Status
Available
Publication
[New York] : Viking, [2018]
Description
Biography & Autobiography. History. Nonfiction. HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER One of The Wall Street Journalâ??s Ten Best Books of 2018 One of The Economistâ??s Best Books of 2018 One of The New York Timesâ??s Notable Books of 2018 â??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 Britainâ??s savior.â? â??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 understoodâ??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 Roberts gained exclusive access to extensive new material: transcripts of War Cabinet meetings, diaries, letters and unpublished memoirs from Churchill's contemporaries.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 Robertsâ??in a first for a Churchill biographerâ??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 todayâ??and the fundamental values of courage, tenacity,… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member kaulsu
âIn a survey of 3000 British teenagers in 2008, no fewer than 20% of them thought Winston Churchill to be a fictional character. In the same survey, 58% thought Sherlock Holmes, and 47% thought Eleanor Rigby, were real people.â This is a verbatim quote from the conclusion of the bookâŚyet I
This biography, which I listened to rather than read, took over 50 hours! Did I really need to know the strategy behind each and every skirmish? I would say no, and I am sure had I read, instead of listened to, this book, I would have skimmed over much of it. But by having listened, I gained a much broader picture of Churchill, the operations of that mysterious body named âThe House of Commons,â and learned an inordinate amount of British pronunciation. Don Juwan, indeed!
Besides Churchill himself, I gained a broader understanding of British history, and somewhat a continental view of the history of the United Statesâat least of the WWII era. Churchill was a man born in the 19th century who made a good transition to the 20th, but not a complete one. He was a believer in the Monarchy, Empire, British Raj (in India and in other colonies), and Zionism. Although I am glad to be finished with it, I am more than glad I read it!
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cannot quite condemn the students! I thought Sherlock Holmes was a real sleuth until I was 20 or 21.This biography, which I listened to rather than read, took over 50 hours! Did I really need to know the strategy behind each and every skirmish? I would say no, and I am sure had I read, instead of listened to, this book, I would have skimmed over much of it. But by having listened, I gained a much broader picture of Churchill, the operations of that mysterious body named âThe House of Commons,â and learned an inordinate amount of British pronunciation. Don Juwan, indeed!
Besides Churchill himself, I gained a broader understanding of British history, and somewhat a continental view of the history of the United Statesâat least of the WWII era. Churchill was a man born in the 19th century who made a good transition to the 20th, but not a complete one. He was a believer in the Monarchy, Empire, British Raj (in India and in other colonies), and Zionism. Although I am glad to be finished with it, I am more than glad I read it!
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LibraryThing member breic
Magnificent. So far this year, I've only read Isaacson's "Einstein" and Chernow's "Grant." Roberts is two steps ahead of either of these historians. For example, he does an excellent job at integrating sources on one event but written at different times, and explaining the differences. Isaacson
I learned lots of history, and much about Churchill's character. (I am basically ignorant of British politics, and certainly missed some details.) Roberts has an excellent eye for details, and adds in just enough anecdotes. My copy is full of highlights.
"Just before reaching the Virginia coast, Churchill told Captain Cecil Harcourt that he would like to see the Duke of York sail at full speed, scornful of the objection that the water was shallow and it would send up an immense wash. At 28 knots, a massive stern wave was created which, because someone had left the scuttles open, flooded several rooms between decks, including the Admiralâs cabin that Churchill used, and he had to shave with his trousers rolled above his knees, âhumming a little tune to himselfâ, Vivian Cox recalled. âHe knew he had really been rather naughty.â"
"'I offered him an ash-tray for his cigar but he pointedly ignored it, his eyes boring into mine,' Karsh recalled. 'At the camera, I made sure everything was in focus, closed the lens and stood up, my hand ready to close the shutter release, when something made me hesitate.' Karsh then said, 'Forgive me, sir,' an without permission removed the cigar from Churchill's mouth. 'His jaw tightened in belligerence; his eyes blazed. I clicked the shutter.' The result was the greatest of all the thousands of images of Churchill, capturing his resolution, defiance and solidity, and, as Karsh noted, also his capacity for belligerence."
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simply takes every source at face value. Like many popular biographers, Chernow seems to aim at defending Grant at best, but as often just sweeping under the rug any controversies. Roberts takes them on and addresses them, still largely defending Churchill but giving you the information that you can make up your own mind. I learned lots of history, and much about Churchill's character. (I am basically ignorant of British politics, and certainly missed some details.) Roberts has an excellent eye for details, and adds in just enough anecdotes. My copy is full of highlights.
"Just before reaching the Virginia coast, Churchill told Captain Cecil Harcourt that he would like to see the Duke of York sail at full speed, scornful of the objection that the water was shallow and it would send up an immense wash. At 28 knots, a massive stern wave was created which, because someone had left the scuttles open, flooded several rooms between decks, including the Admiralâs cabin that Churchill used, and he had to shave with his trousers rolled above his knees, âhumming a little tune to himselfâ, Vivian Cox recalled. âHe knew he had really been rather naughty.â"
"'I offered him an ash-tray for his cigar but he pointedly ignored it, his eyes boring into mine,' Karsh recalled. 'At the camera, I made sure everything was in focus, closed the lens and stood up, my hand ready to close the shutter release, when something made me hesitate.' Karsh then said, 'Forgive me, sir,' an without permission removed the cigar from Churchill's mouth. 'His jaw tightened in belligerence; his eyes blazed. I clicked the shutter.' The result was the greatest of all the thousands of images of Churchill, capturing his resolution, defiance and solidity, and, as Karsh noted, also his capacity for belligerence."
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LibraryThing member drmaf
Impressive one volume addition to the voluminous Churchill biography collection. I can only compare it with the one previous single volume biog I have read, Roy Jenkins' Churchill, which I enjoyed massively and have re-read many times. Roberts is less self-consciously literary than Jenkins, the
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sweeping phrases Jenkins enjoys are replaced by terse fact sweetened just a touch with proper attention to Churchill's foibles and his puckish humour. It is less hagiographical, Roberts does not hold back on Churchill's many faults, his racism, his chauvinism, his blundering insensitivity, his crash through or crash militarism, any more then he holds back on Churchill's equally numerous virtues, his energy, wit, determination, immense intelligence, his unbelievable appetite for hard work his continuing loyalty to the father who he could never please. Roberts is also determined to make this book about Churchill alone as much as possible, while Clementine and his children are given their due, the crowd of eccentric relatives whom Jenkins devotes much attention make only cameo appearances. However the most impressive thing about the book is its ability to sweep through Churchill's massively busy 90 years at an even pace without missing a thing in less than 1000 pages. A most worthy entry in a very crowded field. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member maneekuhi
In the very final sentences of his 982 page bio, âChurchill: Walking With Destinyâ, author Andrew Roberts writes: âHis hero John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, won great battles and built Blenheim Palace. His other hero, Napoleon, won even more battles and built an empire. Winston Churchill
Churchill accomplished much in his 90 years. Most of us are aware of his two terms as Prime Minister, but perhaps some are not aware that during his lifetime he published over 6 million words in 37 books, more than Shakespeare and Dickens combined, and that he won a Nobel for his writing. He was an accomplished painter. Churchill has the longest span of service on an MP from the 20th century on, well over 60 years. Some of the best pages of Andrews book are the last twenty-two, detailing Churchillâs magnificent funeral, and summarizing highlights from his long life and career.
I wish I could be as enthusiastic about the first half of the book, which takes us from birth to the late 1930âs. I found it a bit tedious. I could get through no more than twenty pages a day, and sometimes that was a task. There was an awful lot of detail I didnât particularly care for and the bookâs format was a bit daunting. The type is a bit small, and there are well over 500 words crammed into most pages. The prose is good but there are many references to the election and parliamentarian systems that made no sense to me and were not explained; it seemed that the book was written for a Brit audience, not a global one.
However, the second half was particularly good. Lots of tension, bits from Churchillâs amazing speeches, so many lows and highs, Churchillâs prescience of Hitler and his strategies, amusing anecdotes, his days in the US and his relationships with FDR and DDE, new discoveries â many WSC attributes but flaws as well. Roberts made Churchill come alive for me in those pages. Yet, it wasnât all Churchill all the time either. The stunning news of Pearl Harbor, D-Day. There were so many other interesting characters as well that we got to meet through Churchillâs eyes, e.g., Stalin. And there were some lessons of history. The European country which lost the greatest percentage of its population? Poland 17.2 % The fascinating second half of âChurchillâ has some of the best bio writing I have ever read.
4 ½ stars. Recommended.
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did better than either of them: the battles he won saved Liberty.â Winston Spencer Churchill (born November 30, 1874 and died January 24, 1965) is one of my heroes; I admire him greatly. Roberts leads off the bookâs final chapter with a quote from President Dwight D. Eisenhower: âI have known finer and greater characters, wiser philosophers, more understanding personalities, but no greater man.âChurchill accomplished much in his 90 years. Most of us are aware of his two terms as Prime Minister, but perhaps some are not aware that during his lifetime he published over 6 million words in 37 books, more than Shakespeare and Dickens combined, and that he won a Nobel for his writing. He was an accomplished painter. Churchill has the longest span of service on an MP from the 20th century on, well over 60 years. Some of the best pages of Andrews book are the last twenty-two, detailing Churchillâs magnificent funeral, and summarizing highlights from his long life and career.
I wish I could be as enthusiastic about the first half of the book, which takes us from birth to the late 1930âs. I found it a bit tedious. I could get through no more than twenty pages a day, and sometimes that was a task. There was an awful lot of detail I didnât particularly care for and the bookâs format was a bit daunting. The type is a bit small, and there are well over 500 words crammed into most pages. The prose is good but there are many references to the election and parliamentarian systems that made no sense to me and were not explained; it seemed that the book was written for a Brit audience, not a global one.
However, the second half was particularly good. Lots of tension, bits from Churchillâs amazing speeches, so many lows and highs, Churchillâs prescience of Hitler and his strategies, amusing anecdotes, his days in the US and his relationships with FDR and DDE, new discoveries â many WSC attributes but flaws as well. Roberts made Churchill come alive for me in those pages. Yet, it wasnât all Churchill all the time either. The stunning news of Pearl Harbor, D-Day. There were so many other interesting characters as well that we got to meet through Churchillâs eyes, e.g., Stalin. And there were some lessons of history. The European country which lost the greatest percentage of its population? Poland 17.2 % The fascinating second half of âChurchillâ has some of the best bio writing I have ever read.
4 ½ stars. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member jmcilree
I lasted to page 170 before giving up. Far too often the author moves from topic to topic like a bee, barely alighting, before moving on again. The last few pages I read touched on 10 different topics in 14 paragraphs. Itâs as if he collected index cards of Churhillâs life and put them
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altogether, calling it a book. (2019-09-30) Show Less
LibraryThing member tuckerresearch
It is, indeed, the best one-volume biography of Churchill out there. It tops Martin Gilbert's abridged volume (Churchill: A Life) and Roy Jenkins's effort (Churchill: A Biography). It has good coverage, spending a good amount of time on Churchill's pre-World War II years, and it spends a good
Carr, John. The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940â1941 2013
So, where was it published? What publisher? What edition? Why no comma between "Greece" and "1940"? And, most importantly, why no punctuation between "1941" and "2013"? That is confusing. And why no punctuation at the end? Is printing a period really so onerous and cost productive that we sacrifice the beauty and history of bibliographies to the whims of the accountants? I know I'm a persnickety old fogy when it comes to bibliographies, but, come on! There are numerous other inanities, too.
Still, Churchill's importance to the history of the twentieth century is captured in this epic biography. And Roberts goes out of his way, from time to time, to tackle some calumnies thrown at Churchill, like he caused a famine in India (he didn't) or the like. It's a great book, and good history too.
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amount of time on his post-World War II years, which often get short shrift from biographers. The revelation here is that Roberts spends a goodly amount of time on World War I, making the case that the lessons Churchill learned there were most important to his subsequent career. Of course, Roberts also mentions, time and again, that Churchill was supremely LUCKY in his career. This volume has good images, good sources, a good bibliography. It is written quite well, it is lucid and interesting, and read quickly, despite it's ungainly bulk. (It is a hard physical object to read, at well more than a 1000 pages, 982 of that direct narrative text. The only complaints I can make are to apparatus. The notes are there, endnotes, but they are so tiny and abbreviated and incomplete, that they are cumbersome. The bibliography: it's there and attaches to the notes, but it, too, is cumbersome and, additionally, annoying. It is not done in any proper format for bibliographies (like CMS/Turabian). So, for instance, books are just listed by author, title, and date. And those aren't done properly. Which leads to idiotic listings like:Carr, John. The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940â1941 2013
So, where was it published? What publisher? What edition? Why no comma between "Greece" and "1940"? And, most importantly, why no punctuation between "1941" and "2013"? That is confusing. And why no punctuation at the end? Is printing a period really so onerous and cost productive that we sacrifice the beauty and history of bibliographies to the whims of the accountants? I know I'm a persnickety old fogy when it comes to bibliographies, but, come on! There are numerous other inanities, too.
Still, Churchill's importance to the history of the twentieth century is captured in this epic biography. And Roberts goes out of his way, from time to time, to tackle some calumnies thrown at Churchill, like he caused a famine in India (he didn't) or the like. It's a great book, and good history too.
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LibraryThing member RomyMc
I don't read/listen to many biographies as long as this, but it was worth the time spent. The book details his public and private life, not shying away from any negative aspects. I learned a great deal about Churchill as well as the times in which he lived. The narrator was excellent and even
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sounded like Churchill. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Arthur Ross Book Award (Silver Medal — Silver Medal — 2019)
Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography (Shortlist — 2019)
Plutarch Award (Longlist — Biography 2019)
Language
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