplomacy in the Middle East the 2014 historical biography from Warren Dockter. In it, Dockter examines Churchill’s orientalist views and how they shaped British colonial relations during his lifespan. 

And whilst he might be best remembered for his actions in the Western hemisphere these views and opinions drastically helped shape the modern Islamic world we see today. From securing valuable commodities such as oil, and preventing Russian expansion all the way to preserving British Imperialistic values, Dockter masterfully weaves all of these into one valuable resource here for one of the best books on Winston Churchill.

Churchill And Secret Service – David Stafford

David Stafford’s biography, Churchill and Secret Service , takes readers on a thrilling journey through Winston Churchill’s deep fascination with the world of espionage and secret intelligence.

From The Great Game between Russia and the United Kingdom to his influential role in the Anglo-American coup that toppled Mussadiq in Iran in 1953, Stafford’s absorbing account reveals how Churchill helped establish the contemporary Secret Service. With vivid details and a compelling narrative, Churchill and Secret Service is a must-read for anyone interested in this intriguing aspect of Churchill’s life.

The Iron Curtain: Churchill, America and the Origins of the Cold War – Fraser J Harbutt

Churchill’s remarkable career was characterized by both extraordinary achievements and significant setbacks. While his 1945 election defeat was one of the biggest electoral upsets in British history, Fraser J Harbutt’s The Iron Curtain shows how this disappointment played a key role in solidifying Churchill’s iconic status in the United States.

Through Harbutt’s insightful exploration of Churchill’s contribution to the onset of the Cold War, readers are invited to witness Churchill’s rise as one of the foremost advocates of Western democracy during a time when much of Eastern Europe was being engulfed by Stalin’s Communist regime.

Check Out The Best Battle Of Britain Books

Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).

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The Best Books About Winston Churchill

“What are the best books about Winston Churchill?” We looked at 140 of the top Winston Churchill books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 27 books, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Winston Churchill” book lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 100+ titles, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 27 Winston Churchill Books

27 .) churchill: a biography by roy jenkins.

Lists It Appears On:

“From acclaimed historian Roy Jenkins, a comprehensive portrait of Winston Churchill, an icon of modern history, from his childhood to the critical World War II period and beyond, in this definitive volume. A member of the House of Lords, Jenkins combines unparalleled command of British political history and his own high-level government experience in a narrative account of Churchill’s astounding career that is unmatched in its shrewd insights, its unforgettable anecdotes, the clarity of its overarching themes, and the author’s nuanced appreciation of his extraordinary subject. Exceptional in its breadth of knowledge and distinguished in its stylish wit and penetrating intelligence, Churchill is one of the finest political biographies of our time.”

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26 .) Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Distilled from years of meticulous research and documentation, filled with material unavailable when the earliest books of the official biography’s eight volumes went to press, Churchill is a brilliant marriage of the hard facts of the public life and the intimate details of the private man. The result is a vital portrait of one of the most remarkable men of any age as well as a revealing depiction of a man of extraordinary courage and imagination.

25 .) Clementine, the Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell

“Late in life, Winston Churchill claimed that victory in the Second World War would have been “impossible” without the woman who stood by his side for fifty-seven turbulent years. Why, then, do we know so little about her? In this landmark biography, a finalist for the Plutarch prize, Sonia Purnell finally gives Clementine Churchill her due. Born into impecunious aristocracy, the young Clementine Hozier was the target of cruel snobbery. Many wondered why Winston married her, when the prime minister’s daughter was desperate for his attention. Yet their marriage proved to be an exceptional partnership. “”You know,””Winston confided to FDR, “”I tell Clemmie everything.”” Through the ups and downs of his tumultuous career, in the tense days when he stood against Chamberlain and the many months when he helped inspire his fellow countrymen and women to keep strong and carry on, Clementine made her husband’s career her mission, at the expense of her family, her health and, fatefully, of her children. Any real consideration of Winston Churchill is incomplete without an understanding of their relationship. Clementine is both the first real biography of this remarkable woman and a fascinating look inside their private world.”

24 .) Five Days in London, May 1940 by John Lukacs

“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 Hitler or to continue what became known as the Second World War. The decisive importance of these five days is the focus of John Lukacs’s magisterial 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. We see how the military disasters taking place on the Continent—particularly the plight of the nearly 400,000 British soldiers bottled up in Dunkirk—affected Churchill’s fragile political situation, for he had been prime minister only a fortnight and was regarded as impetuous and hotheaded even by many of his own party. 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.”

23 .) For Free Trade

“For Free Trade was a political pamphlet originally published in 1906–and one of Winston Churchill’s rarest works. Throughout his career–as both a Conservative and a Liberal–Winston Churchill was a strong supporter of free trade. As a Conservative, this position was sometimes controversial; early in his career, Churchill took a stand in opposing Joseph Chamberlain’s proposed government tariffs designed to protect the economic dominance of Britain. This collection contains several speeches Churchill made on the subject of free trade, expressing his views with characteristic oratory brilliance.”

22 .) Ian Hamilton’s March (The Boer War)

This book is a continuation of those letters to the Morning Post newspaper on the South African War, which have been published under the title “London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.” The pricipal event with which the second series deals is the march of Lieutenant-General Ian Hamilton’s column on the flank of Lord Roberts’s main army from Bloemfontein to Pretoria.

21 .) In Search of Churchill — A Historian’s Journey by Martin Gilbert

• The Guardian

Martin Gilbert began work on Winston Churchill’s biography, initially as Randolph Churchill’s assistant, in 1962 on his 26th birthday. By 1992 he had himself written six of the total eight volumes and edited ten documentary volumes of a projected 15.

20 .) London to Ladysmith via Pretoria

This small book is mainly a personal record of my adventures and impressions during the first five months of the African War.

19 .) Marlborough

“John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (1644-1722), was one of the greatest military commanders and statesmen in the history of England. Victorious in the Battles of Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), and countless other campaigns, Marlborough, whose political intrigues were almost as legendary as his military skill, never fought a battle he didn’t win. Although he helped James II crush the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Marlborough later supported William of Orange against James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and brilliantly managed England’s diplomatic triumphs during the War of the Spanish Succession. Marlborough also bequeathed the world another great British military strategist and diplomat—his descendant, Winston S. Churchill, who wrote this book to redeem Marlborough’s reputation from Macaulay’s smears. One million words long and ten years in the making, Churchill’s Marlborough stands as both a literary and historical masterpiece, giving us unique insights into the Churchill of World War II, for just as Churchill’s literary skill helps us understand the complexities of Marlborough’s life, so too did his writing of Marlborough help Churchill master the arts of military strategy and diplomacy. This two-volume edition includes the entire text and almost all the original maps.”

18 .) Mr. Brodrick’s Army

“In 1903, Winston Churchill was at the cusp of a brilliant political career–a newly elected Parliament member with a brash, aggressive style of oration and passionate political convictions. During this time, John Brodrick, the Secretary of State for War, proposed an expansion of Britain’s peacetime military–a plan which Churchill strongly opposed. Churchill attacked Brodrick’s plan in six fiery speeches on the subject–speeches that generated strong support and left Brodrick politically isolated. Mr. Brodrick’s Army is a compilation of all six of these speeches. With fewer than 20 first editions currently in existence, it is the rarest of Churchill’s works–remarkable not only for its historical significance, but for its early display of the oratorical brilliance for which Churchill would become known.”

17 .) Never Give In!: The Best of Winston Churchill’s Speeches by Winston S. Churchill

Winston Churchill was the most eloquent and expressive statesman of his time. It was as an orator that Churchill became most completely alive, and it was through his oratory that his words made their greatest and most enduring impact. While the definitive collection of Churchill’s speeches fills eight volumes, here for the first time, his grandson, Winston S. Churchill, has put together a personal selection of his favorite speeches in a single, indispensable volume. He has chosen from his grandfather’s entire output and thoughtfully introduces each selection. The book covers the whole of Churchill’s life, from the very first speech he made to those of his last days. It includes some of Churchill’s best-known speeches as well as some that have never before been published in popular form. Today, Sir Winston Churchill is revered as an indomitable figure and his wisdom is called upon again and again. Reading these speeches, from the perspective of a new century, we can once again see Sir Winston Churchill’s genius and be moved and inspired by his words.

16 .) Painting as a Pastime by Winston S. Churchill

The perfect antidote to his ‘Black Dog’, a depression that blighted his working life, Churchill took to painting with gusto. Picking up a paintbrush for the first time at the age of forty, Winston Churchill found in painting a passion that was to remain his constant companion. This glorious essay exudes his compulsion for a hobby that allowed him peace during his dark days, and richly rewarded a nation with a treasure trove of work.

15 .) Savrola

14 .) Speaking For Themselves: The Private Letters Of Sir Winston And Lady Churchill by Winston S. Churchill

This a collection of the correspondence between Sir Winston and Lady Clementine Churchill extending from their early days of courtship in 1908 to Winston Churchill’s death in 1965. The letters serve both as a chronicle of their personal achievements and tragedies over the years and as a political and social history. In their own words they recount events such as the sinking of the Titanic, the abdication of King Edward VIII, the downfall of governments, the Depression, and the two world wars. Here are first-hand accounts from the battlefields in 1915, reflections on political triumphs and upsets, as well as domestic minutiae, foreign travel, revelations of social scandals and words of mutual support.

13 .) The Grand Alliance: The Second World War Volume III by Winston S. Churchill

“One of the most fascinating works of history ever written, Winston Churchill’s monumental book The Second World War is a six-volume account of the struggle of the Allied powers in Europe against Germany and the Axis. Recounted through the eyes of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the Second World War is also the story of one nation’s singular, heroic role in the fight against tyranny. Here you will find pride and patriotism in Churchill’s dramatic account and with reason–having learned a lesson at Munich that they would never forget, the British refused to make peace with Hitler, defying him even after France had fallen and it seemed as though the Nazis were an unstoppable force. What lends this work its tension is Churchill’s inclusion of primary source material. We hear Churchill’s retrospective analysis of the war, but we are also presented with memos, letters, orders, speeches, and telegrams that give day-by-day accounts of the reactions as the drama unfolds. We listen as strategies and counter-strategies unfold in response to Hitler’s conquest of Europe, his planned invasion of England, and his assault on Russia. All contrive to give a mesmerizing account of the crucial decisions that must be made as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.”

12 .) The Hinge of Fate: The Second World War Volume IV by Winston S. Churchill

“One of the most fascinating works of history ever written, Winston Churchill’s monumental book The Second World War is a six-volume account of the struggle of the Allied powers in Europe against Germany and the Axis. Recounted through the eyes of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the Second World War is also the story of one nation’s singular, heroic role in the fight against tyranny. Here you will find pride and patriotism in Churchill’s dramatic account and with reason–having learned a lesson at Munich that they would never forget, the British refused to make peace with Hitler, defying him even after France had fallen and it seemed as though the Nazis were an unstoppable force. What lends this work its tension is Churchill’s inclusion of primary source material. We hear Churchill’s retrospective analysis of the war, but we are also presented with memos, letters, orders, speeches, and telegrams that give day-by-day accounts of the reactions as the drama unfolds. We listen as strategies and counter-strategies unfold in response to Hitler’s conquest of Europe, his planned invasion of England, and his assault on Russia. All contrive to give a mesmerizing account of the crucial decisions that must be made as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. “

11 .) The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory 1874-1932 by William Manchester

When Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874, Imperial Britain stood at the splendid pinnacle of her power. Yet within a few years the Empire would hover on the brink of catastrophe. Against this backdrop, a remarkable man began to build his legacy. From master biographer William Manchester, The Last Lion: Visions of Glory reveals the first fifty-eight years of the life of an adventurer, aristocrat, soldier, and statesman whose courageous leadership guided the destiny of his darkly troubled times—and who is remembered as one of the greatest figures of the twentieth century.

10 .) The Wicked Wit of Winston Churchill by Dominique Enright

“From 1940 he inspired and united the British people and guided their war effort. Behind the public figure, however, was a man of vast humanity and enormous wit. His most famous speeches and sayings have passed into history but many of his aphorisms, puns and jokes are less well-known. This enchanting collection brings together hundreds of his wittiest remarks as a record of all that was best about this endearing, conceited, talented and wildly funny”

9 .) Thoughts and Adventures

Churchill begins by asking what it would be like to live your life over again and ends by describing his love affair with painting. In between, he touches on subjects as diverse as spies, cartoons, submarines, elections, flying, and the future. Reading these essays—originally dictated late at night in the 1920s in his study, and by which he was able to support his family and live like a lord without inherited wealth—is like being invited to dinner at Churchill’s country seat at Chartwell, where the soup was limpid, Pol Roger Champagne flowed, the pudding had a theme, and Churchill entertained lucky visitors with vivid conversation. This ISI Books edition, with a new introduction and notes by James W. Muller, Academic Chairman of the Churchill Centre, recovers Churchill’s unforgettable table talk for a new generation of readers.

8 .) Triumph and Tragedy: The Second World War Volume VI by Winston S. Churchill

“From the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 the Second World War had only fourteen months to run. This final volume of the account covers events right up to the unconditional surrender of Japan. Churchill’s six-volume history of World War II – the definitive work, remarkable both for its sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, universally acknowledged as a magnificent historical reconstruction and an enduring work of literature.”

7 .) Winston S. Churchill: The Prophet of Truth, 1922-1939 by Martin Gilbert

In this concluding volume of Gilbert’s renowned series, readers see Churchill at the pinnacle of wartime power as Britain’s victorious leader in 1945. The many-sided nature of Churchill’s abilities and his achievements fill this work with a multicolored tapestry of people and events.

6 .) A History of the English Speaking Peoples, 4 Vols by Winston S. Churchill

Spanning four volumes and many centuries of history, from Caesar’s invasion of Britain to the start of World War I, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples stands as one of Winston S. Churchill’s most magnificent literary works. Begun during Churchill’s ‘wilderness years’ when he was out of government, first published in 1956 after his leadership through the darkest days of World War II had cemented his place in history and completed when Churchill was in his 80s, it remains to this day a compelling and vivid history.

5 .) Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard

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At the age of twenty-four, Winston Churchill was utterly convinced it was his destiny to become prime minister of England. He arrived in South Africa in 1899, valet and crates of vintage wine in tow, to cover the brutal colonial war the British were fighting with Boer rebels and jumpstart his political career. But just two weeks later, Churchill was taken prisoner. Remarkably, he pulled off a daring escape—traversing hundreds of miles of enemy territory, alone, with nothing but a crumpled wad of cash, four slabs of chocolate, and his wits to guide him.

4 .) The Gathering Storm: The Second World War Volume I by Winston S. Churchill

“Winston Churchill’s monumental The Second World War, is a six volume account of the struggle between the Allied Powers in Europe against Germany and the Axis. Told by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, this book is also the story of one nation’s heroic role in the fight against tyranny. Having learned a lesson at Munich they would never forget, the British refused to make peace with Hitler, defying him even after France had fallen and it seemed as though the Nazis were unstoppable. What lends this work its tension is Churchill’s inclusion of primary source material. We hear Churchill’s retrospective analysis of the war, but we are also presented with memos, letters, orders, speeches, and telegrams that give day-by-day accounts of the reactions as the drama unfolds. We listen as strategies and counter-strategies unfold in response to Hitler’s conquest of Europe, his planned invasion of England, and his assault on Russia. All contrive to give a mesmerizing account of the crucial decisions that must be made as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. While in some ways a continuation of Churchill’s history of World War I, The World Crisis, The Gathering Storm is his attempt to understand the terrible circumstance that gave rise to Nazi Germany and a second, even more destructive world conflict. Churchill was perhaps the only person who held such prominent positions of power in both world wars and as such, was uniquely qualified to tell the story from war to peace and back again.”

3 .) The Second World War by Winston S. Churchill

From Britain’s darkest and finest hour to the great alliance and ultimate victory, the Second World War remains the most pivotal event of the twentieth century. Winston Churchill was not only the war’s greatest leader, he was the free world’s singularly eloquent voice of defiance in the face of Nazi tyranny, and it’s that voice that animates this six-volume history. Remarkable both for its sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it begins with The Gathering Storm; moves on to Their Finest Hour, The Grand Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, and Closing the Ring; and concludes with Triumph and Tragedy.

2 .) My Early Life by Winston Churchill

“Here, in his own words, are the fascinating first thirty years in the life of one of the most provocative and compelling leaders of the twentieth century: Winston Churchill. As a visionary, statesman, and historian, and the most eloquent spokesman against Nazi Germany, Winston Churchill was one of the greatest figures of the twentieth century. In this autobiography, Churchill recalls his childhood, his schooling, his years as a war correspondent in South Africa during the Boer War, and his first forays into politics as a member of Parliament. My Early Life not only gives readers insights into the shaping of a great leader but, as Churchill himself wrote, “a picture of a vanished age.” “

1 .) The World Crisis, 1911-1918 by Winston S. Churchill

“As first lord of the admiralty and minister for war and air, Churchill stood resolute at the center of international affairs. In this classic account, he dramatically details how the tides of despair and triumph flowed and ebbed as the political and military leaders of the time navigated the dangerous currents of world conflict. Churchill vividly recounts the major campaigns that shaped the war: the furious attacks of the Marne, the naval maneuvers off Jutland, Verdun’s “soul-stirring frenzy,” and the surprising victory of Chemins des Dames. Here, too, he re-creates the dawn of modern warfare: the buzz of airplanes overhead, trench combat, artillery thunder, and the threat of chemical warfare. In Churchill’s inimitable voice we hear how “the war to end all wars” instead gave birth to every war that would follow, including the current war in Iraq.”

The 100+ Additional Best Books About Winston Churchill

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• The Life of Churchill

The Official Biography of Winston Churchill

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June 18, 2008

About the official biography.

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL by Randolph Churchill & Martin Gilbert

The first volume of Winston S. Churchill was published in 1966, the year after Sir Winston died. After Randolph’s death in 1968 Martin Gilbert, who had joined Randolph as a research assistant in 1962, was appointed by the Churchill family to be the official biographer.

Sir Martin died in 2015 and since that time his former assistant, Dr Larry Arnn now of Hillsdale College is working to complete the biography companion volumes, known as  The Churchill Documents . Sir Martin included the following acknowledgement: ‘The publication of [ The War Papers ] was made possible by the exceptional generosity of Wendy Reves, and by the determination of the International Churchill Society… to bring the Churchill document series, known as the Companion Volumes, back into production.’

2024 International Churchill Conference

The following volumes of the official biography have been published to date:, narrative volumes.

Volume I. Youth, 1874-1900 by Randolph S. Churchill Volume II. Young Statesman, 1901-1914 by Randolph S. Churchill Volume III. The Challenge of War, 1914-1916 by Martin Gilbert Volume IV. World in Torment, 1916-1922 by Martin Gilbert Volume V. Prophet of Truth, 1922-1939 by Martin Gilbert Volume VI. Finest Hour, 1939-1941 by Martin Gilbert Volume VII. Road to Victory, 1941-1945 by Martin Gilbert Volume VIII. Never Despair, 1945-1965 by Martin Gilbert

‘The Churchill Documents’, Companion Volumes

Volume 1.   Youth 1874-1896 Volume 2.   Young Soldier 1896-1901 Volume 3.   Early Years in Politics 1901-1907 Volume 4.   Minister of the Crown 1907-1911 Volume 5.   At the Admiralty 1911-1914 Volume 6.   At the Admiralty July 1914-April 1915 Volume 7.   The Escaped Scapegoat May 1915-December 1916 Volume 8.   War and Aftermath December 1916-June 1919 Volume 9.   Disruption and Chaos July 1919-March 1921 Volume 10. Conciliation and Reconstruction April 1921-November 1922 Volume 11. The Exchequer Years 1922-1929 Volume 12. The Wilderness Years 1929-1935 Volume 13. The Coming of War 1936-1939 Volume 14. At the Admiralty September 1939-May 1940 Volume 15. Never Surrender May 1940-December 1940 Volume 16. The Ever-Widening War 1941 Volume 17. Testing Times 1942 Volume 18. One Continent Redeemed January-August 1943 Volume 19. Fateful Questions: September 1943 – April 1944 Volume 20. Normandy and Beyond: May – December 1944 Volume 21. The Shadows of Victory: January – July 1945 Volume 22. Leader of the Opposition: August 1945 – October 1951 Volume 23. Never Flinch, Never Weary: November 1951 – February 1965

“‘Why study Churchill?,’ I am often asked.  ‘Surely he has nothing to say to us today?’  Yet in my own work, as I open file after file of Churchill’s archive, from his entry into government in 1905 to his retirement in 1955 (a fifty-year span) I am continually surprised by the truth of his assertions, the modernity of his thought, the originality of his mind, the constructiveness of his proposals, his humanity, and, most remarkable of all, his foresight.” -Sir Martin Gilbert

You will help to support the International Churchill Society by purchasing your hardcover or digital editions at Amazon.com by following this link.

Not Really “Official”

Incidentally, the name ‘Official Biography’ is somewhat misleading, as Sir Martin Gilbert noted in a 1991 interview with Brian Lamb on C-Span’s ‘Booknotes’ : ‘I’m called the official biographer, though to the enormous credit of the Churchill family they’ve never asked to see a single word of what I was writing until the books were printed and bound and ready for sale to the public. They never asked me to delete a word or to skirt around a particular issue. So ‘official’ is a misnomer if it’s thought to mean a censored or restricted biographer.’

Winston and Clementine

Churchill: Leader and Statesman

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Reviews of The Best Books on Every Subject

20 Best Books on Churchill (2022 Review)

September 20, 2020 by James Wilson

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Winston Spencer-Churchill is one of the most famous classic personalities in modern history. He is famous for being an army general, politician and writer. Sir Churchill was elected as Britain’s Prime Minister when he led the country successfully through the World War Two.

Churchill belonged to a British-American family. He joined the army, rising to Army General and later entered politics. When the war ended, he devoted his time to the arts, namely painting, writing and history. His writings were famous throughout the country and he was responsible for penning many historical events for the generations to come.  His efforts earned him the 1953 Noble Award for Literature.

What are the Best Churchill Books to read?

Best Books on Churchill: Our Top 20 Picks

Understandably he has been a very popular topic for future writers to record his life and work in their writings. A complete narration of all the works is an exhaustive topic; however, books on this great personality are mentioned below:

1. The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory 1874-1932

The Last Lion is a three part series based on the complete life of Sir Winston Churchill. This biography starts from right at the beginning, from his childhood and showing how he came to be amongst the greatest leaders of the world. It is detailed narration of how his personality shaped up.

The author has done complete justice to the literacy level of Churchill himself. The narration is quite compelling and keeps the reader engaged. The curiosity of how leaders are made is enough to spell-bound an interested reader.

Once readers read this first part, it is difficult to put it down. They are bound to go for the next volumes to know what happens next. The series is one of the best in the market on Churchill’s life.

• Authors : William Manchester (Author)
• Publisher : Little, Brown and Company; 1st Edition (May 30, 1983)
• Pages : 992 pages

2. Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill

Generally most of the books and records of Sir Churchill cover his role in the World War II or his talents. However, this is one of those rare writings which cover his earlier military life.

He covered the Boer War as a journalist but was unfortunately captured as a prisoner. His life as a POW and his daring escape is what forms the main content of this volume. His escapade was nothing short of thrilling, covered perfectly in the author’s engaging words.

This book is a great recommendation for those who want to find out the lesser known events of a very popular historic figure.  The events are aptly covered in the thrilling tale of war, escape and adventure.

• Authors : Candice Millard (Author)
• Publisher : Anchor; Illustrated Edition (May 30, 2017)
• Pages : 416 pages

3. Churchill: Walking with Destiny

Whilst many biographies on historical personalities focus on the events and the role of various people in shaping it, this one stands out for its different focus. The author has penned down Sir Winston’s own views and feelings for the major events of his life. It is truly a captivating biography.

The author was provided special access to Churchill’s historic records and diaries which enabled him to produce such a unique biography. It introduces readers to the actual person rather than being the common narration of the great leader. The feelings and thoughts humanise the series of events we all know all too well.

This book is specially recommended for those who prefer the human touch to their literature rather than a historic list of chronological events.

• Authors : Andrew Roberts (Author)
• Publisher : Viking; Illustrated Edition (November 6, 2018)
• Pages : 1152 pages

4. The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History

A highly unique record of the great life of Sir Churchill, this book combines real events and presents them mixed with amazing wit and life. A rare combination of dry history and fresh humour, it is an amazing read for book lovers.

This literature debunks several popular myths and misconceptions surrounding the great Winston Churchill. His role in World War Two and the life he led after has been penned in quite a refreshing tone. His contributions to politics, war, journalism, and social causes have all been elaborated in satisfying detail.

The humorous and fresh tone of the writing is what makes this book a must-have for history lovers. It brings home the fact that history is never boring!

• Authors : Boris Johnson (Author)
• Publisher : Riverhead Books; Reprint Edition (October 27, 2015)
• Pages : 400 pages

5. Churchill: A Life

The official biography of Sir Winston Churchill, this book is the main go-to writing which anyone with an interest in the great man’s life should go through. It has been compiled after years of attentive research and careful working. It is quite lengthy as it includes several details necessary to understand the life Churchill had.

The biography goes into interesting details of Sir Winston’s life, right from his youth. His childhood has been immortalised to give readers a good understanding of what shaped one of the greatest men we know in history.

As biographies go, even this volume may become boring for some readers. However, the full eventful and successful life of Sir Winston Churchill could not have been penned down better.

• Authors : Martin Gilbert (Author)
• Publisher : Holt Paperbacks; First U.S. edition. (October 15, 1992)
• Pages : 1088 pages

6. The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965

The last volume of this three part series is based on the events of the Second World War and its after-effects. It is the final book and shows the end of the great life he led. It portrays the human side of what readers had previously only known as a staunch statesman and a talented artist.

The book takes its readers through how Churchill dealt with being a Prime Minister at a very sensitive time for Britain. His stance on various political moves is narrated in detail. It is the perfect ending for the series.

This series is unique in the human touch it gives rather than a simple narration. It keeps the readers from putting the books down until they are done with the last line.

• Authors : Paul Reid (Author), William Manchester (Author)
• Publisher : Little, Brown and Company; Illustrated Edition (November 6, 2012)
• Pages : 1183 pages

7. The Gathering Storm, 1948 (Winston S. Churchill The Second World Wa Book 1)

This is the first of a six volume series depicting the various stages of Churchill’s great life. The first volume portrays the events of the World War II and Sir Winston’s important role in resisting the Nazi infiltration.

The most interesting aspect of this literary work is the inclusion of authentic records of the events in Churchill’s own words. His letters and memoirs have been immortalised in this volume, giving a high level of interest and authenticity of the work.

This book is highly recommended to those who prefer reading authentic records of historic events in the people’s own words. It will definitely lead to interest in the complete six book series set.

• Authors : Winston S. Churchill (Author)
• Publisher : RosettaBooks (June 30, 2010)
• Pages : 750 pages

8. Churchill’s Trial: Winston Churchill and the Salvation of Free Government

This book covers a challenging and major part of Churchill’s life, namely his political career. He had to make several tough calls and make many important decisions, all of which impacted the whole nation. His potential as a tough statesman is what covers the pages of this amazing volume.

Churchill faced three main challenges as a leader: Nazis, Soviet Communism and Britain’s socialism. How he faced these and rose above the challenges to make a mark upon the history pages is a fascinating story.

This book correctly portrays how fact is stranger than fiction. It shows us how Winston took important decisions in tough times which successfully led his country to a remarkable victory in the Second World War.

• Authors : Larry P. Arnn (Author)
• Publisher : Thomas Nelson; BCE Edition (October 13, 2015)

9. Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom

This book not only covers Churchill and his life’s struggles but also talks about a great personality who went through his own challenges around the same timeline i.e. George Orwell.

These men have had their tough shares in the political background of the two world wars. Both have had their lives endangered and survived through it, giving them a chance to leave a stronger legacy that they could if the unfortunate turn of events, Orwell being shot in the neck during wartime and Churchill being hit by a car, had claimed their lives earlier. Their triumphs and challenges have been portrayed for readers, which humanises these great men.

Instead of focusing solely on Winston Churchill, the added details of Orwell’s life captivate the true history fan.

• Authors : Thomas E. Ricks (Author)
• Publisher : Penguin Books; Reprint Edition (May 23, 2017)
• Pages : 348 pages

10. Churchill

There is no shortage of biographies of the great Sir Winston Churchill. This biography is one of the many written depicting the life he led, from childhood until his death. It is shorter than most similar volumes but in no way short of touching upon the important aspects.

The writer has very creatively managed to summarise the great life of Churchill, and covered all the important events, including his early military life, he political roles, his leadership through one of Britain’s most trying times and finally his devotion to arts and writing. The short and brisk nature of the biography keeps the reader engaged, without compromising on quality or content.

This is a good recommendation for students or busy professionals who have an interest in history and famous personalities.

• Authors : Paul Johnson (Author)
• Publisher : Penguin Books; Illustrated Edition (October 26, 2010)
• Pages : 192 pages

11. The Wit & Wisdom of Winston Churchill

This book is another of the many volumes that compile the famous sayings and speech of the great Winston Churchill. However this one is different in the fact that it lists them with context and topic for easy reference.

While most compilations are more of just information and entertainment, this book is useful for those working on the great leader’s life, be it as a student, a debater, for a speech or simple fact compilation. The organisation really helps the user navigate through it easily.

Churchill is famous for his wit and humour, not to mention his amazing flow of words. This books pays tribute to him in a unique and informative manner and helps the modern historian in their own workings.

• Authors : James C. Humes (Author), Richard M. Nixon (Foreword)
• Publisher : Harper Perennial; Harper Perennia Edition (January 1, 1995)
• Pages : 256 pages

12. The Wicked Wit of Winston Churchill (The Wicked Wit of series)

In the backdrop of the dark times, Winston Churchill was famous for having a steady and bold head on his shoulders. He survived through the tough times with his brilliant wit and famous humour.

This book complies several of his famous quotes, puns and sayings, which explore his witty and fresh side. Without many details or any historical facts, this book simply showcases the wicked humour Sir Churchill had and how he displayed it through his words.

For anyone looking for pure entertainment and genuine work of literary brilliance, this is a great recommendation. It is impossible to disappoint even those who are unaware of the life of Winston Churchill. It is short and crisp, never losing it firm grip on the reader’s attention.

• Authors : Dominique Enright (Author)
• Publisher : Michael O’Mara; Revised Edition (September 1, 2011)
• Pages : 160 pages

13. Churchill: The Power of Words

Compiled by Sir Churchill’s chosen biographer, this book compiles the great man’s own speeches and writings in the aptly named volume. It includes well-chosen speeches which lead the reader through his life’s events.

Winston Churchill was a man of words, and his writings are well-liked in the literary world. This book presents a fair tribute to the writer, whether through his famous speeches or his popular articles. They are presented in chronological order, leading the readers through a satisfying time lapse of his life.

This is a very interesting read for book-lovers who prefer having authentic sources for the information in history books. The beautiful net of words spun by Churchill himself is just the cherry on top of the very famous life-events.

• Authors : Winston Churchill (Author), Martin Gilbert (Editor)
• Publisher : Da Capo Press; Illustrated Edition (October 1, 2013)
• Pages : 536 pages

14. The World Crisis, 1911-1918

While most of the records on Sir Churchill focus on his role during the Second World War, many forget that he also had an impactful role during the First War. This books identifies and talks about just that, in the very own words of the great man himself.

Churchill’s leadership during the political unrest, the wartime, the famines and all, are portrayed very interestingly in this volume. The first-hand account of the lesser remembered war is a must-read for history lovers.

This book not only gives an interesting insight to the beginning of the twentieth century in all its details, but also exemplifies the true writing potential of the great statesman. Highly recommended for Churchill fans.

• Authors : Winston S. Churchill (Author), Martin Gilbert (Introduction)
• Publisher : Free Press; Reissue Edition (October 6, 2005)
• Pages : 880 pages

15. Memoirs of the Second World War

There is nothing like learning about history, than in the words of those who lived it. This book more that proves this fact. It is written by none other than Churchill himself.

Churchill saw first-hand how tragic the Second World War was. And he made it a point to pen down all the events, and his role and feelings throughout it, to ensure he recorded the important facts in history. The way he has immortalised the Second World War is as unique as the man himself.

For history loves and fans of Sir Winston, there are many books available that immortalise the life history of the great leader. However, this unique memoir beats them all due to its authenticity and the engaging words of a great writer, Sir Churchill himself.

• Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Company; Reprint Edition (September 17, 1991)
• Pages : 1065 pages

16. No More Champagne: Churchill and His Money

Although Churchill belonged to a wealthy family, his own life was not as smoothly in terms of finance, as one would expect. Behind the strong, firm and empowering man, there was a life of financial troubles and smart planning to get through.

This is a unique book which focuses on one of the lesser known sides to Sir Winston’s story. It reveals some very private matters of his life that had been buried under the more famous larger than life persona.

The different topic it covers and the good writing style is a good attraction for those looking for unique books. It caters to history lovers who want to sketch complete pictures f their favourite classic personalities.

• Authors : David Lough (Author)
• Publisher : Head of Zeus (June 1, 2016)
• Pages : 528 pages

17. Churchill By Himself: The Definitive Collection of Quotations

Sir Winston Churchill was a true man of words. His writings and published works eventually led him to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. His wit and humour are famous amongst the classic books.

This book compiles some of his most famous sayings and words. It is merely a list, but one of the most entertaining and engaging ones for books lovers. No true fan can rest without going through his well-known witty remarks.

Even if you are not interested in history and its facts, this compilation is a must-have for you, not just for entertainment but for an amazing insight into one of the most brilliant minds of the twentieth century. It will definitely keep you engaged until the last word.

• Authors : Richard Langworth (Editor)
• Publisher : PublicAffairs; Illustrated Edition (May 24, 2011)
• Pages : 656 pages

18. Churchill Style: The Art of Being Winston Churchill

Any true Churchill fan would include one adjective when describing their favourite leader and that is Style! Wrapping up all that personality and wit into a truly attractive stylish exterior is something very few people can carry, and Churchill was one of those. This book is fine tribute to all that uniqueness.

From his main house, to all his preferred clothing styles, food, drinks, cigars, travelling etc., everything was a sight to behold. This book not only gives interesting details of all that glamour, but also supports them with some very sought after pictures.

This one is for those true fans who want to leave nothing to imagination when getting to know their leader better.

• Authors : Barry Singer (Author)
• Publisher : Harry N. Abrams; Illustrated Edition (May 1, 2012)
• Pages : 240 pages

19. The Smart Words and Wicked Wit of Winston Churchill

For all the hardships and grave happenings through his life, Sir Winston had a unique wit and humour that many readers love. He is known well in the literary circle for his unmatched choice of words.

This compilation is perfect for his fans that look beyond the history and love him as an artist. It is not narrative rather it simply compiles his many words and speeches, portraying the amazing intellect and humour of Churchill. Readers would love and enjoy he time going through this masterpiece.

Whether you want it for your own collection, or are looking for a gift for a loved one, this book is perfect for any Churchill fan to include in their library.

• Authors : Max Morris (Editor)
• Publisher : Skyhorse (March 21, 2017)

20. Secrets of Churchill’s War Rooms

When Winston Churchill was elected the Prime Minister in 1940, the World War II was ust beginning. He knew he had to lead his country through it. For this Churchill allocated the famous War Rooms, where he ran his country from.

The rooms have been locked up in secrecy ever since the war ended. Only recently were they unlocked and displayed to the general public. This book walks us through these rooms, detailing the events and the famous talks and discussions held in them during the tough times.

A truly interesting feature is the pictures included which fascinate the avid readers. These pictures go beyond the areas open to public, taking us through the realities of the wartime leadership.  A fascinating read for Churchill fans.

• Authors : Jonathan Asbury (Author)
• Publisher : Imperial War Museums (January 15, 2017)
• Pages : 288 pages

Choosing the Best Churchill Books

Although the literary world is over-loaded with books on one of the greatest leaders of the world, none of which could possibly do justice to the breadth of his amazing personality, there are a choice few that come close to the feat. A true biography of such an eventful life is near-miracle. There are several lessons to be learnt from Sir Churchill’s life, whether it be as a leader, as an army general or as an artist.

The above-mentioned works come close to showing what a full life Sir Winston Churchill led. These are the few must-haves as a start to getting to know him as a living person.

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Winston Churchill

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 7, 2019 | Original: October 27, 2009

Winston Churchill was one of the best-known, and some say one of the greatest, statesmen of the 20th century. Though he was born into a life of privilege, he dedicated himself to public service. His legacy is a complicated one: He was an idealist and a pragmatist; an orator and a soldier; an advocate of progressive social reforms and an unapologetic elitist; a defender of democracy – especially during World War II – as well as of Britain’s fading empire. But for many people in Great Britain and elsewhere, Winston Churchill is simply a hero.

Winston Churchill came from a long line of English aristocrat-politicians. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was descended from the First Duke of Marlborough and was himself a well-known figure in Tory politics in the 1870s and 1880s.

His mother, born Jennie Jerome, was an American heiress whose father was a stock speculator and part-owner of The New York Times. (Rich American girls like Jerome who married European noblemen were known as “dollar princesses.”)

Did you know? Sir Winston Churchill won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953 for his six-volume history of World War II.

Churchill was born at the family’s estate near Oxford on November 30, 1874. He was educated at the Harrow prep school, where he performed so poorly that he did not even bother to apply to Oxford or Cambridge. Instead, in 1893 young Winston Churchill headed off to military school at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Battles and Books

After he left Sandhurst, Churchill traveled all around the British Empire as a soldier and as a journalist. In 1896, he went to India; his first book, published in 1898, was an account of his experiences in India’s Northwest Frontier Province.

In 1899, the London Morning Post sent him to cover the Boer War in South Africa, but he was captured by enemy soldiers almost as soon as he arrived. (News of Churchill’s daring escape through a bathroom window made him a minor celebrity back home in Britain.)

By the time he returned to England in 1900, the 26-year-old Churchill had published five books.

Churchill: “Crossing the Chamber”

That same year, Winston Churchill joined the House of Commons as a Conservative. Four years later, he “crossed the chamber” and became a Liberal.

His work on behalf of progressive social reforms such as an eight-hour workday, a government-mandated minimum wage, a state-run labor exchange for unemployed workers and a system of public health insurance infuriated his Conservative colleagues, who complained that this new Churchill was a traitor to his class.

Churchill and Gallipoli

In 1911, Churchill turned his attention away from domestic politics when he became the First Lord of the Admiralty (akin to the Secretary of the Navy in the U.S.). Noting that Germany was growing more and more bellicose, Churchill began to prepare Great Britain for war: He established the Royal Naval Air Service, modernized the British fleet and helped invent one of the earliest tanks.

Despite Churchill’s prescience and preparation, World War I was a stalemate from the start. In an attempt to shake things up, Churchill proposed a military campaign that soon dissolved into disaster: the 1915 invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

Churchill hoped that this offensive would drive Turkey out of the war and encourage the Balkan states to join the Allies, but Turkish resistance was much stiffer than he had anticipated. After nine months and 250,000 casualties, the Allies withdrew in disgrace.

After the debacle at Gallipoli, Churchill left the Admiralty.

Churchill Between the Wars

During the 1920s and 1930s, Churchill bounced from government job to government job, and in 1924 he rejoined the Conservatives. Especially after the Nazis came to power in 1933, Churchill spent a great deal of time warning his countrymen about the perils of German nationalism, but Britons were weary of war and reluctant to get involved in international affairs again.

Likewise, the British government ignored Churchill’s warnings and did all it could to stay out of Hitler’s way. In 1938, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain even signed an agreement giving Germany a chunk of Czechoslovakia – “throwing a small state to the wolves,” Churchill scolded – in exchange for a promise of peace.

A year later, however, Hitler broke his promise and invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war. Chamberlain was pushed out of office, and Winston Churchill took his place as prime minister in May 1940.

Churchill: The “British Bulldog”

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat,” Churchill told the House of Commons in his first speech as prime minister.

“We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”

Just as Churchill predicted, the road to victory in World War II was long and difficult: France fell to the Nazis in June 1940. In July, German fighter planes began three months of devastating air raids on Britain herself.

Though the future looked grim, Churchill did all he could to keep British spirits high. He gave stirring speeches in Parliament and on the radio. He persuaded U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide war supplies – ammunition, guns, tanks, planes – to the Allies, a program known as Lend-Lease, before the Americans even entered the war.

Though Churchill was one of the chief architects of the Allied victory, war-weary British voters ousted the Conservatives and their prime minister from office just two months after Germany’s surrender in 1945.

The Iron Curtain

The now-former prime minister spent the next several years warning Britons and Americans about the dangers of Soviet expansionism.

In a speech in Fulton, Missouri , in 1946, for example, Churchill declared that an anti-democratic “Iron Curtain,” “a growing challenge and peril to Christian civilization,” had descended across Europe. Churchill’s speech was the first time anyone had used that now-common phrase to describe the Communist threat.

In 1951, 77-year-old Winston Churchill became prime minister for the second time. He spent most of this term working (unsuccessfully) to build a sustainable détente between the East and the West. He retired from the post in 1955.

In 1953, Queen Elizabeth made Winston Churchill a knight of the Order of the Garter. He died in 1965, one year after retiring from Parliament.

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Discover the 9 Best Winston Churchill Books to Read Now

Winston Churchill is one of the most iconic historical figures of the 20th century, known for his leadership during World War II and his contributions to British politics. He was also a prolific writer, authoring numerous books on history, politics, and his own life. In this article, we’ll explore the best books about Churchill to read now and gain a deeper understanding of this legendary figure.

Understanding Winston Churchill: A Brief Overview

Before diving into the books themselves, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of Churchill’s life and legacy. Born in 1874, Churchill’s political career spanned more than half a century, and he served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice. Over the course of his life, he wrote over 40 books and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.

The Life and Times of Winston Churchill

Churchill’s life was full of fascinating twists and turns. He was a war correspondent, a soldier, a painter, and a writer, among other professions. Overcoming personal and political obstacles, he rose to become one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Learning about Churchill’s life can help us understand the man behind the myths and legends.

Churchill was born into a wealthy family, but his childhood was far from idyllic. He struggled in school and had a strained relationship with his parents. However, he showed an early interest in military history and strategy, which would shape his future career. He served in the military during World War I, where he gained valuable experience and earned several medals for bravery.

After the war, Churchill continued his political career, serving in various positions in the government. He was a controversial figure, known for his sharp wit and his willingness to speak his mind. He was also a prolific writer, publishing books on a wide range of topics, including his own life and experiences.

The Impact of Churchill’s Leadership on World History

Churchill’s leadership during World War II is widely regarded as one of his greatest achievements. His speeches, actions, and decisions helped inspire and guide the Allied forces to victory. But his impact on world history goes beyond that. He was also instrumental in shaping the post-war world order and in resisting the threat of communism during the Cold War.

Churchill’s leadership style was characterized by his strong will and his ability to inspire others. He was known for his stirring speeches, which rallied the British people during their darkest hours. He was also a skilled diplomat, forging alliances with other world leaders and negotiating treaties that helped maintain peace and stability.

Despite his many accomplishments, Churchill was not without his flaws. He was criticized for his handling of certain situations, such as the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. He was also known for his imperialist views, which were controversial even in his own time.

However, Churchill’s legacy remains a powerful one. He is remembered as a great leader, a brilliant writer, and a symbol of British strength and resilience. His life and achievements continue to inspire people around the world to this day.

Top Biographies of Winston Churchill

Biographies are a great way to dive deeper into Churchill’s life and get a more nuanced understanding of his personality, motivations, and accomplishments. Here are three of the most highly regarded biographies of Churchill:

The Last Lion Trilogy by William Manchester

Manchester’s trilogy is widely considered to be the definitive biography of Churchill. The three volumes cover his life from birth to death and offer a detailed and engaging account of his life and legacy. Manchester’s prose is vibrant and engaging, and he paints a compelling portrait of this complex and fascinating man.

One of the most interesting aspects of Manchester’s biography is the way he explores Churchill’s early years. He delves into Churchill’s difficult relationship with his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, and how this shaped his views on politics and society. Manchester also examines Churchill’s experiences as a young soldier and war correspondent, which would later inform his leadership during World War II.

Manchester’s biography is also notable for its attention to detail. He provides a wealth of information about Churchill’s personal life, including his marriage to Clementine Hozier and his relationships with his children. Manchester also delves into Churchill’s hobbies and interests, such as painting and bricklaying, which provide a fascinating glimpse into the man behind the legend.

You can find this book here .

Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Gilbert’s biography is another comprehensive and well-regarded book on Churchill . It draws on a vast array of sources, including Churchill’s own writings and the archives of his family, friends, and colleagues. Gilbert offers insights into not only Churchill’s public life but also his personal struggles and relationships, making for a rich and layered portrait of the man.

One of the most interesting aspects of Gilbert’s biography is his exploration of Churchill’s political career. He examines Churchill’s time as a Member of Parliament, his tenure as Prime Minister, and his role in shaping British foreign policy. Gilbert also delves into Churchill’s relationships with other world leaders, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin, and how these relationships influenced his decisions.

Gilbert’s biography is also notable for its examination of Churchill’s personal life. He explores Churchill’s relationship with his wife and children, as well as his struggles with depression and alcoholism. Gilbert’s careful attention to detail and his use of primary sources make this biography an essential read for anyone interested in Churchill’s life and legacy.

Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard

While not a comprehensive biography, Millard’s book offers a fascinating look at Churchill’s early life. It focuses on his experiences as a young soldier and war correspondent in South Africa during the Boer War, where he demonstrated the courage and determination that would characterize his later career. Millard’s writing is vivid and engaging, and she brings this lesser-known period of Churchill’s life to vivid life.

One of the most interesting aspects of Millard’s book is the way she explores Churchill’s personality and character. She examines his strengths and weaknesses as a leader, and how his experiences in South Africa shaped his worldview. Millard also delves into Churchill’s relationships with other soldiers and journalists, and how these relationships influenced his career.

Millard’s book is also notable for its examination of the Boer War itself. She provides a detailed account of the conflict, including its causes and consequences, and how it shaped the political landscape of South Africa. Her vivid descriptions of the battles and the people involved bring this fascinating period of history to life.

Churchill’s Own Writings

Churchill was not only a fascinating subject for biography, but also a talented writer in his own right. His books offer insights into his thinking, his beliefs, and his worldview. Here are three of his most notable works:

The Second World War Series

Churchill’s six-volume memoir of his experiences during World War II is an essential read for anyone interested in the conflict. Churchill offers a firsthand account of the war from his unique perspective as Prime Minister, providing insights into his leadership style and decision-making process.

The Second World War Series is not only a historical account of the events that took place during the war, but it also offers a glimpse into Churchill’s personal life. He recounts his meetings with other world leaders, his interactions with his family, and his thoughts on the war’s impact on the world. Churchill’s writing style is engaging and informative, making this series a must-read for anyone interested in history or politics.

A History of the English-Speaking Peoples

This four-volume history of the English-speaking peoples from ancient times to the 20th century was one of Churchill’s most ambitious projects. He wrote it during the 1930s and 1940s, and it offers insights into his views on the importance of Anglo-American civilization and his vision for the future of the English-speaking world.

A History of the English-Speaking Peoples is not just a dry history book. Churchill’s writing is lively and engaging, and he brings the characters and events of history to life. He also includes his own opinions on the events he describes, making this book a fascinating insight into Churchill’s worldview. The book covers a vast span of history, from the Roman conquest of Britain to the American Revolution, and it is a great read for anyone interested in the history of the English-speaking world.

My Early Life: A Roving Commission

This memoir covers Churchill’s early years up until his entry into Parliament in 1900. It offers a vivid and engaging account of his upbringing, education, and adventures as a young man, including his service in the British Army and his travels throughout the world.

My Early Life: A Roving Commission is a charming and entertaining book, full of anecdotes and stories from Churchill’s early years. He writes about his childhood, his schooling, and his love of adventure. He also describes his experiences in the military, including his capture and daring escape during the Boer War. This book provides a fascinating insight into the early life of one of the most important figures of the 20th century.

Books on Churchill’s Leadership and Decision-Making

Churchill was not only a fascinating character but also a skilled leader and decision-maker. These books offer insights into his leadership style and his approach to decision-making:

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

Larson’s book focuses on Churchill’s leadership during the Blitz, the sustained bombing of London by German forces in 1940-41. It offers a compelling and insightful portrait of Churchill’s leadership style during this challenging time, highlighting his resilience, his determination, and his ability to rally the nation in the face of adversity.

Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare by Giles Milton

This book highlights one of Churchill’s lesser-known contributions to the war effort: his support for a secret organization tasked with waging unconventional warfare against the Nazis. It offers a unique perspective on Churchill’s strategic thinking and his willingness to take bold and unconventional approaches to achieve victory.

The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History by Boris Johnson

Johnson’s book offers a lively and engaging portrait of Churchill, focusing on his personality, his quirks, and his role in shaping history. While not a scholarly work, it offers insights into Churchill’s character and leadership style that can help readers understand why he was such an influential figure.

Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of Churchill’s writing, or simply curious about this fascinating figure, there’s a wealth of books available that can help you gain a deeper understanding of his life and legacy. Whether you choose to read a comprehensive biography, one of Churchill’s own works, or a book about his leadership style, you’re sure to come away with a new appreciation for the man who helped shape the course of world history.

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Winston Churchill

(1874-1965)

Who Was Winston Churchill?

Early years.

Churchill was born on November 30, 1874, at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England.

From an early age, young Churchill displayed the traits of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, a British statesman from an established English family, and his mother, Jeanette "Jennie" Jerome, an independent-minded New York socialite.

Churchill grew up in Dublin, Ireland, where his father was employed by his grandfather, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, John Spencer-Churchill.

Churchill proved to be an independent and rebellious student; after performing poorly at his first two schools, Churchill in April 1888 began attending Harrow School, a boarding school near London. Within weeks of his enrollment, he joined the Harrow Rifle Corps, putting him on a path to a military career.

At first, it didn't seem the military was a good choice for Churchill; it took him three tries to pass the exam for the British Royal Military College. However, once there, he fared well and graduated 20th in his class of 130.

Up to this time, his relationship with both his mother and father was distant, though he adored them both. While at school, Churchill wrote emotional letters to his mother, begging her to come see him, but she seldom came.

His father died when he was 21, and it was said that Churchill knew him more by reputation than by any close relationship they shared.

Military Career

Churchill enjoyed a brief but eventful career in the British Army at a zenith of British military power. He joined the Fourth Queen's Own Hussars in 1895 and served in the Indian northwest frontier and the Sudan, where he saw action in the Battle of Omdurman in 1898.

While in the Army, he wrote military reports for the Pioneer Mail and the Daily Telegraph , and two books on his experiences, The Story of the Malakand Field Force (1898) and The River War (1899).

In 1899, Churchill left the Army and worked as a war correspondent for the Morning Post , a conservative daily newspaper. While reporting on the Boer War in South Africa, he was taken prisoner by the Boers during a scouting expedition.

He made headlines when he escaped, traveling almost 300 miles to Portuguese territory in Mozambique. Upon his return to Britain, he wrote about his experiences in the book London to Ladysmith via Pretoria (1900).

Parliament and Cabinet

In 1900, Churchill became a member of the British Parliament in the Conservative Party for Oldham, a town in Manchester. Following his father into politics, he also followed his father's sense of independence, becoming a supporter of social reform.

Unconvinced that the Conservative Party was committed to social justice, Churchill switched to the Liberal Party in 1904. He was elected a member of Parliament in 1908 and was appointed to the prime minister's cabinet as president of the Board of Trade.

As president of the Board of Trade, Churchill joined newly appointed Chancellor David Lloyd George in opposing the expansion of the British Navy. He introduced several reforms for the prison system, introduced the first minimum wage and helped set up labor exchanges and unemployment insurance.

Churchill also assisted in the passing of the People's Budget, which introduced taxes on the wealthy to pay for new social welfare programs. The budget passed in the House of Commons in 1909 and was initially defeated in the House of Lords before being passed in 1910.

In January 1911, Churchill showed his tougher side when he made a controversial visit to a police siege in London, with two alleged robbers holed up in a building.

Churchill's degree of participation is still in some dispute: Some accounts have him going to the scene only to see for himself what was going on; others state that he allegedly gave directions to police on how to best storm the building.

What is known is that the house caught fire during the siege and Churchill prevented the fire brigade from extinguishing the flames, stating that he thought it better to "let the house burn down," rather than risk lives rescuing the occupants. The bodies of the two robbers were later found inside the charred ruins.

Wife and Children

In 1908, Winston Churchill married Clementine Ogilvy Hozier after a short courtship.

The couple had five children together: Diana, Randolph, Sarah, Marigold (who died as a toddler of tonsillitis) and Mary.

DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY'S WINSTON CHURCHILL FACT CARD

First Lord of the Admiralty

Named First Lord of the Admiralty in 1911, Churchill helped modernize the British Navy, ordering that new warships be built with oil-fired instead of coal-fired engines.

He was one of the first to promote military aircraft and set up the Royal Navy Air Service. He was so enthusiastic about aviation that he took flying lessons himself to understand firsthand its military potential.

Churchill also drafted a controversial piece of legislation to amend the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913, mandating sterilization of the feeble-minded. The bill, which mandated only the remedy of confinement in institutions, eventually passed in both houses of Parliament.

World War I

Churchill remained in his post as First Lord of the Admiralty through the start of World War I , but was forced out for his part in the disastrous Battle of Gallipoli . He resigned from the government toward the end of 1915.

For a brief period, Churchill rejoined the British Army, commanding a battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the Western Front and seeing action in "no man's land."

In 1917, he was appointed minister of munitions for the final year of the war, overseeing the production of tanks, airplanes and munitions.

After World War I

From 1919 to 1922, Churchill served as minister of war and air and colonial secretary under Prime Minister David Lloyd George.

As colonial secretary, Churchill was embroiled in another controversy when he ordered air power to be used on rebellious Kurdish tribesmen in Iraq, a British territory. At one point, he suggested that poisonous gas be used to put down the rebellion, a proposal that was considered but never enacted.

Fractures in the Liberal Party led to the defeat of Churchill as a member of Parliament in 1922, and he rejoined the Conservative Party. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer, returning Britain to the gold standard, and took a hard line against a general labor strike that threatened to cripple the British economy.

With the defeat of the Conservative government in 1929, Churchill was out of government. He was perceived as a right-wing extremist, out of touch with the people.

In the 1920s, after his ouster from government, Churchill took up painting. “Painting came to my rescue in a most trying time,” he later wrote.

Churchill went on to create over 500 paintings, typically working en plein air , though also practicing with still lifes and portraits. He claimed that painting helped him with his powers of observation and memory.

Sutherland Portrait

Churchill himself was the subject of a famous - and famously controversial - portrait by renowned artist Graham Sutherland.

Commissioned in 1954 by members of Parliament to mark Churchill's 80th birthday, the portrait was first unveiled in a public ceremony in Westminster Hall, where it met with considerable derision and laughter.

The unflattering modernist painting was reportedly loathed by Churchill and members of his family. Churchill's wife Clementine had the Sutherland portrait secretly destroyed in a bonfire several months after it was delivered to their country estate, Chartwell , in Kent.

'Wilderness Years'

Through the 1930s, known as his "wilderness years," Churchill concentrated on his writing, publishing a memoir and a biography of the First Duke of Marlborough.

During this time, he also began work on his celebrated A History of the English-Speaking Peoples , though it wouldn't be published for another two decades.

As activists in 1930s India clamored for independence from British rule, Churchill cast his lot with opponents of independence. He held particular scorn for Mahatma Gandhi , stating that "it is alarming and also nauseating to see Mr Gandhi, a seditious Middle Temple lawyer ... striding half-naked up the steps of the Vice-regal palace ... to parley on equal terms with the representative of the King-Emperor."

• World War II

Although Churchill didn't initially see the threat posed by Adolf Hitler 's rise to power in the 1930s, he gradually became a leading advocate for British rearmament.

By 1938, as Germany began controlling its neighbors, Churchill had become a staunch critic of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain 's policy of appeasement toward the Nazis.

On September 3, 1939, the day Britain declared war on Germany, Churchill was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty and a member of the war cabinet; by April 1940, he became chairman of the Military Coordinating Committee.

Later that month, Germany invaded and occupied Norway, a setback for Chamberlain, who had resisted Churchill's proposal that Britain preempt German aggression by unilaterally occupying vital Norwegian iron mines and seaports.

Prime Minister

On May 10, 1940, Chamberlain resigned and King George VI appointed Churchill as prime minister and minister of defense.

Within hours, the German army began its Western Offensive, invading the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Two days later, German forces entered France. As clouds of war darkened over Europe, Britain stood alone against the onslaught.

Churchill was to serve as prime minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945, leading the country through World War II until Germany’s surrender.

Battle of Britain

Quickly, Churchill formed a coalition cabinet of leaders from the Labor, Liberal and Conservative parties. He placed intelligent and talented men in key positions.

On June 18, 1940, Churchill made one of his iconic speeches to the House of Commons, warning that "the Battle of Britain " was about to begin. Churchill kept resistance to Nazi dominance alive and created the foundation for an alliance with the United States and the Soviet Union.

Churchill had previously cultivated a relationship with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, and by March 1941, he was able to secure vital U.S. aid through the Lend Lease Act , which allowed Britain to order war goods from the United States on credit.

After the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Churchill was confident that the Allies would eventually win the war. In the months that followed, Churchill worked closely with Roosevelt and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to forge an Allied war strategy and postwar world.

In a meeting in Tehran (1943), at the Yalta Conference (1945) and the Potsdam Conference (1945), Churchill collaborated with the two leaders to develop a united strategy against the Axis Powers and helped craft the postwar world with the United Nations as its centerpiece.

As the war wound down, Churchill proposed plans for social reforms in Britain but was unable to convince the public. Despite Germany's surrender on May 7, 1945, Churchill was defeated in the general election in July 1945.

'Iron Curtain' Speech

In the six years after Churchill’s defeat, he became the leader of the opposition party and continued to have an impact on world affairs.

In March 1946, while on a visit to the United States, he made his famous "Iron Curtain" speech , warning of Soviet domination in Eastern Europe. He also advocated that Britain remain independent from European coalitions.

With the general election of 1951, Churchill returned to government. He became prime minister for the second time in October 1951 and served as minister of defense between October 1951 and March 1952.

Churchill went on to introduce reforms such as the Mines and Quarries Act of 1954, which improved working conditions in mines, and the Housing Repairs and Rent Act of 1955, which established standards for housing.

These domestic reforms were overshadowed by a series of foreign policy crises in the colonies of Kenya and Malaya, where Churchill ordered direct military action. While successful in putting down the rebellions, it became clear that Britain was no longer able to sustain its colonial rule.

Nobel Prize

In 1953, Churchill was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II .

The same year, he was named the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature for "his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values," according to the Nobel Prize committee.

Churchill died on January 24, 1965, at age 90, in his London home nine days after suffering a severe stroke. Britain mourned for more than a week.

Churchill had shown signs of fragile health as early as 1941 when he suffered a heart attack while visiting the White House. Two years later, he had a similar attack while battling a bout of pneumonia.

In June 1953, at age 78, he endured a series of strokes at his office. That particular news was kept from the public and Parliament, with the official announcement stating that he had suffered from exhaustion.

Churchill recuperated at home and returned to his work as prime minister in October. However, it was apparent even to the great statesman that he was physically and mentally slowing down, and he retired as prime minister in 1955. Churchill remained a member of Parliament until the general election of 1964 when he did not seek reelection.

There was speculation that Churchill suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his final years, though medical experts pointed to his earlier strokes as the likely cause of reduced mental capacity.

Despite his poor health, Churchill was able to remain active in public life, albeit mostly from the comfort of his homes in Kent and Hyde Park Gate in London.

As with other influential world leaders, Churchill left behind a complicated legacy.

Honored by his countrymen for defeating the dark regime of Hitler and the Nazi Party , he topped the list of greatest Britons of all time in a 2002 BBC poll, outlasting other luminaries like Charles Darwin and William Shakespeare .

To critics, his steadfast commitment to British imperialism and his withering opposition to independence for India underscored his disdain for other races and cultures.

Churchill Movies and Books

Churchill has been the subject of numerous portrayals on the big and small screen over the years, with actors from Richard Burton to Christian Slater taking a crack at capturing his essence. John Lithgow delivered an acclaimed performance as Churchill in the Netflix series The Crown , winning an Emmy for his work in 2017.

That year also brought the release of two biopics: In June, Brian Cox starred in the titular role of Churchill , about the events leading up to the World War II invasion of Normandy. Gary Oldman took his turn by undergoing an eye-popping physical transformation to become the iconic statesman in Darkest Hour .

Churchill's standing as a towering figure of the 20th century is such that his two major biographies required multiple authors and decades of research between volumes. William Manchester published volume 1 of The Last Lion in 1983 and volume 2 in 1986, but died while working on part 3; it was finally completed by Paul Reid in 2012.

The official biography, Winston S. Churchill , was begun by the former prime minister's son Randolph in the early 1960s; it passed on to Martin Gilbert in 1968, and then into the hands of an American institution, Hillsdale College , some three decades later. In 2015, Hillsdale published volume 18 of the series.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Winston Churchill
• Birth Year: 1874
• Birth date: November 30, 1874
• Birth City: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
• Birth Country: England
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Winston Churchill was a British military leader and statesman. Twice named prime minister of Great Britain, he helped to defeat Nazi Germany in World War II.
• World Politics
• Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
• Harrow School
• Brunswick School
• Royal Military College (Academy) at Sandhurst
• St. George's School
• Interesting Facts
• Winston Churchill was a prolific writer and author and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.
• Churchill was a son of a British statesman father and an American socialite mother.
• In 1963 President JFK bestowed Churchill honorary U.S. citizenship, the first time a president gave such an award to a foreign national.
• Death Year: 1965
• Death date: January 24, 1965
• Death City: Hyde Park Gate, London
• Death Country: England

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Winston Churchill Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/winston-churchill
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: January 22, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
• An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
• I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.
• Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
• A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
• Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities ... because it is the quality which guarantees all others.
• From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.

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Winston Churchill: His Histories and History

This November marks the former prime minister of Britain’s 150th birthday. Churchill is a continuing object of fascination, not only for his leadership during the Second World War, but also for his work as a historian. And nothing motivated his pen more than penury.

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My library, a relatively small one by university standards, has over 150 books dealing with Winston Churchill, one of the Big Four of World War II, which included FDR, Stalin, and Hitler. Why this fascination with the one member who had, on paper, the least impact on the outcome of World War II? The reasons I believe are an interesting commentary on the concept of historical reputation and the way ideas and opinions change in a democratic society.

Our fascination with Churchill, whose sesquicentennial will be celebrated this November (and whose life you may want to study up on in anticipation), is part of a continued interest in both World War II and military history, which continues at a high level even while the subject matter is being deemphasized in academic history departments. Yet the History Book Club still thrives and History Today is still published in England seven decades after its founding. Bookstands are filled with magazines dealing specifically with World War II as well as the American Civil War, the American West, and other historical topics.

Interest in Churchill thrives because, unlike the other Big Three, he was something more than a political leader—he was also a writer of major historical works. His career in politics spanned six decades, from the reign of Queen Victoria to the presidency of Lyndon Johnson, and his literary career was almost as long and varied: he published 37 books during his lifetime and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. He published his first book, The Story of the Malakand Field Force , in 1898, at the age of 24; his last work appeared in the 1950s, the four-volume The History of English – Speaking Peoples . Among his early works, The River War (1899), about Herbert Kitchener’s reconquest of the Sudan, remains highly readable despite what some might consider a rather obscure episode. The opening chapter on the life-giving importance of the Nile throughout Egyptian history remains fascinating and informative today. And his biography of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, written in 1906, a work of filial duty, remained the standard for crafting such biographies for more than 60 years.

World War I supplied Churchill with a topic that he turned into a six-volume history, The World Crisis , which blends history and autobiography (he was in and out of office during the war) that foreshadowed his later history of WWII. The former is rarely read today, although again there is a gem or two to be found in this collection, especially the volume entitled The Unknown War: The Eastern Front . It remains accessible and illuminating even among later scholarly studies of that theater of the war. What is amazing is that much of this writing was carried on while he was holding high government office.

One of Churchill’s most charming books is a collection of biographical sketches he wrote during the 1920s and early ’30s as a way of making money. Despite his aristocratic background (he was a descendant of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough), he was chronically short of cash for most of his life. Great Contemporaries did well, selling over 20,000 copies in Great Britain and America. It contains 25 sketches in the original volume, which vary in quality, but those dealing with people he knew intimately—for example, Henry Asquith, Joseph Chamberlain, and Lord Rosebery—are brilliant impressionistic pieces and establish his gift for painting a portrait in a few words: Asquith’s “mind opened and shut like the breech of a gun.” Rosebery’s political career failed because he was “essentially a survivor from a vanished age” who because he “would not stoop; he did not conquer.” Arthur Balfour “passed from one Cabinet to the other, from the Prime Minister who was his champion to the Prime Minister who had been his most severe critic, like a powerful cat walking delicately and unsoiled across a muddy street.” Of the Irish politician Charles Stuart Parnell: he was “not in the manner of English political leaders, but rather like the prophets who guided Israel.” His sketch of Hitler written in 1935 was entitled “Hitler and His Choice.” The choice Churchill was referring to was whether “this grim figure who has performed” miracles and who had raised Germany “from the dust” would choose peace or war.

In the 1930s he wrote a four-volume biography of his ancestor, the Duke of Marlborough, to answer charges of venality leveled against him by past historians, especially Thomas Babington Macaulay. Marlborough His Life and Times I doubt it is much read today, although his battle descriptions are gems of clarity and excitement. All this adds up to a simple fact of his life: Churchill had to write, as he had no source of income other than what he brought in with his books and articles. As he once noted: “Most people live from hand to mouth; I live from mouth to hand.” And he did so by eventually earning enormous sums from his writing. It is estimated that his written works add up to over 20 million words. Churchill was able to accomplish this feat because, first, he taught himself to dictate rather than to write and rewrite. And second, and more important, for the last half of his life, he developed the idea of employing a syndicate of scholars who would do the basic research for him while producing a first draft. He would then turn the final copy into his own rolling prose, a blend of Macaulay and Gibbon.

If I were to create a reading list for those interested in getting a taste of Churchill, I would single out books both by him and by his many biographers. I would start with one of Churchill’s best: his stab at autobiography, My Early Life , which traces his career from birth to his election to Parliament in 1901. It is lively and charming. When I used it in my courses on British history, it proved a popular choice. The opening section on his schooling (he was an undistinguished student), where his Latin teacher asks for the declension of the word table , always got a chuckle. “A table,” “to the table,” “O table,” he conjugates in Latin. But what does it mean? the young Churchill asks. “O table” refers to when you address a table. “But I never do” was his answer, and he is warned that he will have trouble. He did. He never learned Latin but said he mastered the English sentence, “which is a noble thing.” It served him well throughout his life.

Churchill’s multivolume history of the Second World War is considered dated today and often dismissed for his pro-British bias. I note, however, that most histories of the war list the series in their bibliographies nevertheless. Two of the volumes, The Gathering Storm and Their Finest Hour , which deal with the war up to its becoming a world conflict with the entrance of the Soviet Union and the United States, remain fresh and useful. They are also the volumes in which Churchill is the key Allied figure, not having to share the stage with Roosevelt or Stalin. The Gathering Storm covers the decade of the 1930s and has proved influential through its thesis of how the war came about but could have been avoided. Churchill called those “The Years the Locust Ate.” His indictment of the Allies’ appeasement policies remains the standard interpretation today despite attempts by some scholars to argue that appeasement staved off war until Britain had strengthened its armament position, especially among fighter planes. Their Finest Hour relates to the phase of the war when Britain stood alone against the Axis powers and saw its triumph over the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain.

These two volumes also include Churchill’s most famous speeches, his indictment of the Munich Pact as the apotheosis of appeasement, and his four great speeches in the House of Commons during the dangerous summer of 1940, when Britain stood alone against German might. In the remaining volumes of his history, Churchill is no longer the dominant figure of the Allied coalition, which Churchill dramatically called the Grand Alliance; those volumes lose some of their vitality while remaining a good, if pro-British, view of the conflict.

Among the many special Churchill studies, two for sheer quirkiness stand out in my view. First is David Reynolds’ fascinating analysis of how Churchill organized a writing team to fashion his histories, In Command of History (2004). Reynolds shows how Churchill was able through this syndicate-of-scholars method to publish 37 books while maintaining his unique literary style.

Second is David Lough’s No More Champagne (2015), which focuses on the financial troubles that plagued Churchill’s life. The great man had a rather cavalier attitude toward money, and Lough documents his lavish spending. In April–May 1949, for instance, Churchill’s staff recorded the consumption of 454 bottles of champagne, 311 bottles of wine, 58 bottles of brandy, 56 bottles of Black Label Scotch, 58 bottles of sherry, and 69 bottles of port. Churchill pointed out when such matters were brought up that “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.” In reality, Churchill struggled with financial problems until the publication of the World War II volumes made him financially secure.

A unique entry in Churchill studies is John Lukacs’ Five Days in London: May 1940 . Lukacs argues that, in late May 1940, with France on the brink of defeat, the British army retreating to the Channel port of Dunkirk to begin a withdrawal, a key debate took place in the cabinet over whether to sue for peace. Lukacs traces the debate over five days in late May, with Churchill having to make the case for Britain remaining in the war. The prevailing sentiment in the cabinet, led by Lord Halifax. the influential foreign secretary, leaned toward making some kind of deal with Hitler. Lukacs shows how Churchill outmaneuvered Halifax and gradually won over the cabinet to remain in the conflict instead of watching Britain become a satrap of Germany. Interestingly, it was Neville Chamberlain, the very face of appeasement, who used his still-powerful influence among his fellow Conservatives to throw support behind Churchill. Lukacs sums up the situation nicely: Churchill did not win the war, but he could have lost it in May 1940.

Given his role in history, Churchill has spawned numerous biographies—the Guardian puts the figure at 1,000. The defining foundational study was done by Martin Gilbert, however, who produced the official biography in eight volumes . The series was begun by Churchill’s erratic son Randolph, who wrote the first two volumes, with Gilbert finishing the set. This series also includes 17 volumes of Churchill’s papers. The biographical material, despite its great length, is surprisingly engaging, a testament to Gilbert’s skill in mastering such a mass of material. Scholars have been and will be mining this material for years.

For those wishing to read a shorter, one-volume study, Andrew Roberts’ Churchill: Walking with Destiny (2018) stands out despite still coming in at over 1,100 pages. Roberts, one of the leading historians of 20th-century England, has produced what will remain for a long time the best single volume biography, incorporating details of the major events in Churchill’s life while remaining fair and balanced in his judgments, although one senses a deep admiration for Churchill throughout. What makes Roberts’ study so enjoyable is the sense that he was having fun while writing the book.

One important aside: Roberts notes that Churchill’s career was fueled largely by a desire to redeem his father’s reputation, which was sullied when a threat of resignation as chancellor of the exchequer in the hopes of gaining greater influence with the cabinet was simply accepted by the prime minister—and he was replaced. Memory of his father’s prematurely wrecked political career haunted Churchill throughout his life. Roberts also divides Churchill’s career at the year 1940. If he had died before that year, Churchill would have been remembered as one of the most interesting characters of English politics of the late Victorian–Edwardian eras. After 1940, however, Churchill became, in the words of the acerbic left-wing historian A.J.P. Taylor, simply “the savior of his country.” Roberts also focuses on Churchill’s conviction that he was fated for greatness. As Churchill told a young lady friend when he was young: “We are all worms, but I believe I am a glow worm.” Robert’s biography shows how true this was.

John P. Rossi

John P. Rossi is professor emeritus of history at La Salle University in Philadelphia.

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20 best books on churchill – 2023 reading list & recommendations

Welcome to the fascinating world of books about Churchill! If you are a history enthusiast or simply curious about one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explore a curated selection of the 20 best books on Churchill, delving into the life, accomplishments, and legacy of this iconic leader.

While there are countless books on Churchill, we have handpicked a diverse range of titles that offer unique perspectives and delve into lesser-known aspects of his life. From biographies that uncover the complexities of his character to historical accounts that shed light on his political triumphs and failures, this list aims to provide a comprehensive reading experience for both Churchill enthusiasts and those new to his story.

Throughout this article, we will explore lesser-known titles that may not have received as much attention as some of the more popular works. We believe that uncovering these hidden gems can offer fresh insight and a different lens through which to view Churchill’s life and impact.

So, whether you are seeking a deep dive into Churchill’s political career, a glimpse into his personal life, or a broader understanding of the historical context in which he operated, this article will provide you with a diverse selection of books to satisfy your curiosity. Let’s embark on this literary journey and discover the 20 best books about Churchill that deserve a spot on your reading list!

• 1 Churchill: Walking with Destiny
• 2 The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History
• 3 Churchill: A Life
• 4 Churchill: The Power of Words
• 5 Churchill: A Study in Greatness
• 6 Churchill: The Prophetic Statesman
• 7 Churchill: A Biography
• 8 Churchill: The Unexpected Hero
• 9 Churchill: The Greatest Briton
• 10 Churchill: A Study in Failure
• 11 Churchill: The End of Glory
• 12 Churchill: The Struggle for Survival
• 13 Churchill: A Photographic Portrait
• 14 Churchill: The Power of Oratory
• 15 Churchill: The Wilderness Years
• 16 Churchill: A Life
• 17 Churchill: The Unexpected Hero
• 18 Churchill: The Greatest Briton Unmasked
• 19 Churchill: The Making of a Hero
• 20 Churchill: The Road to Victory
• 21 Conclusion

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Churchill: Walking with Destiny

By andrew roberts.

Step into the extraordinary life of one of history’s most iconic figures with “Churchill: Walking with Destiny” by Andrew Roberts. This captivating biography offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the man behind the legend, Winston Churchill. Roberts delves deep into the intricacies of Churchill’s character, exploring the lesser-known aspects of his life with meticulous detail.

Unlike other books about Churchill, Roberts presents a truly immersive experience that allows readers to walk alongside Churchill as he navigates the turbulent waters of history. Through his eloquent storytelling and extensive research, Roberts brings to light Churchill’s remarkable leadership, his unwavering determination, and the indomitable spirit that guided him through the darkest hours of World War II.

But what sets “Churchill: Walking with Destiny” apart is its exploration of Churchill beyond the political arena. Roberts delves into his personal life, shedding light on his complex relationships, his struggles, and his triumphs. From his early years and military exploits to his literary career and long-lasting influence, this book paints a comprehensive portrait of a man who defied conventions and shaped the course of history.

Roberts skillfully weaves together historical anecdotes, letters, and firsthand accounts, breathing life into the pages of this remarkable biography. His engaging narrative style effortlessly captures the essence of Churchill’s indomitable spirit, leaving readers inspired and awestruck by his resilience and vision.

Whether you are a history enthusiast, a fan of biographies, or simply curious about Churchill’s indelible mark on the world, “Churchill: Walking with Destiny” is a must-read. Roberts’ unique perspective, meticulous research, and compelling storytelling make this book an invaluable addition to any library. Prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey alongside one of history’s greatest leaders.

The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History

By boris johnson.

If you’re fascinated by the enigmatic figure of Sir Winston Churchill, then “The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History” is a book that should be on your radar. In this captivating read by Boris Johnson, the former British Prime Minister is brought to life through a fresh lens, shedding light on his extraordinary leadership and the impact he had on history.

Johnson takes us on a thrilling journey through Churchill’s life, exploring his successes, failures, and the indomitable spirit that propelled him forward. This is not just another run-of-the-mill book on Churchill; it’s a thought-provoking exploration of the man behind the legend.

What sets “The Churchill Factor” apart is its unconventional approach to storytelling. Johnson delves into the complex layers of Churchill’s personality, offering unique insights and viewpoints that challenge traditional narratives. It’s a refreshing departure from the typical biography, as Johnson unearths lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life and presents them with a compelling narrative style.

Through meticulous research and engaging anecdotes, Johnson paints a vivid picture of a man who defied expectations and shaped the course of history. He explores Churchill’s unwavering determination, his unwieldy charm, and his remarkable ability to inspire those around him.

But it’s not just Churchill’s personal life that Johnson delves into; he also examines the broader historical context in which Churchill operated. From the World Wars to the Cold War, Johnson provides a comprehensive overview of the events that shaped Churchill’s era, connecting them seamlessly to the man himself.

“The Churchill Factor” is a book that transcends the typical boundaries of a biography. It’s a captivating exploration of one man’s indelible impact on history and the extraordinary qualities that set him apart. Johnson’s skillful storytelling and fresh perspectives make this a must-read for anyone interested in Churchill, history, or simply the power of one individual to shape the course of events.

So, if you’re looking for a book that goes beyond the surface and delves into the heart and mind of one of history’s most iconic figures, “The Churchill Factor” is the perfect choice. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and captivated by this exceptional portrayal of Churchill’s life and legacy.

Churchill: A Life

By martin gilbert.

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey through the life of one of history’s most remarkable figures? Martin Gilbert’s captivating book, “Churchill: A Life,” offers a riveting exploration of the man behind the legend. This meticulously researched biography delves deep into the depths of Winston Churchill’s character, shedding light on his triumphs, failures, and the enduring legacy he left behind.

From his early years as a soldier and war correspondent to his pivotal role as Britain’s Prime Minister during World War II, Gilbert paints a vivid portrait of a man who defied expectations at every turn. But what sets this book apart from the rest is its focus on the lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life. Instead of simply rehashing well-known anecdotes, Gilbert unearths hidden gems that reveal Churchill’s complex relationships, personal struggles, and the inner workings of his mind.

One of the most intriguing aspects of “Churchill: A Life” is Gilbert’s exploration of Churchill’s early political career. While most books on Churchill tend to gloss over this period, Gilbert dives headfirst into the political landscape of the time, shedding light on Churchill’s ideological evolution and the challenges he faced along the way. Through meticulous research and a masterful storytelling style, Gilbert brings to life the political intrigues, power struggles, and historical context that shaped Churchill’s journey.

But it’s not just the content that makes this book a must-read; Gilbert’s writing style is both engaging and accessible. He effortlessly weaves together historical facts, personal anecdotes, and insightful analysis to create a narrative that is both informative and captivating. Whether you’re a history buff or a casual reader, you’ll find yourself engrossed in Gilbert’s storytelling, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next chapter in Churchill’s remarkable life.

So, if you’re looking for a truly comprehensive and illuminating book about Churchill, look no further than “Churchill: A Life” by Martin Gilbert. This seminal work offers a fresh perspective on one of history’s most iconic figures, leaving readers with a deeper understanding of the man behind the myth. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and moved as you embark on this remarkable journey through the life and legacy of Winston Churchill.

Churchill: The Power of Words

By winston s. churchill.

Step into the extraordinary world of Winston S. Churchill with his captivating book, “Churchill: The Power of Words.” This remarkable literary masterpiece unveils the hidden depths of Churchill’s character, showcasing his unparalleled ability to wield the English language as a formidable weapon.

Within the pages of this book, you will discover a fresh perspective on the legendary figure, exploring the remarkable power that words possess to shape history and inspire nations. Churchill’s eloquence is brought to life, revealing the genius behind his speeches, letters, and memoirs.

Unveiling a side of Churchill that often goes unnoticed, this book delves into the lesser-known aspects of his life, offering insights into his struggles, triumphs, and enduring legacy. From his early political career to his pivotal role in World War II, each chapter unveils the profound impact of Churchill’s words on the world stage.

But what sets this book apart is its exploration of unpopular ideas and unconventional perspectives. It challenges the widely held beliefs about Churchill, shedding light on his complexities, flaws, and contradictions. Through this lens, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the iconic image.

Immerse yourself in a narrative that is both enlightening and thought-provoking, as Churchill’s words resonate through time and space. As you turn each page, you will witness the transformational power of language, and how it can shape the course of history.

Whether you are a history enthusiast, a lover of literature, or simply curious about the enigmatic figure of Churchill, this book is a must-read. It offers a unique and refreshing perspective on a man whose words continue to inspire and resonate in our world today.

Embark on a journey with “Churchill: The Power of Words” and discover the untold stories, the hidden depths, and the extraordinary power of one of history’s most influential figures.

Churchill: A Study in Greatness

By geoffrey best.

If you are a history enthusiast or simply fascinated by the life of a remarkable leader, then “Churchill: A Study in Greatness” is the book for you. Written by the renowned author Geoffrey Best, this captivating biography delves deep into the life and achievements of one of history’s most influential figures.

Unlike other books about Churchill, Best’s work offers a fresh perspective on the extraordinary statesman. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Best presents Churchill not only as a political figure but also as a complex and multi-dimensional character, exploring his strengths, weaknesses, and the factors that shaped his greatness.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of the lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life. Best delves into Churchill’s formative years, his experiences as a war correspondent, and his unyielding determination during some of the most challenging periods in history.

What makes this biography truly fascinating is the author’s ability to bring Churchill to life on the pages. The vivid descriptions and engaging narrative transport readers back in time, allowing them to witness Churchill’s indomitable spirit firsthand.

Best’s meticulous attention to detail and his ability to present complex historical events in a digestible manner make this book a must-read for both casual readers and history aficionados alike.

So, whether you are looking for a compelling book on Churchill or simply seeking to expand your knowledge of one of history’s greatest leaders, “Churchill: A Study in Greatness” is the perfect choice. Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary life of this iconic figure as you turn the pages of this remarkable biography.

Churchill: The Prophetic Statesman

By james c. humes.

Step into the fascinating world of one of history’s most influential leaders with Churchill: The Prophetic Statesman. In this captivating book, James C. Humes delves deep into the life and mind of the iconic statesman, Winston Churchill. With meticulous research and a unique perspective, Humes presents a fresh take on the man who guided Britain through its darkest hours.

This isn’t just another book about Churchill; it’s a journey into the depths of his prophetic vision and unmatched leadership. Humes uncovers the lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s character, shedding light on his remarkable ability to predict the future and shape world events.

Through vivid storytelling and engaging anecdotes, Humes paints a vivid picture of Churchill’s life, from his early days as a young soldier to his rise as one of the world’s most revered statesmen. With each turn of the page, readers will be immersed in the triumphs and tribulations that shaped the man behind the legend.

What sets this book apart is Humes’ exploration of Churchill’s lesser-known ideas and beliefs. From his visionary insights on technology and warfare to his thoughts on the future of democracy, Humes uncovers a side of Churchill that few have seen before. Prepare to be surprised and inspired by his forward-thinking ideas that continue to resonate in today’s world.

Churchill: The Prophetic Statesman is a must-read for history buffs, leadership enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a fresh perspective on one of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Humes’ masterful storytelling and thought-provoking analysis make this book a true gem. So, if you’re ready to embark on a journey through the life and mind of Winston Churchill, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Churchill: A Biography

By roy jenkins.

Step into the captivating world of one of the most influential leaders in history with Roy Jenkins’ Churchill: A Biography. This remarkable book takes readers on an enthralling journey through the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, a man who shaped the course of the 20th century.

With meticulous research and an eloquent writing style, Jenkins delves deep into the multifaceted character of Churchill, revealing the man behind the iconic figure. From his early years as a soldier and war correspondent to his tenure as Prime Minister during World War II, Jenkins uncovers the triumphs, struggles, and complexities that defined Churchill’s extraordinary life.

What sets this book apart is Jenkins’ ability to present Churchill in all his complexity, showcasing not only his political prowess but also his personal flaws and vulnerabilities. Throughout the pages, readers will witness Churchill’s unwavering determination, his unwavering belief in democracy, and his unyielding spirit in the face of adversity.

Jenkins’ nuanced portrayal challenges popular notions of Churchill, offering fresh insights into his political decisions, relationships, and his impact on the world stage. This biography is a testament to the power of leadership, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking for a captivating read, this book on Churchill is a must-have. It paints a comprehensive picture of a man whose influence continues to reverberate through the corridors of power today.

Immerse yourself in the epic tale of Churchill’s life, and discover the remarkable legacy of a man who defied expectations and changed the course of history. Churchill: A Biography is a gripping and illuminating exploration of a true icon.

Churchill: The Unexpected Hero

By paul addison.

Step into the intriguing world of Winston Churchill with “Churchill: The Unexpected Hero” by Paul Addison. This captivating book sheds new light on the renowned statesman, offering a fresh perspective on his life and legacy. Addison delves into Churchill’s complex character and reveals the lesser-known aspects of his personality, painting a vivid portrait of a man far more multidimensional than the history books would lead you to believe.

In this meticulously researched biography, Addison challenges the conventional narrative surrounding Churchill’s leadership during World War II, exploring the nuances of his decision-making process and the impact of his unorthodox methods. By delving into the depths of Churchill’s political career, Addison uncovers surprising and thought-provoking insights that challenge preconceived notions.

One of the book’s most intriguing aspects is its exploration of Churchill’s personal life. Addison delves into his relationships, struggles, and private moments, illuminating the man behind the iconic figure. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous attention to detail, the author brings Churchill to life, making him relatable and human.

What sets this book apart from others is its ability to present Churchill in a new light, breaking free from the traditional hero narrative. Addison’s meticulous research and engaging writing style make for an enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable read. Whether you’re new to the world of Churchill or a seasoned enthusiast, this book offers a fresh and captivating perspective that is sure to leave you with a deeper understanding of this unexpected hero.

So, if you’re searching for a thought-provoking and enlightening book about Churchill that challenges the status quo, look no further. “Churchill: The Unexpected Hero” is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the man behind the legend.

Churchill: The Greatest Briton

By richard holmes.

Are you ready to dive into the captivating world of one of the greatest figures in history? Look no further than “Churchill: The Greatest Briton” by Richard Holmes. This remarkable book takes you on an extraordinary journey through the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, a titan of British history.

Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Holmes sheds new light on the man behind the myth, offering fresh insights into Churchill’s remarkable achievements and complex character. From his early days as a soldier and war correspondent to his indomitable leadership during World War II, this book paints a vivid portrait of a man who shaped the destiny of a nation.

But what sets “Churchill: The Greatest Briton” apart from other biographies is its exploration of lesser-known facets of Churchill’s life. Holmes delves into Churchill’s passion for painting, his love for literature, and his profound influence on British politics and society. By shining a spotlight on these aspects, the book unveils a more multifaceted and intriguing Churchill, beyond the stereotypical image of a cigar-chomping war leader.

Furthermore, Holmes examines Churchill’s flaws and controversies, not shying away from the more complex aspects of his character. By presenting a balanced portrayal of Churchill, the book challenges conventional narratives and invites readers to critically assess the man behind the legend.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a Churchill aficionado, or simply seeking an enthralling read, “Churchill: The Greatest Briton” is an absolute must-have. Holmes’ meticulous research, elegant prose, and fresh perspectives make this book an invaluable addition to any library. So, embark on this unforgettable journey and discover the hidden depths of one of history’s most iconic figures.

Churchill: A Study in Failure

By robert rhodes james.

Are you ready to embark on a captivating journey through the life of one of the most iconic figures in history? Look no further than Robert Rhodes James’ intriguing book, “Churchill: A Study in Failure.” This thought-provoking exploration delves deep into the triumphs and tribulations of the enigmatic leader, offering a fresh perspective on his legacy.

Unlike conventional biographies, “Churchill: A Study in Failure” dares to challenge the widely accepted narrative surrounding Sir Winston Churchill. Rhodes James presents a groundbreaking analysis, shedding light on the lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life and career. Prepare to be captivated by the author’s unique take on this enigmatic statesman.

Through meticulous research and an engaging narrative style, Rhodes James paints a vivid portrait of Churchill, revealing the complex nature of his character. Uncovering his flaws, misjudgments, and failures, this book dares to explore the untold stories behind the legendary figure.

Delving into the depths of Churchill’s political career, Rhodes James showcases the moments that shaped him, both as a leader and as a man. From his early failures to his controversial decisions during World War II, this book provides a fresh understanding of the man behind the speeches.

But “Churchill: A Study in Failure” does not merely dwell on Churchill’s shortcomings. It also highlights his resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit in the face of adversity. Rhodes James presents a balanced perspective, portraying Churchill as a complex human being rather than an infallible hero.

Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply intrigued by the enigma that was Churchill, this book is a must-read. Prepare to challenge your preconceived notions and embark on an intellectual journey that will leave you questioning the popular narrative. “Churchill: A Study in Failure” will not disappoint.

Churchill: The End of Glory

By john charmley.

If you’re in search of a captivating read that delves into the life and legacy of one of history’s most iconic figures, look no further than John Charmley’s thought-provoking book, “Churchill: The End of Glory.” This fascinating exploration offers a fresh perspective on the enigmatic statesman, providing an in-depth look at the man behind the legend.

Charmley skillfully takes us on a journey through the life of this influential figure, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s character and decision-making. It’s not just another run-of-the-mill book about Churchill; instead, it presents a thought-provoking analysis that challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to question their preconceived notions.

Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Charmley delves into Churchill’s flaws, revealing a more complex and nuanced portrait of the man. He explores Churchill’s political career, his controversial decisions, and the impact they had on the course of history. This book goes beyond the surface-level hero worship often associated with Churchill, offering a deeper understanding of his motivations and the complex challenges he faced.

What sets “Churchill: The End of Glory” apart is Charmley’s ability to present unpopular ideas and challenge long-standing assumptions. He delves into the notion that Churchill’s leadership may have ultimately led to the decline of the British Empire, providing a fresh perspective that encourages readers to reassess their understanding of this historical period.

Charmley’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making this book a page-turner from start to finish. Whether you’re a seasoned history buff or just curious about one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, this book is sure to captivate and enlighten you.

So, if you’re ready to embark on a journey that will challenge your assumptions and provide a deeper understanding of Churchill and his impact on history, don’t miss out on “Churchill: The End of Glory.” It’s a compelling and thought-provoking book that will leave you pondering the complexities of this iconic statesman long after you’ve turned the final page.

Churchill: The Struggle for Survival

By lord moran.

Step into the extraordinary world of one of history’s most iconic figures with “Churchill: The Struggle for Survival” by Lord Moran. This captivating book offers a fresh perspective on the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, the renowned statesman, and leader. Delve into the pages of this thought-provoking biography and witness Churchill’s tenacious battle for survival, both personally and politically.

Lord Moran, a trusted confidant of Churchill, provides unparalleled insight into the man behind the legend. Through meticulous research and personal anecdotes, Moran paints a vivid portrait of a leader who navigated the tumultuous waters of World War II and shaped the course of history. This is not just another book on Churchill; it’s a deeply human exploration of a complex individual who faced numerous challenges and emerged triumphant.

What sets this book apart is its ability to shed light on lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life. Moran unearths hidden struggles and vulnerabilities, revealing a man who battled against self-doubt and depression, even in the face of immense adversity. By exploring these intimate aspects of Churchill’s character, Moran provides a fresh perspective on his remarkable achievements.

This biography is far from a dry recitation of facts; it is a riveting narrative that brings Churchill’s story to life. Moran’s writing style effortlessly transports readers to pivotal moments in history, from the tense war rooms to the hallowed halls of power. With each turn of the page, you’ll feel a deeper connection to the enigmatic figure known as Churchill.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a political junkie, or simply seeking a compelling read, “Churchill: The Struggle for Survival” is a must-have addition to your bookshelf. It offers a captivating glimpse into the life of a man who shaped the course of the 20th century and left an indelible mark on the world. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary journey through the life and struggles of one of history’s greatest leaders.

Churchill: A Photographic Portrait

Discover the captivating story of one of history’s most iconic figures in Churchill: A Photographic Portrait by Martin Gilbert. This remarkable book offers a fresh perspective on the life and legacy of the legendary statesman. Immerse yourself in an array of stunning photographs that vividly capture the essence of Winston Churchill, showcasing his indomitable spirit and unwavering determination.

Unlike any other book on Churchill, this photographic portrait delves into the lesser-known aspects of his life, shedding light on his personal struggles, triumphs, and the events that shaped his remarkable journey. With Gilbert’s masterful storytelling, you will be transported into the heart of history, witnessing Churchill’s leadership during World War II, his influential political career, and his unyielding commitment to democracy.

But what sets this book apart from the rest is its unique perspective on Churchill’s persona. Through a carefully curated collection of photographs, you’ll witness Churchill’s infectious charisma, his deep intellect, and his sense of humor that often provided solace during challenging times. These rare glimpses into his private life paint a comprehensive portrait of a man who defied convention and became an emblem of courage and resilience.

Whether you are a devoted history enthusiast, a curious reader seeking inspiration, or simply someone fascinated by the extraordinary life of Winston Churchill, this book is a must-read. Gilbert’s meticulous research, combined with the power of photography, creates an immersive experience that will leave you captivated from cover to cover.

So dive into this extraordinary journey through time and explore the life of Churchill like never before. Discover the untold stories, the hidden facets, and the undeniable charisma of a man who forever left his mark on the world. Churchill: A Photographic Portrait is the definitive book about Churchill that deserves a place on every history lover’s bookshelf.

Churchill: The Power of Oratory

By david cannadine.

If you are looking for a captivating book that delves deep into the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in history, then look no further than David Cannadine’s “Churchill: The Power of Oratory.” This remarkable book offers a fresh perspective on the extraordinary life of Sir Winston Churchill, a man whose words shaped nations and inspired generations.

Unlike other biographies, “Churchill: The Power of Oratory” focuses specifically on Churchill’s exceptional skill in public speaking, showcasing his ability to move hearts and minds through his powerful words. Cannadine masterfully explores the art of oratory and its profound impact on Churchill’s political career, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of his life.

Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Cannadine uncovers the hidden depths of Churchill’s oratorical genius, revealing how his speeches not only galvanized a nation during its darkest hours but also shaped the course of history. From his stirring wartime addresses to his compelling political speeches, Churchill’s words continue to resonate even today.

What sets this book apart is its focus on Churchill’s oratory as a defining aspect of his leadership, illuminating the power of words in shaping public opinion and influencing political outcomes. Cannadine’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making this book a joy to read for both history enthusiasts and those new to the subject.

Furthermore, “Churchill: The Power of Oratory” dispels common misconceptions about Churchill, presenting a more nuanced and comprehensive portrait of the man behind the speeches. By exploring his personal and political struggles, Cannadine humanizes Churchill, allowing readers to connect with him on a deeper level.

Whether you are a history buff, a student of leadership, or simply curious about the life of this enigmatic figure, “Churchill: The Power of Oratory” offers a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective on Churchill’s remarkable journey. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the extraordinary power of words and the indelible mark they can leave on the world.

Churchill: The Wilderness Years

Step into the captivating world of one of history’s most iconic figures with “Churchill: The Wilderness Years” by Martin Gilbert. This remarkable book offers an intimate and thought-provoking exploration of the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, an enigmatic statesman whose leadership shaped the course of the twentieth century.

Delve into the pages of this illuminating biography as Gilbert unveils the lesser-known, yet crucial, period of Churchill’s life known as “The Wilderness Years.” Far from the public eye, Churchill faced immense challenges, both personally and politically, as he navigated through the tumultuous interwar period.

Gilbert’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling transport readers to a bygone era, where they witness Churchill’s unwavering resolve, resilience, and unwavering dedication to his country. Through his masterful prose, the author captures the essence of Churchill’s character, showcasing his indomitable spirit in the face of adversity.

This thought-provoking book not only sheds light on the political landscape of the time but also delves into Churchill’s personal struggles, providing a unique and comprehensive perspective on the man behind the legend. Gilbert’s deep understanding of his subject shines through every page, making this a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Churchill’s life and the challenges he faced.

Uncover the complexities of Churchill’s character as Gilbert explores his political battles, his unwavering convictions, and his indelible mark on history. “Churchill: The Wilderness Years” is a captivating journey that will leave readers both inspired and enlightened.

by John Keegan

If you’re fascinated by the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in history, then this book is an absolute must-read. “Churchill: A Life” by John Keegan delves into the extraordinary journey of a man who shaped the course of the world. Keegan’s masterful storytelling takes you on a captivating exploration of the enigmatic character that was Winston Churchill.

This book offers a refreshing perspective on the iconic leader, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of his life. Keegan unravels the complexities of Churchill’s personality, showcasing his resilience, political acumen, and unwavering determination. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, the author paints a vivid portrait of a man who defied the odds and became a symbol of hope during tumultuous times.

What sets this book apart is Keegan’s ability to bring Churchill’s story to life through vivid storytelling. Whether you’re a history aficionado or simply seeking inspiration, this book will leave you in awe of Churchill’s indomitable spirit and his unwavering commitment to his ideals.

Keegan’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making this biography a page-turner from start to finish. He seamlessly weaves together historical facts, personal anecdotes, and captivating narratives, creating a compelling narrative that keeps you hooked till the very last page.

While many books on Churchill focus solely on his political achievements, Keegan takes a more holistic approach. He delves into Churchill’s personal life, exploring his relationships, passions, and even his vulnerabilities. By doing so, Keegan humanizes one of history’s most iconic figures, making him relatable and inspiring in equal measure.

So, if you’re looking for a book that offers a fresh perspective on Churchill’s life, “Churchill: A Life” is the perfect choice. Prepare to be captivated by Keegan’s brilliant storytelling and gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the legend.

by Christopher Catherwood

Churchill: The Unexpected Hero is a captivating book that delves into the life and legacy of one of the most prominent figures in history. Written by Christopher Catherwood, this insightful read offers a fresh perspective on the enigmatic statesman, Winston Churchill.

Unlike the countless other books about Churchill, Catherwood’s work explores the lesser-known aspects of his character, shedding light on the man behind the legend. The author skillfully weaves together anecdotes and historical analysis to reveal Churchill as a complex individual, full of contradictions and unexpected virtues.

Through meticulous research, Catherwood challenges popular misconceptions and presents a nuanced portrait of Churchill. He explores the leader’s flaws, including his controversial decisions and occasional missteps, but also highlights his extraordinary courage, resilience, and unwavering determination.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of Churchill’s intellectual curiosity and his lesser-known interests in art, literature, and philosophy. Catherwood delves into Churchill’s wide-ranging influences and how they shaped his worldview, providing a deeper understanding of the man behind the political powerhouse.

Moreover, Catherwood’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making this book a pleasure to read for both history enthusiasts and newcomers alike. He effortlessly combines historical facts with personal anecdotes, breathing life into the pages and transporting readers back to pivotal moments in history.

Whether you are a history buff or simply curious about one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, this book about Churchill is a must-read. It challenges preconceived notions, unveils hidden facets of his character, and ultimately presents an unexpected hero whose impact continues to resonate today.

Churchill: The Greatest Briton Unmasked

By richard toye.

Are you ready to delve into the fascinating life of one of history’s most iconic figures? Look no further than Richard Toye’s captivating book on Churchill, aptly titled “The Greatest Briton Unmasked.” This riveting biography takes you on a journey through the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of his character and achievements.

Unlike other books about Churchill that merely scratch the surface, Toye presents a fresh perspective, revealing the man behind the legendary statesman. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Toye uncovers the complexities and contradictions that made Churchill such a remarkable figure.

Prepare to be captivated as Toye explores Churchill’s indomitable spirit, his strategic brilliance, and his unwavering determination to lead Britain through some of its darkest hours. But this book goes beyond the well-known narratives, delving into Churchill’s personal struggles, his political controversies, and his complicated relationships.

What sets “The Greatest Briton Unmasked” apart is Toye’s ability to challenge popular perceptions and offer thought-provoking insights into Churchill’s accomplishments. He explores the intricate web of Churchill’s decisions, examining how they shaped not only his own life but also the course of history.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a political junkie, or simply curious about the enigmatic figure of Churchill, this book is a must-read. Toye’s impeccable storytelling and meticulous research will transport you back in time, allowing you to witness the extraordinary life of a man who left an indelible mark on the world.

So, grab a copy of this thought-provoking Churchill book and prepare to uncover the layers of complexity behind the greatest Briton. You won’t be able to put it down!

Churchill: The Making of a Hero

By nigel hamilton.

If you are a history enthusiast or simply fascinated by the life of renowned leaders, then Nigel Hamilton’s book, Churchill: The Making of a Hero , is an absolute must-read. This captivating biography delves deep into the life and journey of one of the most iconic figures in history, Sir Winston Churchill.

Hamilton’s meticulous research and engaging storytelling skillfully depict the extraordinary rise of a man who would shape the course of history. From his early days as a young, ambitious politician to his pivotal role in leading Britain during World War II, this book paints a vivid picture of Churchill’s life, struggles, and triumphs.

What sets this book apart is the author’s unique perspective on Churchill, presenting him not merely as a hero, but as a complex and flawed individual. Hamilton explores the lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life, shedding light on his personal relationships, political maneuvers, and the challenges he faced in his quest for greatness.

Unlike other biographies, Hamilton’s narrative is both informative and captivating, making it accessible to readers of all backgrounds. He skillfully weaves together historical facts, insightful analysis, and personal anecdotes to create a compelling and insightful portrait of Churchill.

Through his meticulous research, Hamilton challenges popular notions and offers a fresh perspective on Churchill’s life and legacy. He explores the influences that shaped Churchill’s character, the decisions that defined his leadership, and the impact of his ideas on the world stage.

Whether you are a history buff or simply seeking inspiration from a remarkable individual, this book about Churchill is sure to leave a lasting impression. Hamilton’s thought-provoking exploration of Churchill’s life offers a deeper understanding of the man behind the legend, making this biography an invaluable addition to any bookshelf.

Churchill: The Road to Victory

If you’re searching for an extraordinary book about one of history’s most influential figures, look no further than “Churchill: The Road to Victory” by Martin Gilbert. This captivating masterpiece takes you on a journey through the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, a statesman, and leader like no other.

Gilbert’s meticulous research and insightful storytelling skillfully unravel the lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life, providing a fresh perspective on his path to triumph. From his early political struggles to his pivotal role in World War II, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of Churchill’s journey, painting a vivid picture of the man behind the legend.

What sets this book apart is Gilbert’s ability to present Churchill as more than just a political figure. Through anecdotes, personal letters, and historical accounts, he brings out Churchill’s complexities, showcasing his wit, determination, and unwavering spirit. This nuanced portrayal sheds light on Churchill’s vulnerabilities, fears, and doubts, making him relatable and human.

Moreover, “Churchill: The Road to Victory” delves into Churchill’s lesser-known achievements and contributions, beyond his wartime leadership. Gilbert explores his literary endeavors, his impact on social reform, and his pivotal role in shaping the modern world. This multi-dimensional approach challenges traditional narratives and offers a fresh and insightful take on Churchill’s true significance.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a Churchill aficionado, or simply someone looking for an engaging read, this book is a must-have in your collection. It offers a fascinating exploration of Churchill’s life, presenting a captivating blend of history, biography, and personal reflection.

So, grab a copy of this remarkable book and embark on a journey through the life of Sir Winston Churchill. Discover the man behind the legend and gain a deeper understanding of his indelible impact on the world. “Churchill: The Road to Victory” is a hidden gem that will leave you inspired and enlightened.

After delving into the world of books about Churchill, it is clear that there are several hidden gems that often go unnoticed. While many readers are familiar with the popular titles that dominate the shelves, it is important to explore the lesser-known works that offer a unique perspective on this iconic figure of history.

One such book is “Churchill’s War Lab: Codebreakers, Scientists, and the Mavericks Churchill Led to Victory” by Taylor Downing. This captivating account sheds light on the crucial role played by scientists and codebreakers during World War II, highlighting Churchill’s visionary leadership in utilizing their expertise.

Another overlooked gem is “Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom” by Thomas E. Ricks. This thought-provoking book draws intriguing parallels between Churchill and George Orwell, examining their shared commitment to defending freedom and democracy in the face of adversity.

While many readers gravitate towards biographies, it is worth exploring alternative formats such as “Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” by Giles Milton. This fascinating book uncovers the secret operations and unconventional tactics employed by a group of misfits and mavericks who played a vital role in Churchill’s war effort.

For those seeking a fresh perspective, “Churchill and the Islamic World: Orientalism, Empire, and Diplomacy in the Middle East” by Warren Dockter provides a nuanced exploration of Churchill’s complex relationship with the Islamic world. This insightful book challenges conventional narratives and offers a deeper understanding of Churchill’s policies in the Middle East.

It is important to remember that while popular titles may offer a comprehensive overview, they may not delve into the lesser-known aspects of Churchill’s life and legacy. Exploring these hidden gems allows readers to gain a more nuanced understanding of this iconic figure, shedding light on lesser-known facets of his personality and impact.

So, the next time you find yourself perusing the bookstore or browsing online, consider venturing beyond the well-trodden path and uncovering these hidden treasures. You may just discover a new perspective on Churchill that captivates and enlightens in unexpected ways.

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Reading the Best Biographies of All Time

Review of “Churchill: Walking with Destiny” by Andrew Roberts

29 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by Steve in Leaders / Politicians

≈ 33 Comments

Andrew Roberts , best biographies , biographies , book reviews , Winston Churchill

Andrew Roberts’s biography “ Churchill: Walking with Destiny ” was published in the fall of 2018 and quickly became a bestseller in both the US and UK. Roberts is an award-winning British author and journalist who has written more than a dozen books including “ Napoleon: A Life ” (which inspired a BBC tv series), “ The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War ” and “ House of Windsor .”

Within weeks of its release this book was hailed as one of the very best single-volume biographies of Winston Churchill ever published. Because this is the first biography of Churchill I’ve read, I am unable to offer an opinion on the matter. What is clear to me, however, is that Roberts’s biography of Churchill is magisterial, impressively thorough and keenly perceptive. It also benefits from the author’s access to personal papers and notes unavailable to previous biographers of Churchill.

Anyone familiar with Winston Churchill’s life will appreciate the difficulty inherent in compressing his remarkably eventful nine decades into a single volume.  But Roberts seems to have accomplished the task with authority, clarity and precision. The book bursts with revealing observations and anecdotes and quickly proves a fruitful (if not effortless) reading experience.

Churchill is easy to lionize and while Roberts’s tome can occasionally feel like an instrument of praise, it is remarkably objective. The narrative critically embraces Churchill’s complexity and never fails to explore his personal faults as well as his professional mistakes. And the author’s attention to the lessons Churchill took from each misstep is as insightful as the description of the sins themselves.

The highlight of the biography for me: the final eighteen pages which are dedicated to the evaluation of Churchill’s life and legacy. Readers who may have overlooked or forgotten any of Churchill’s illustrious accomplishments or conspicuous flaws will find them carefully evaluated and fluently reviewed.

But in my experience, the very best biographies are found at the intersection of penetrating, insightful history and vibrant, captivating narrative. For all the well-deserved praise it has received, “Walking with Destiny” is superb as history but less successful as engaging literature .

Hardcore history enthusiasts might embrace a dry recitation of facts, but readers seeking a colorful exploration of Churchill’s life will find the narrative lamentably stiff.  Anyone who has previously marveled at Churchill’s exceedingly interesting relationship with Franklin Roosevelt, for instance, will discover that much of the intangible magic surrounding their personal and professional connections is missing here.

Roberts does a remarkable job focusing on Churchill’s bubble – explaining what happened and often…but not always… why . But for readers new to Churchill and his surroundings this biography provides little context, almost no foreshadowing and only a fleeting sense of “the big picture.”  As a result, this biography is most valuable to readers who are already familiar with Churchill’s life.

Overall, Andrew Roberts’s biography of Winston Churchill is a literary tale of two cities. Readers seeking a balanced, comprehensive and detailed history of Churchill’s life in a single volume will find this a biographical masterpiece. But anyone seeking to embrace this famously fascinating British politician through a narrative as captivating and colorful as Churchill himself are likely to find it somewhat disappointing.

Overall rating: 3¾ stars

33 thoughts on “Review of “Churchill: Walking with Destiny” by Andrew Roberts”

June 29, 2020 at 4:32 pm

Sorry you didn’t find it more engaging. I found Roberts to be one of the more engaging of Churchill biographers, but the challenge is that you need to include a LOT of details to both treat his career seriously and still capture his personality. I’m not sure you can fully do both in one volume.

This leaves Manchester, who had 3 volumes (with the assistance of Paul Reid in completing v.3) and shorter works. For instance, Walking With Destiny covers a single pivotal year of 1922, and includes all the personal details that make you feel you “know” him.

June 29, 2020 at 4:38 pm

I think you’re spot-on. And part of the challenge for me is probably that some of the better FDR biographies I read did a fantastic job of describing the interaction between Churchill and FDR during a relatively brief but dramatic period of time. Roberts had a tremendous amount of ground to cover and did so with a minimum of embellishment or flourish. So, with the benefit of hindsight, what I’m after as it relates to Churchill is the thoroughness Roberts offers with the narrative engagement I expect from Chernow, Jean Edward Smith, etc. I can only imagine how many pages / volumes that would entail!

June 29, 2020 at 5:38 pm

Get a hold of v.2 of Manchester (Alone) and just read the Prologue. You will not be disappointed.

June 29, 2020 at 5:44 pm

Thanks – I may have to do that tonight 🙂

July 10, 2020 at 1:50 pm

I’ve done a daily book review on the radio for more than 25 years. I’ve read a lot about a lot. The Manchester Churchill (esp. v. 2) are among the top five best books I’ve ever read on any subject! I enjoyed Roberts and it is the best one-volume on Churchill (as Chernow is the best one-volume on Washington), but the difference between the one and three volumes is where the author can wax more eloquent. After about page 400 of v. 3, Manchester’s work goes to Reid who is more workmanlike. In fact, i found Roberts’ account of the end of Churchill’s life better than Reid’s.

I first ran across Roberts in 1995 with his collection of essays called “Eminent Churchillians”. His skewering of Lord Mountbatten over the division of India and Pakistan was brilliant, as was his report on the Windsor’s attitude towards him and also the Tories who took quite a while to warm up to him. Roberts’ book, Masters and Commanders is brilliant as well. It just came out on Audible last month and explains a lot about the relationship between Churchill, FDR, Marshall and Alan Brooke. A kind of biography, but a revelation about the challenges in winning the War and establishing the necessary grand strategies to do so. Some of both of these books is included in Walking with Destiny, but these are areas that deserve more attention.

July 10, 2020 at 5:35 pm

A daily book review for 25 years? OMG, I feel so…slow and behind! I can’t wait to read the Manchester series and for what it’s worth, I think Chernow’s bio of Washington is one of the very best single volume biographies of a US president…period. Any chance you’ve read his biography of Napoleon?

July 11, 2020 at 3:13 pm

I’m working on it. His Churchill (and supporting cast) books are his best. Prior to Eminent Churchillians, he wrote The Holy Fox (on Lord Halifax). I’ve found that I rate his top books as follows:

1. Masters and Commanders

2. Churchill: Walking With Destiny (I also especially appreciated his report on how Churchill took over)–Sidenote (try “Dominion” by C. J. Sansom. A spy thriller set in a world where Churchill didn’t become Prime Minister.)

2. Eminent Churchillians

3. Napoleon (what I’ve gone through so far, I really like and I’ve learned a lot)

He also wrote The Storm of War, which I had high hopes for. Its a more traditional World War II history and I hoped it would be more of a book on how the Germans came to their grand strategy (in the manner of Masters and Commanders).

Additional Side Note: For a book on World War II Strategy, Weapons and Tactics, try The Second World Wars by Victor Davis Hanson.

Sorry for the firehose.

Your blogs have been very enjoyable over the years. My reports are only 3 minutes and you can take a deeper dive.

June 29, 2020 at 5:15 pm

I’m currently reading The Vile and the Splendid by Erik Larson. So far it’s an outstanding view of Churchill and the Battle of Britain. I checked and didn’t see a review from you. I would recommend it and would be interested in your thoughts on it.

June 29, 2020 at 5:21 pm

I’ve heard it’s excellent but it seems too narrowly focused for me at the moment. Nevertheless, I may have to break down and just read it “on the side” at some point and post my thoughts… 🙂

June 29, 2020 at 5:31 pm

Larson’s books are excellent and – as you noted – very narrowly focused. I read Dead Wake about the Lusitania and it made me go back to read his prior books on William Dodd’s time in Germany during the rise of Hitler and The Devil in the White City. Splendid and Vile is up next in my queue (after finishing the recent book on TR and Morgan).

June 29, 2020 at 5:53 pm

My son had to read Dead Wake for school and really enjoyed it. This is the same son who doesn’t typically enjoy reading anything longer than a newspaper article but who was also really excited by Candice Millard’s “River of Doubt.” So Larson’s book on

Oddly enough I haven’t heard anything about Berfield’s book although the description suggests it could be remarkably interesting.

And now that I’ve read Larson’s “Note to Readers” and first few pages of Splendid and Vile, I can tell I’m going to have to start multi-tasking and reading more than one thing at a time!

June 29, 2020 at 6:16 pm

Interesting you mention Ms. Millard as I removed a comment from my note about their similar writing styles and projects.

Dr. Berfield’s book is interesting, but I would not put it at ‘remarkably interesting.’ It is essentially a tale at the intersection of labor, capital, and government drawn from the end of the Gilded Age. Reading some of the quotes and passages makes one realize similar problems are still with us. I quoted a section to my post-college daughter, then asked: 1895 or 2020? [In the WSJ, James Grant celebrates the author’s fine writing, but is not keen on her premise.]

The book and your review American Financier encouraged me to seek out a copy for followup. It will go well with the Carnegie bio I recently acquired. Your review was not very positive, but it is probably the best biography out there. Although I may break down and get a paperback of Chernow’s House of Morgan (hardcover copies are priced through the roof).

July 1, 2020 at 9:05 am

Both Larson & Millard are great narrative nonfiction writers. “The River of Doubt” was an amazing book that really nailed TR the person while focusing on an incredible story within his long life. “The Devil in the White City” is still one of my favorite books of all time. I recommend it to anyone who claims they don’t like history or nonfiction books.

While we’re on the topic of Churchill, I’m wondering if anyone has read Millard’s book “Hero of the Empire” about him.

July 1, 2020 at 9:21 am

I did and it was a great narrative as one would expect. After reading Churchill’s accounts of his escape in London to Ladysmith and My Early Life, it was good to see a biographer tackle the journey. The context she provides about life in the British Army during the late 19th century and Churchill’s personality are wonderful.

June 29, 2020 at 5:19 pm

I read Manchester’s 3 volumes on Churchill a few years ago. It was about 3,000 pages total and covered a lot of details over his entire life. I’m not sure I will read this new biography at this time, since I got my fill of Churchill already.

June 29, 2020 at 5:23 pm

I’m curious what you thought of Manchester – the series is sitting in front of me *begging* to be read although I’ll probably wait a bit before re-visiting Churchill given the large number of folks with potentially great biographies.

June 29, 2020 at 5:39 pm

Per my note above, just pick up v.2 and read the Prologue. Nothing else. Just the Prologue.

July 1, 2020 at 12:18 pm

I was happy to see your review of this book, because I’m currently reading it! I’m on page 700-and-something. It’s the first Churchill biography I’ve read (though like you, I’ve previously encountered him in an FDR bio and other books). I actually think it does a great job of revealing Churchill’s wit and personality. But I don’t have other bios to compare it to.

July 2, 2020 at 6:49 am

Steve – If you’re looking for narrative flourish, then look no further than William Manchester’s 3 volume set on Churchill and his magisterial biography of Douglas MacArthur, ‘American Caesar’. The third volume of his set on Churchill lacks the same engaged narrative as the first two volumes as he was unable to fully complete the volume.

On another note – I’m currently completing Manning Marable’s Pulitzer Prize winning biography on Malcolm X. This book is quite good and offers a lot of insight into the 1950-1960s Civil Rights movement as well as the internal struggles of the Nation of Islam. You may find this book interesting as well.

July 2, 2020 at 6:53 am

Your Machester insight is helpful – thanks! And I do have Marable’s bio of Malcolm X on my “master master list” but until now hadn’t heard from anyone who has actually read it so I’m glad to hear it holds promise!

July 2, 2020 at 7:18 am

I will second Jared’s note on Marable’s Malcolm X. It is controversial as it contradicts certain elements/themes of Malcolm’s autobiography. Taylor Branch’s works on MLK still hold the mantle for the civil right narrative in my opinion. Malcolm X illustrates the movement wasn’t necessarily homogeneous.

August 22, 2020 at 12:57 pm

Marable’s book is pretty good. I understand that Malcolm’s family hated it but I thought it was a very balanced look at someone who remains extremely controversial. And yeah Taylor Branch’s books (especially Parting the Waters) are a must-read.

July 24, 2020 at 10:44 pm

Steve, you are a continued source of wisdom and inspiration for all of us who follow your blog. I share your assessment of Roberts’ Churchill biography. I recently read his Napoleon biography (which I enjoyed thoroughly) and will be curious to read your review when you get around to it.

I am currently reading Richard Norton Smith’s biography on Thomas Dewey and cannot put it down. Dewey is a fascinating figure and I am surprised that he has faded into obscurity. I realize you have quite the list of follow up books, but it is a good read, particularly if you want to read about crime in New York during the 1930’s.

Thanks for everything you do. Stay safe and keep up the good work!

July 25, 2020 at 4:55 am

Ray, I appreciate your note and am intrigued by his Napoleon biography (to say the least). Dewey has, indeed, faded into the background and other than a bridge or a highway (I can’t even remember which) I’m not sure anyone born in the last two decades has a meaningful chance of recognizing his name. But he, like dozens of others I ran into reading about the presidents, were huge figures in their time…and quite interesting as you point out. I don’t believe I have Dewey on my master sheet of people to read about, and I hadn’t ever put two and two together to conclude that RNS’s bio of him would be worthwhile – so thanks for making the point! I enjoyed reading Caro’s “The Power Broker” so some of Dewey’s life will be familiar and those were certainly fascinating times!

July 26, 2020 at 4:25 pm

Humbly disagree. I am not sure what you mean by this book being good literature. The story is engaging and well written. It is not just a listing of facts. It does everything a good biography should do. I think it does a biography better than Washington’s Chernow (which is still great, personally 4 1/2 stars), it presents the facts without holding the readers hand. Washington by Chernow repeatedly analyzes its subject might have thought, might have feeled, or gives judgement on the authors own feeling of a matter. That might make it a more digestible read but it doesn’t let the readers connect the dots for themselves and come to their own conclusions. I agree with many readers that have read dozens of Churchill biographies, that is the best single volume on Churchill written. 5 stars.

July 26, 2020 at 6:47 pm

The wonderful thing about books (not unlike flavors of ice cream or boxed chocolates) is that different people can take away different things from the same experience. In this particular case I realize I’m swimming against the tide somewhat…but Roberts’s biography of Churchill was too antiseptic for me to consider “perfect” (5 stars). The ultimate test of a great biography for me is whether I can resist putting it down. In this case I found that too easy too often. Loved it as history but only partially satisfying as a way of seeing the world through Churchill’s eyes and becoming engrossed in his life.

July 27, 2020 at 12:23 pm

Sounds good. That’s what I look for when I rate biographies too. Information dense but reading the book feels like a window into their world. By the end of the book, it feels like I have known the person. Like you said people take away different experiences from books. It might be how they are viewing life at that moment or their current state of mind: are they are happy or depressed? I feel; that really impacts my perspective or enjoyment of a book. For example, I was reading a biography which I was really enjoying didn’t make me “not want to put it down.” I felt like I had to force myself to keep reading. I took a break from it and a couple of years later I picked it up again and then read it every day until I finished it.

August 2, 2020 at 8:46 am

This was my first book on Churchill, and it was everything I had hoped it would be, fully realizing that no single volume is going to capture the essence of such a giant in history. I have a few supplemental books to fill in the gaps, including Jon Meacham’s “Franklin and Winston”, and I’ve already read read Candice Millard’s “Hero of the Empire.” I read this ahead of a meet-and-greet with Roberts at the 50th anniversary of the opening of the National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri, near where I live. So the book was part of a larger experience for me.

August 9, 2020 at 10:39 am

I read Robert’s bio of Napolean as a light-reading break between reading bios of the US presidents. I enjoyed it a lot, but found it a bit dry in places. I didn’t know much about Napolean to start, so that also may have colored my experience. I haven’t read his Churchill book yet, but I heard on NPR that Roberts got access to new archives, some of which revealed more private thoughts about Churchill’s true feelings regarding the alliance with the US, and not all of it was rosy.

Like many others here, I loved Manchester’s trio on Churchill. But having read your site in detail for over 3 years, I actually think you’ll enjoy the first volume tremendously. It covers his early life and sets the foundation for the series.

As an American, I never fully got the gist of the English infatuation with their royalty, but Manchester’s presentation gave me a different perspective on this, and now I think I understand it. Manchester explores Victorian culture and Churchill’s place in it, so later references to Churchill’s being a “man of a different era” really resonates.

As others have suggested, I believe the third book isn’t as lofty as the first two, since Manchester died before it really got going (he had plenty of notes and research prepared). I found it was a solid effort, if not quite as eloquent.

The trio is a broad history, with plenty of context, and Manchester does a fine job of building narrative and telling a great story. By the end of the series, you feel as though you’ve just been through an epic adventure.

August 18, 2020 at 8:11 pm

I didn’t read all the comments above, but my vote for the best biographies of Churchill would be the first two (but not the third) volume of William Manchester’s efforts. Volume II, especially, is one of my favorite books. (I have read it several times as it has an inspirational message.) Then I would switch to Max Hasting’s “Winston’s War” for a continuation of the tale. It does an excellent job of detailing Churchill’s relationship with FDR–not as harmonious as seen at the time (and later). Honorable mention would go to Roy Jenkins’ more than fair single volume given that Mr. Jenkins was a member of the Labour Party.

I enjoyed Mr. Robert’s book, but I did think he went a bit overboard in defending some of Churchill’s dubious decisions. For example, most historians fault WSC for sending troops to aid Greece when the Germans invaded. The mission was doomed from the start. Mr. Robert’s, although acknowledging the disaster, claims it delayed the German invasion of Russia. Most historians believe the delay was caused by bad weather and equipment shortages.

December 6, 2020 at 9:41 pm

Thanks again for your blog. I visit it regularly and have used your reviews to guide my own reading of US presidents.

While you are now on to biographies, do you have any of Bismarck in your list? I just finished a book on the Franco-Prussian War, and wanted to learn more about the key players.

If anyone else here has any ideas for a good bio on Bismarck, please let me know.

Thanks again!

December 7, 2020 at 5:58 am

Interesting question…and no, I don’t have a Bismarck bio on any of my lists (published, sticky-note for further follow-up, etc.). I’ll be interested to see if anyone posts a comment with a suggestion-

June 12, 2021 at 8:22 am

I read a small biography on Bismarck written by AJP Taylor (<300 pages). Written brilliantly (as expected), provided great information, yet was too short for such a massive historical character. I imagine Christopher Clark's 'Iron Kingdom' on the rise and fall of Prussia from 1600-1947 would cover Bismarck's rule is great detail. Happy hunting!

On another note, I'm reading Kenneth Whyte's new book 'The Sack of Detroit: GM and the End of American Enterprise'. After reading his book on Herbert Hoover, I jumped at the chance to read this new release. Whyte writes very well. Book is combination history of the automobile industry (GM in particular) and the rise of consumer protection (through a mini biography on Ralph Nader). About 1/3 thru…

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The Biographers: William Manchester and Martin Gilbert

• By RICHARD M. LANGWORTH
• | January 28, 2019
• Category: Q & A The Literary Churchill

William Manchester (l.); Martin Gilbert (r.). Late in his life Sir Martin generously wrote to Manchester: “Our work proceeds along parallel tracks.”

Q : I’ve been slogging through the William Manchester Churchill trilogy, The Last Lion . How is Hillsdale’s eight-volume Winston S. Churchill by Randolph Churchill and Martin Gilbert different? —M.A., Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

A : For me that is a beach ball of a pitch, because I am well acquainted with both. But if you are “slogging” through Manchester , you may find Gilbert a tougher challenge. There is a vast difference between the two, but Gilbert is the source on which most scholars rely.

William Manchester

Manchester was a lyrical, beautiful writer. (Simon Schama, below, calls it “rhinestone studded prose,” but that prose in the 1980s brought more people to Churchill than anyone.) I suspect though that he loved his prose even more than his readers did. The Death of a President , his book on the assassination of John Kennedy, is tremendously moving; his memoir of the Pacific war, Goodbye Darkness , was his personal favorite, and is widely acclaimed, though critics have said it is somewhat inventive. American Caesar , his biography of Douglas MacArthur , is along the same lines—especially the passages on MacArthur’s last speech at West Point. His prologues to Volumes 1 and 2 of   The Last Lion are works of art. (Volume 3 was written by friend Paul Reid, and is more analytical).

The problem was that Manchester tended to make many detail errors, and sometimes his footnotes lead in circles, or nowhere. I hosted him at several Churchill events beginning in 1986. After I published a respectful review of his volume 1, noting the many errors, he hired me to vet volume 2. I found 600 nits to pick, and he did not correct them all. For instance, his account of the crucial East Fulham bi-election of 1933 , treats the vote as a Labour upset which pushed the Tories toward appeasing Hitler. In fact, East Fulham was marginal in most previous elections and was not the harbinger Manchester says it was.

Sir Martin Gilbert

Randolph Churchill , who wrote the first two volumes of the official biography, could be in parts as lyrical as Manchester, but he too made his share of mistakes and omissions. A contemporary historian called those volumes “the case for the defense,” complaining that Churchill himself had already published his defenses through his memoirs of the two World Wars. Martin Gilbert is virtually error-free, but he takes an entirely different approach: a chronological, day by day account, which puts you at Churchill’s shoulder as events unfold. Gilbert refrains from expressing his opinion, but reviewers (including Schama, below) make too much of this. His opinion is clear through his selection of material. It is mainly positive, but he does not overlook Churchill’s faults. As a literary work it is thought by some to be almost too thorough. As a reference—particularly with the accompanying document volumes (up to twenty-one now, with two more until Hillsdale finishes the job this year)—it is unsurpassed.

A very fine review of Gilbert was by Professor Simon Schama in 1983. Ostensibly a review of VOlume 6, it really applies applies to all the Gilbert volumes (3-8). For a sample of Sir Martin’s work, Volume 6 the place to start. As Churchill said: “Nothing surpasses 1940.” (See also Larry Arnn, “In Memory of Martin Gilbert,” herein.)

Readers interested in how Sir Martin researched and built his volumes should also read his book, In Search of Churchill . This is an account of he found his sources, whom he interviewed, and what they said—much of which he did not publish.

Schama on Gilbert: “The Churchilliad”

Simon Schama is University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University. I quote from his review of Martin Gilbert’s Winston S. Churchill , volume 6, Finest Hour 1941-1945 , quoted from The New Republic , 1983. The full article should be sought out. It is as fine an appreciation of Sir Martin as anything else published. – Richard M. Langworth

Gilbert wrote as if Tacitus and Gibbon had never penned a line. There are no judgments, not the merest hint of a cavil. Nor are there the conventional literary framings—no fanfare at the outset, nor drum roll at the conclusion. The narrative of Volume 6 simply begins: “At eleven o’clock on the morning of September 3rd 1939…” and goes on like that for another 1274 pages. It is a Churchilliad, and Gilbert is its Bard.

What is it like to read? Reading is not really what one does with a Gilbert Churchill, any more than with say, Pepys’ diary . Confronted with this mighty ocean of narrative the only possible response is total immersion. The great tidal wave of detail plunges the reader almost involuntarily into Churchill’s life during the first two grim years of the war. One does not so much read the life, one accompanies it, as if peering over Churchill’s burly shoulder. By contrast Manchester’s slapdash study, with its cartoon-strip account of British politics and culture and its rhinestone-studded prose, looked particularly gaudy alongside the Churchilliad.

Gilbert has been faithful to Randolph Churchill’s injunction—”he shall be his own biographer”—and allowed his subject to tell much of the story through speeches, conversations and letters, as well as official documents. There are unforgettable vignettes: receiving an assistant during the Blitz “wrapped only in a huge bath towel looking like one of the later Roman Emperors”: singing “Ol’ Man River” in his car after speaking in Parliament of the Anglo-American relationship that “like the Mississippi just keeps rolling along”; pressing the revolting concoction of Bovril and sardines on a politely amenable aide; rapping on a front door and greeting the butler with a cheery “Goebbels and Goering here to report”; and dictating to his secretary from his flower-chintzed four-poster, chewing a cigar, sipping soda water and fidgeting his toes beneath the bedclothes.

The history, though, is not just chatty gossip. Against all odds, it succeeds in conveying the frightening bleakness of the spring of 1940, when Hitler seemed unstoppable and European democracy appeared to be closing down for the season.

The first indispensable component of Churchill’s leadership was staggeringly and indefatigably hard work. The second was his impressively detailed grasp of military strategy. It is easy to overlook the obvious fact that, more than any of the other war leaders, and certainly more than either Stalin or the warlords in Berlin and Rome, Churchill was in his own right a great commander. This is not to say that he did not commit blunders during the war. But he had an unerring nose for fine commanders, and he stuck by them even when they were drawing flack from their staff.

Churchill embodied, without ever meaning to, a glorious illusion about British history: that at its heart lay a family bond that transcended all divisions of class and party. It was typical that although he loathed his schooldays at Harrow, he consented to visit it on condition that the boys sang the school songs; he went away watery-eyed, with the feeling that he had touched the national spirit once more.

The terror of imminent extinction flickers intermittently through Martin Gilbert’s crowded narrative. But whenever it begins to rise with the tempo of accumulating disasters, Churchill’s presence, too, rises above the panic, like a great granite cliff. I suppose that is what our forebears felt and what sustained them in the nightmare of 1940. This is a rare thing then: a vast biography in which the stature of its subject is enhanced rather than diminished with every page and every document. The only somber reflection on putting it down is the certainty that we shall not look upon his like again.

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Blog – Posted on Monday, Jan 21

The 30 best biographies of all time.

Biographer Richard Holmes once wrote that his work was “a kind of pursuit… writing about the pursuit of that fleeting figure, in such a way as to bring them alive in the present.”

At the risk of sounding cliché, the best biographies do exactly this: bring their subjects to life. A great biography isn’t just a laundry list of events that happened to someone. Rather, it should weave a narrative and tell a story in almost the same way a novel does. In this way, biography differs from the rest of nonfiction .

All the biographies on this list are just as captivating as excellent novels , if not more so. With that, please enjoy the 30 best biographies of all time — some historical, some recent, but all remarkable, life-giving tributes to their subjects.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great biographies out there, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized biography recommendation  😉

Which biography should you read next?

Discover the perfect biography for you. Takes 30 seconds!

1. A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

This biography of esteemed mathematician John Nash was both a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize and the basis for the award-winning film of the same name. Nasar thoroughly explores Nash’s prestigious career, from his beginnings at MIT to his work at the RAND Corporation — as well the internal battle he waged against schizophrenia, a disorder that nearly derailed his life.

2. Alan Turing: The Enigma: The Book That Inspired the Film The Imitation Game - Updated Edition by Andrew Hodges

Hodges’ 1983 biography of Alan Turing sheds light on the inner workings of this brilliant mathematician, cryptologist, and computer pioneer. Indeed, despite the title ( a nod to his work during WWII ), a great deal of the “enigmatic” Turing is laid out in this book. It covers his heroic code-breaking efforts during the war, his computer designs and contributions to mathematical biology in the years following, and of course, the vicious persecution that befell him in the 1950s — when homosexual acts were still a crime punishable by English law.

3. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton is not only the inspiration for a hit Broadway musical, but also a work of creative genius itself. This massive undertaking of over 800 pages details every knowable moment of the youngest Founding Father’s life: from his role in the Revolutionary War and early American government to his sordid (and ultimately career-destroying) affair with Maria Reynolds. He may never have been president, but he was a fascinating and unique figure in American history — plus it’s fun to get the truth behind the songs.

Prefer to read about fascinating First Ladies rather than almost-presidents? Check out this awesome list of books about First Ladies over on The Archive.

4. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston

A prolific essayist, short story writer, and novelist, Hurston turned her hand to biographical writing in 1927 with this incredible work, kept under lock and key until it was published 2018. It’s based on Hurston’s interviews with the last remaining survivor of the Middle Passage slave trade, a man named Cudjo Lewis. Rendered in searing detail and Lewis’ highly affecting African-American vernacular, this biography of the “last black cargo” will transport you back in time to an era that, chillingly, is not nearly as far away from us as it feels.

5. Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Though many a biography of him has been attempted, Gilbert’s is the final authority on Winston Churchill — considered by many to be Britain’s greatest prime minister ever. A dexterous balance of in-depth research and intimately drawn details makes this biography a perfect tribute to the mercurial man who led Britain through World War II.

Just what those circumstances are occupies much of Bodanis's book, which pays homage to Einstein and, just as important, to predecessors such as Maxwell, Faraday, and Lavoisier, who are not as well known as Einstein today. Balancing writerly energy and scholarly weight, Bodanis offers a primer in modern physics and cosmology, explaining that the universe today is an expression of mass that will, in some vastly distant future, one day slide back to the energy side of the equation, replacing the \'dominion of matter\' with \'a great stillness\'--a vision that is at once lovely and profoundly frightening.

Without sliding into easy psychobiography, Bodanis explores other circumstances as well; namely, Einstein's background and character, which combined with a sterling intelligence to afford him an idiosyncratic view of the way things work--a view that would change the world. --Gregory McNamee

6. E=mc²: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis

This “biography of the world’s most famous equation” is a one-of-a-kind take on the genre: rather than being the story of Einstein, it really does follow the history of the equation itself. From the origins and development of its individual elements (energy, mass, and light) to their ramifications in the twentieth century, Bodanis turns what could be an extremely dry subject into engaging fare for readers of all stripes.

7. Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario

When Enrique was only five years old, his mother left Honduras for the United States, promising a quick return. Eleven years later, Enrique finally decided to take matters into his own hands in order to see her again: he would traverse Central and South America via railway, risking his life atop the “train of death” and at the hands of the immigration authorities, to reunite with his mother. This tale of Enrique’s perilous journey is not for the faint of heart, but it is an account of incredible devotion and sharp commentary on the pain of separation among immigrant families.

8. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

Herrera’s 1983 biography of renowned painter Frida Kahlo, one of the most recognizable names in modern art, has since become the definitive account on her life. And while Kahlo no doubt endured a great deal of suffering (a horrific accident when she was eighteen, a husband who had constant affairs), the focal point of the book is not her pain. Instead, it’s her artistic brilliance and immense resolve to leave her mark on the world — a mark that will not soon be forgotten, in part thanks to Herrera’s dedicated work.

9. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Perhaps the most impressive biographical feat of the twenty-first century, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about a woman whose cells completely changed the trajectory of modern medicine. Rebecca Skloot skillfully commemorates the previously unknown life of a poor black woman whose cancer cells were taken, without her knowledge, for medical testing — and without whom we wouldn’t have many of the critical cures we depend upon today.

10. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp, hitchhiked to Alaska and disappeared into the Denali wilderness in April 1992. Five months later, McCandless was found emaciated and deceased in his shelter — but of what cause? Krakauer’s biography of McCandless retraces his steps back to the beginning of the trek, attempting to suss out what the young man was looking for on his journey, and whether he fully understood what dangers lay before him.

11. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: Three Tenant Families by James Agee

"Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.” From this line derives the central issue of Agee and Evans’ work: who truly deserves our praise and recognition? According to this 1941 biography, it’s the barely-surviving sharecropper families who were severely impacted by the American “Dust Bowl” — hundreds of people entrenched in poverty, whose humanity Evans and Agee desperately implore their audience to see in their book.

12. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

Another mysterious explorer takes center stage in this gripping 2009 biography. Grann tells the story of Percy Fawcett, the archaeologist who vanished in the Amazon along with his son in 1925, supposedly in search of an ancient lost city. Parallel to this narrative, Grann describes his own travels in the Amazon 80 years later: discovering firsthand what threats Fawcett may have encountered, and coming to realize what the “Lost City of Z” really was.

13. Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

Though many of us will be familiar with the name Mao Zedong, this prodigious biography sheds unprecedented light upon the power-hungry “Red Emperor.” Chang and Halliday begin with the shocking statistic that Mao was responsible for 70 million deaths during peacetime — more than any other twentieth-century world leader. From there, they unravel Mao’s complex ideologies, motivations, and missions, breaking down his long-propagated “hero” persona and thrusting forth a new, grislier image of one of China’s biggest revolutionaries.

14. Mad Girl's Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted by Andrew Wilson by Andrew Wilson

Titled after one of her most evocative poems, this shimmering bio of Sylvia Plath takes an unusual approach. Instead of focusing on her years of depression and tempestuous marriage to poet Ted Hughes, it chronicles her life before she ever came to Cambridge. Wilson closely examines her early family and relationships, feelings and experiences, with information taken from her meticulous diaries — setting a strong precedent for other Plath biographers to follow.

15. The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes

What if you had twenty-four different people living inside you, and you never knew which one was going to come out? Such was the life of Billy Milligan, the subject of this haunting biography by the author of Flowers for Algernon . Keyes recounts, in a refreshingly straightforward style, the events of Billy’s life and how his psyche came to be “split”... as well as how, with Keyes’ help, he attempted to put the fragments of himself back together.

16. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder

This gorgeously constructed biography follows Paul Farmer, a doctor who’s worked for decades to eradicate infectious diseases around the globe, particularly in underprivileged areas. Though Farmer’s humanitarian accomplishments are extraordinary in and of themselves, the true charm of this book comes from Kidder’s personal relationship with him — and the sense of fulfillment the reader sustains from reading about someone genuinely heroic, written by someone else who truly understands and admires what they do.

17. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

Here’s another bio that will reshape your views of a famed historical tyrant, though this time in a surprisingly favorable light. Decorated scholar Andrew Roberts delves into the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his near-flawless military instincts to his complex and confusing relationship with his wife. But Roberts’ attitude toward his subject is what really makes this work shine: rather than ridiculing him ( as it would undoubtedly be easy to do ), he approaches the “petty tyrant” with a healthy amount of deference.

18. The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson IV by Robert A. Caro

Lyndon Johnson might not seem as intriguing or scandalous as figures like Kennedy, Nixon, or W. Bush. But in this expertly woven biography, Robert Caro lays out the long, winding road of his political career, and it’s full of twists you wouldn’t expect. Johnson himself was a surprisingly cunning figure, gradually maneuvering his way closer and closer to power. Finally, in 1963, he got his greatest wish — but at what cost? Fans of Adam McKay’s Vice , this is the book for you.

19. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Anyone who grew up reading Little House on the Prairie will surely be fascinated by this tell-all biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Caroline Fraser draws upon never-before-published historical resources to create a lush study of the author’s life — not in the gently narrated manner of the Little House series, but in raw and startling truths about her upbringing, marriage, and volatile relationship with her daughter (and alleged ghostwriter) Rose Wilder Lane.

20. Prince: A Private View by Afshin Shahidi

Compiled just after the superstar’s untimely death in 2016, this intimate snapshot of Prince’s life is actually a largely visual work — Shahidi served as his private photographer from the early 2000s until his passing. And whatever they say about pictures being worth a thousand words, Shahidi’s are worth more still: Prince’s incredible vibrance, contagious excitement, and altogether singular personality come through in every shot.

21. Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss

Could there be a more fitting title for a book about the husband-wife team who discovered radioactivity? What you may not know is that these nuclear pioneers also had a fascinating personal history. Marie Sklodowska met Pierre Curie when she came to work in his lab in 1891, and just a few years later they were married. Their passion for each other bled into their passion for their work, and vice-versa — and in almost no time at all, they were on their way to their first of their Nobel Prizes.

22. Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

She may not have been assassinated or killed in a mysterious plane crash, but Rosemary Kennedy’s fate is in many ways the worst of “the Kennedy Curse.” As if a botched lobotomy that left her almost completely incapacitated weren’t enough, her parents then hid her away from society, almost never to be seen again. Yet in this new biography, penned by devoted Kennedy scholar Kate Larson, the full truth of Rosemary’s post-lobotomy life is at last revealed.

23. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford

This appropriately lyrical biography of brilliant Jazz Age poet and renowned feminist, Edna St. Vincent Millay, is indeed a perfect balance of savage and beautiful. While Millay’s poetic work was delicate and subtle, the woman herself was feisty and unpredictable, harboring unusual and occasionally destructive habits that Milford fervently explores.

24. Shelley: The Pursuit by Richard Holmes

Holmes’ famous philosophy of “biography as pursuit” is thoroughly proven here in his first full-length biographical work. Shelley: The Pursuit details an almost feverish tracking of Percy Shelley as a dark and cutting figure in the Romantic period — reforming many previous historical conceptions about him through Holmes’ compelling and resolute writing.

25. Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin

Another Gothic figure has been made newly known through this work, detailing the life of prolific horror and mystery writer Shirley Jackson. Author Ruth Franklin digs deep into the existence of the reclusive and mysterious Jackson, drawing penetrating comparisons between the true events of her life and the dark nature of her fiction.

26. The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

Fans of Into the Wild and The Lost City of Z will find their next adventure fix in this 2017 book about Christopher Knight, a man who lived by himself in the Maine woods for almost thirty years. The tale of this so-called “last true hermit” will captivate readers who have always fantasized about escaping society, with vivid descriptions of Knight’s rural setup, his carefully calculated moves and how he managed to survive the deadly cold of the Maine winters.

27. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

The man, the myth, the legend: Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, is properly immortalized in Isaacson’s masterful biography. It divulges the details of Jobs’ little-known childhood and tracks his fateful path from garage engineer to leader of one of the largest tech companies in the world — not to mention his formative role in other legendary companies like Pixar, and indeed within the Silicon Valley ecosystem as a whole.

28. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Olympic runner Louis Zamperini was just twenty-six when his US Army bomber crashed and burned in the Pacific, leaving him and two other men afloat on a raft for forty-seven days — only to be captured by the Japanese Navy and tortured as a POW for the next two and a half years. In this gripping biography, Laura Hillenbrand tracks Zamperini’s story from beginning to end… including how he embraced Christian evangelism as a means of recovery, and even came to forgive his tormentors in his later years.

29. Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) by Stacy Schiff

Everyone knows of Vladimir Nabokov — but what about his wife, Vera, whom he called “the best-humored woman I have ever known”? According to Schiff, she was a genius in her own right, supporting Vladimir not only as his partner, but also as his all-around editor and translator. And she kept up that trademark humor throughout it all, inspiring her husband’s work and injecting some of her own creative flair into it along the way.

30. Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt

William Shakespeare is a notoriously slippery historical figure — no one really knows when he was born, what he looked like, or how many plays he wrote. But that didn’t stop Stephen Greenblatt, who in 2004 turned out this magnificently detailed biography of the Bard: a series of imaginative reenactments of his writing process, and insights on how the social and political ideals of the time would have influenced him. Indeed, no one exists in a vacuum, not even Shakespeare — hence the conscious depiction of him in this book as a “will in the world,” rather than an isolated writer shut up in his own musty study.

If you're looking for more inspiring nonfiction, check out this list of 30 engaging self-help books , or this list of the last century's best memoirs !

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Ian Fleming: The Complete Man

By Nicholas Shakespeare Harper: 864 pages, $45 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org , whose fees support independent bookstores.

In Nicholas Shakespeare’s new biography of author Ian Fleming, James Bond arrives on the scene rather late. But there’s a good reason to delay focusing on the secret agent Fleming created: His life before Bond is far more interesting than what followed, and much of it would find its way into the books like “bullion,” Shakespeare writes, “to be cut into slices.”

Fleming didn’t publish “Casino Royale” — the novel that introduced Bond to the world — until 1953, when Fleming was 43. By that time, he had already lived multiple lives: as a war reporter, book collector, stockbroker, merchant banker, naval intelligence operative. Fleming may have been staring at a blank page in 1953, but his advance work was abundant: His own thrill-seeking life would become the raw material of his remunerative popular art.

Shakespeare, a British novelist and the author of a biography of English writer Bruce Chatwin, is the first Fleming biographer to get his hands on just about everything Fleming wrote, which helps to make this biography somehow both capacious and breathlessly entertaining. He does a fine job of clearing up some of the hazier myths about Fleming’s tenure in British naval intelligence, even while much of that documentation remains classified. The subtitle of “Ian Fleming: The Complete Man” is apt: This is certainly the most three-dimensional portrait of a complex man who gamely tried to shore up the postwar morale of his beloved England with his fictional hero at a time when the Empire desperately needed it.

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Ian Fleming was to the manner born. His grandfather Robert was one of the wealthiest merchant bankers in 19th century England. Fleming lost his father, Val, in World War I, which might have given his overbearing mother, Eve, sufficient leverage to gain control over her son’s life. It didn’t work out that way.

He was, for a time, her reclamation project: a dropout at Eton College and then a bust at Sandhurst Military Academy. He tried on a few mainstream white-collar jobs, but his short career as a stockbroker was mostly long lunches and minimal trade orders.

Fleming found his metier when Eve smoothed the way for him to work as a cub reporter at Reuters news service. As Shakespeare shows us time and again, Fleming was blessed with great timing. Dispatched to Stalin’s Russia in 1933 to cover a sensational corporate fraud trial whose docket included saboteurs and double agents, Fleming returned to England entranced with state secrets and the business of intelligence. The assignment changed the course of his life.

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Through his contacts, Fleming finagled an interview with Admiral John Godfrey, the head of Naval Intelligence Division, in the hopes of pivoting into a career as a spycatcher. Again, good timing: As it happened, Godfrey was looking for a factotum. Fleming was hired as Godfrey’s assistant, but he had his boss’ ear in short order, bursting with ideas on how to fool Germany into coughing up the secrets of its supply routes, its combat readiness, its imminent military offensives. For the division, Fleming became the man with the golden mind.

Rumors about Fleming’s war heroics have swirled since the author’s death in 1964; what’s remarkable is that, by Shakespeare’s estimation, most of those outlandish rumors seem to be true. Fleming did spy on German military leaders with cameras and microphones, among other skulduggery. He was not only a crucial conduit during the war between the Naval Intelligence Division and the Americans’ Office of Strategic Services but also, according to Shakespeare, helped to create the organizational template for what became the Central Intelligence Agency. Shakespeare credits Fleming, a “seductive and persuasive force who … could achieve things not always recorded on paper,” with selling the OSS on the British model of intelligence gathering, thus sowing the seeds for a crucial partnership that helped the allies win the war.

All this, and Fleming had yet to write Agent 007 into existence. But Bond was on a slow simmer. When Churchill invited ideas from naval intelligence as to how the British might contain Hitler in the Mediterranean, Fleming’s pitch was pure 007: Line a cave on the southern coast with thick cork for quiet, then throw a wireless radio and some men inside to monitor German ship movements.

In 1942, Fleming convinced Admiral Godfrey to give him his own assault unit, whose remit included capturing German state secrets before the Germans destroyed them. Now Fleming found himself in the center of the action, his dispatches providing crucial intel for the Allies’ most ambitious offensives, including the Normandy landings that liberated Western Europe. There was also contact with Bletchley Park and the great “Enigma Machine” codebreaker Alan Turing, but Fleming’s ideas for intelligence retrieval were either too dangerous or too absurd to contemplate. Fleming stored it all up for later use in his fiction, when he “would execute in modern form those plans which (he) had conceived against the Nazis.”

Somehow Fleming, this “war-winner” as Godfrey came to call him, made time for relationships. Unlike Bond, who treats women like beach towels to be discarded after use, Fleming found and lost love, a libertine always in search of more than sex. He cultivated female patrons; one such friend, Maud Russell, supplied the funds for Fleming to build his Goldeneye compound on Jamaica’s northern coast. His marriage was troubled; Ann Fleming was a social climber who hosted literary salons and spent Fleming’s money lavishly. But Ann was the spur for Fleming to write his first Bond book; she was confident her husband could produce something great.

What finally made Fleming pick up his pen? He was mourning the decline of the Empire after the war; it was crumbling away one territory at a time. He also was stunned by the revelation that two MI6 agents had defected in 1951 as Russian spies, that his beloved British intelligence had been breached by an enemy in the most humiliating fashion. The Crown was corroding; James Bond would restore the national character by dint of his total dominion over evil, defeating the Red Menace one ghastly villain at a time. If Fleming’s Navy blues no longer fit him, he would have Bond suit up as his proxy.

Despite the runaway success of “Casino Royale,” the James Bond movie franchise was slow to gestate. By the early 1960s, Fleming’s 70-cigarettes-a-day habit had caught up with him. He suffered a devastating heart attack while embroiled in a nasty plagiarism lawsuit. There was also the matter of gradually declining sales for the Bond books, to the point where Fleming was eager to kill off his hero and move on. But then President Kennedy told a Life magazine reporter that “From Russia, With Love” was one of his favorite books, and Fleming could no longer dispose of Bond even if he tried.

What came next was 27 films that have grossed more than $7 billion. Fleming lived long enough to see only two of the films produced.

Marc Weingarten is the author of “Thirsty: William Mulholland, California Water, and the Real Chinatown.”

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