Rating: 
Summary: Weak but detailed
Review: Despite much of the praise lavished on this book by critics, Roy Jenkin's biography of Winston Churchill leaves much to be desired; there is just barely enough here to even rate it three stars.The principal problem with this biography is the same thing that is its strength: it is very detailed, but this is not necessarily good. The part of Churchill's life that requires the most focus is his World War II years, but it takes over five hundred pages to get there, and in the meanwhile, we must read of his long and not always interesting rise to power. By giving his whole adult life equal weight, Jenkins weakens his book (Imagine a biography of Lincoln that discussed his Congressional years as much as his Civil War years). There are other flaws as well. For all his detailed writing, Jenkins completely glosses over Churchill's childhood, which I feel would be interesting to know about. Also, the book focuses almost completely on Churchill's political life and leaves the information about his family life to a minimal amount. Jenkins also has a style of writing that can be excessively ornate, and he has a tendency to put himself in the book. Jenkins emphasis on detail, from mundane finance issues to war topics, can also be a strength. For a scholar, this can be a good thing, but for a less demanding reader, it can sometimes be a little tedious. Jenkins final flaw is that he fails to make Churchill seem like one of the great men of the 20th Century; instead he makes Churchill seem like a political opportunist and a spendthrift who got to his positition as much through endurance as ability. In the end, the book is sufficiently flawed that I cannot recommend it to anyone outside of a dedicated student of British history.
Rating: 
Summary: Discovering a Great Man
Review: I had never read a book on Churchill prior to this one so I cannot compare it to any. On the other hand, I discovered, thanks to Mr. Jenkins meticulous style for detail, one of the most remarkable men in history and, in Mr. Jenkins opinion (he was a Member of Parliament for 60 years and has written numerous biographies of other prominent characters in recent British history) the greatest politician Britain has known. As with all biographies, there are two basic challenges: how much you put in and how deep you go into a person's psyche based on the information you have. With regard to detail of content, Jenkins covers a very long period given that Churchill lived to the age of 90. This said he tends to focus more on details provided by sources he considers more opinioned: Churchill's wife for instance and some of his closest advisors. We cannot know what he has left out, but certainly what he has included is very satisfying in presenting both the weaknesses and the strengths of this man. As for the psyche of Churchill, this is another matter. It is often difficult to opine on what are the real motivations, fears, and tastes of a person, even from their own stated views. In the case of Churchill, as a true upper lipped Englishman, the views were not always forthcoming and, when they were, were not always congruent. Jenkins has therefore tried to build a sense of what Churchill wanted and didn't want as a man but it tends to focus on the hard and not the soft: on what actually happened and how it was analysed than on what might have happened or what were the internal debates within Churchill's own mind. This latter might have been for lack of source material, but although it would have been nice to have had more "soft" included in the narrative, it does not take away from the fact that this is a very great bibliography. It is made that much more enjoyable for the fact that Jenkins, as an MP, is able to add his own observations on how certain aspects of Parliament are carried out or were carried out and how Churchill's antics played out in the life of British parliamentary policitics. A fascinating book for an American reader to understand the monumental differences between British and American democracy. Can you imagin that the American president could be recalled at any moment by a simple vote of no confidence among his cabinet! Also a fascinating introduction, for any person appreciating the English language, to learn (if they did not already know)of the great oratorical skills of this man. A moving tribute for its ability to present a great statesman while outlining all of his faults in the process.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: First off, its important to note that this is a political biography and focuses on Churchill's career in parliament, not his family or friend relationships. It does not focus much on his childhood or his inner feelings that much. The book is great for giving us a sense of who Churchill was through his speeches and political actions. Its written in a matter of fact style that lets Churchill's penchant for the grandiose come out on its own. Despite its restrained manner, you feel the desperation of the days before and during World War II. You also sense the incredible vision of Churchill to see what would happen and to warn of it, when no one else could see. To his credit, he also demonstrates Churchill's weaknesses/flaws. Overall, a great book!
Rating:
Summary: best one-volume study
Review: No figure in 20th century British history has received more biographical attention than Churchill. Can the general reader profit from yet another biography? Most readers of Roy Jenkins' new study will likely answer with a resounding "yes!" Jenkins, the author of excellent biographies of Baldwin, Asquith and, most recently, Gladstone, has provided interesting and provocative insights into Churchill's career as politician, statesman and writer. Jenkins dosen't lay claim to comprehensiveness (see Martin Gilbert's multi-volume study and his companion volumes of documents for this), nor does he provide new or revelatory information. In fact, though the hardback edition of this work exceeds 900 pages, some aspects of Churchill's staggeringly large and diverse life are (necessarily) not treated thoroughly; Churchill's private life and his interest in empire are two areas which come to mind. Yet, the strengths of this work vastly overcome any such minor shortcomings. Having been a member of Parliament for many years as well as a Cabinet Minister, and (also like Churchill) an accomplished author, Jenkins bring unique insights into Churchill's political, ministerial and writing careers. The problem for any biographer of Churchill (except Gilbert, who considers everything), is which material, which aspects of Churchill's life to emphasize. Jenkins selects the right ones and Churchill's personality inevitably emerges: a man of unbounded energy, consummate political skill and (during Britain's darkest (and finest)hour) brilliant leadership. Still, Jenkins does not neglect his subject's shortcomings: Churchill was ambitious to a fault, at times petulant, more often inconsiderate of his subordinates. The very human portrait which emerges commands our respect and admiration all the more and will leave many with the same conclusion reached by Jenkins--Churchill was the greatest man ever to occupy 10 Downing Street. Jenkins has an easy, if somewhat erudite style which I found compelling. But, for those unfamiliar with the outlines of 20th century British history, this work may appear puzzling at times. A brief glossary of British political terms at the start provides some (limited) help. The text also include a few color plates of Churchill's most interesting paintings.
Rating:
Summary: Well detailed.....perhaps a bit too much so
Review: This book, while well researched, is a tedious read. Overwhelming detail in areas of limited relevance tend to clutter excellent underlying content and compromise big picture issues that demand broad based review. I had to shelve this book after every 150 pages and return to it weeks later. Which begs the question, Why is a biography on one of the most extraordinary characters of the 20th century not more captivating?
Rating:
Summary: The scope of Manchester's work but more succint &
Review: marginally better. This unabridged audio version of Jenkins book came in two parts, part one slightly longer. It takes Churchill's life to 1940. Manchester's volume 1 "Visions of Glory "takes us to 1932, the beginning of "the wilderness years".
Over all Manchester's book is longer. Jenkin's book doesn't dwell on Churchill's childhood or his parents Jenny & Randolf. That's a plus. Jenkin's reader, Robert Whitfield does a passable imitation, without the lisp. Churchill also mumbled & muttered much of the time. Mr. Whitfield, thankfully, does not. Jenkins does cover Churchill's early military & journalistic career well. However, both authors seem to stint a bit on Churchill's opposition to dominion status for India. Jenkins does a little better with Churchill's relationship with the disgraced Prince of Wales & his strained relationship with Georg IV.
Jenkins had some advantages as an insider being an MP during the last years of Churchill's life. He had resources at his disposal maybe Manchester didn't have. Plus his book is much newer by about 12 years.
Jenkins starts by providing a primer on terms,concepts & traditions peculiar to the British & their way of governing that American readers might not be familiar with.
If you are interested in Churchill you have or you must read or listen to these two great biographies. You won't be bored. I give the edge to Jenkins.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Book but Maybe a Bit Heavy Going
Review: I do not want to get into the accuracy of this book since I am not a Churchill scholar, or comment on if it is political or fair etc. Let us just say as a reviewer I am an average reader. I have read many books where Churchill was the author. Now the tables are turned and the book is about Churchill. It certainly gives a different perspective of the man and all his weaknesses as a human with a politician's ego. It is good to make one point to put the book in context. I have read that there are over 65 biographies in print on Churchill. So the idea that one might read the present book is motivated in part because it covers his personal life and it is written by a fellow politician, even if he was not in the same party - a liberal/socialist writing about a conservative. As a book I found it a bit heavy going. It is 1000 pages long and could be a bit shorter. It does not flow well or hold the reader. It took me a year to read the book. I would read 100-200 pages at a time and lose interest for a while and then go back. Would I buy the book again? Yes because it is a unique book with lots of details. It is a workmanship like job even if it is a bit too long. Four stars. Jack in Toronto
Rating:
Summary: Heroism in Politics
Review: Is there any more fascinating figure than Winston Churchill? I have found him interesting since I read a children's book on him back in 1972 and continue to find him interesting to this very day. There are many books to come out on Churchill. The definative work was begun by Randolph Churchill and continued after his death by Martin Gilbert. This runs several volumes and includes lengthy extracts from Churchill's papers. There is also a one volume abrigement which Gilbert has written. Others have taken up the task of writing the life of the most significant British statesman of the 20th century and these are as a whole a mixed bag. However, despite the vast number of books Roy Jenkins book stands apart from many others. The main reason is that Jenkins is a former British politician. When he writes about Parliament, he does so with authority as he has walked the same halls as Churchill and has held many of the same positions. Although he was Labor and Churchill Conservative/Liberal/Conservative, Jenkins is able to lay aside party rancor and write a kind of "Churchill without tears." Jenkins saw himself as a moderate member of the Labor Party and left it in the early 80s in reaction to the extremely radical views of the Michael Foot era. The essential truths about Churchill as Jenkins sees them are personality driven. For although Churchill was a great man, many of the elements that served him well during the second World War, his tenacity, eloquence, and belief in his destiny did not always suit all environments. Traits that were useful standing up against Hitler were not as useful in planning the Dardanelles campaign. There is an object lesson here which Jenkins devotes some attention to. Other than his book on Churchill, Jenkins has also written books on Asquith (PM during part of the First World War) and Gladstone (Prime Minister during Churchill's father's time). It probably is good that he wrote these works first as they prepared him to produce what amounts to a masterpiece of Churchillian scholarship.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: This book was diappointing for a number of reasons. Although well researched, Churchill amazingly remained a two-dimensional character throughout the tedious effort by Jenkins. Events seemed like a theatrical backdrop to ridiculous details of luncheons, petty spats and cat-fights. The most interesting parts of the book --- World War II --- were treated as if they were distractions to the real interest: who insulted whom. I truly wanted to read about Churchill --- not about every third rate social butterfly. Churchill's self-centeredness seemed to take center stage. Jenkins wrote little about Churchill's depressions, his view of art, his deeper thinking. In my opinion --- not based on Jenkins' work --- Churchill was perhaps the greatest statesman of the 20th Century. Yet Jenkins utterly fails to delve deeper into Churchill's mind than his social calendar. This didn't reflect ill on Churchill, but made the book difficult to read. I found myself skipping large sections in hopes of finding nuggets of useful information. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone except as background material for a better human analysis. Jenkins definitely was thorough in the areas he wanted to research --- but the areas he wanted to research were about as interesting as watching paint dry.
Rating:
Summary: Read this only after you've read Manchester or Gilbert
Review: If I were to choose a first Churchill bio to read, it would not be this one. The writing is very cumbersome and yes, it does assume a lot of knowledge of British affairs on the part of the reader. But if like me you read "The Last Lion--Alone" (multiple times) and felt that overwhelming exasperation of "why oh why wouldn't anyone listen to Winston?" then this book is a good followup. Jenkins takes a little more jaundiced approach, and obviously sets out to write not a Manchester-style panegyric, but a more critical, insider's assessment, maybe even even setting the record straight. But just as we gain a little more understanding on why people didn't listen, how off-putting Winston could be, how burnt his bridges in some ways, Jenkins himself comes around to probably an even more profound a respect than he had anticipated, especially regarding Churchill's crucial early management of his first War Cabinet. Here Jenkins provides a detailed day-to-day account of Winston's tactics that I don't recall reading elsewhere. Missing are the telling anecdotes, apocrypha perhaps, such as the image of Winston descending to the bomb shelter, bottle in hand, or the private meeting with Von Ribbentrop, or George V's "Hoares to Paris" crack. Jenkins either disbelieves them or finds them uninteresting. Imagine! But it is HARD slogging, and it confirms my view that the average British writer is sloppy and inconsiderate of the reader. The vocabulary is educational so have your dictionary at hand. (Unfortunately my Webster's did not include "louche," one of Jenkins's favorites.)
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