Rating: 
Summary: 4-14-01 CSPAN Booknotes
Review: Today [4-14-01] Lady Mary Soames [nee Mary Churchill] stated on CSPAN Booknotes that William Manchester is ill and will not complete the third book on Sir Winston Churchill. Godspeed William Manchester, and thank you for everything.......
Rating:
Summary: Give the Man a Cigar
Review: Manchester begins the book by describing what life for Winston Churchill was like in the 1930s. He goes into detail about Churchill's home Chartwell and the expenses Winston had to meet to live his lifestyle. Winston earned the necessary money writing histories and newspaper columns. His writing gave him not only an income, but a voice about the coming Nazi aggression that most of England was blind to. We've seen promising political careers derailed due to self-indulgence and Churchill's career seemed just that in the 1930s. He was a young member of the cabinet in World War I, but after a principled cabinet resignation in the early 30s, he became an outsider in his own party. This didn't stop Churchill from antagonizing everyone who wouldn't listen to him. Eventually, his rise to Prime Minister in 1940 was one of history's biggest I told you sos. But it wasn't his ability as War Prime Minister that made Churchill great, according to Manchester, but his ability to see early Nazi aggression and danger when the whole world slept. Whether you agree or disagree, Manchester has created a wonderful detailed comprehensive biography of the time period. Manchester's easy way with words, apt scholarship and detailed descriptions really bring the time period to life...
Rating:
Summary: A great read despite a minor irritation.................
Review: This was the first time I have read a heavy historical biography and I was pleasantly surprised by this book which I found VERY readable. Like another reviewer, I have been fascinated by Churchill since my youth when we studied the history of the period in school and Churchill shone through as one of the leading statesmen of the period. The early passages were helpful in setting the scene, although I felt the author tended to give just too much detail in parts. That said, he did an excellent job of painting the picture of Victorian Britain. As described it sounds a fairly unpleasant place for all but a few -- those with money or title. My only real criticism of the work is that this fine biographer demonstrates such a poor grasp of the political geography of the time in Britain. He continually uses the term England when on most occasions the correct term would be Britain or the United Kingdom. I cite page #1 as an example in a passage relating to the 1939 evacuation of the British Army's Expeditionary Fource from Dunkerque......"England's greatest crisis"..."England's island" (the island houses three member countries of the union, Wales Scotland and England).......England's fathers sailing to rescue England's exhausted bleeding sons. While this does not materially detract from the reading of his fine book due to the fact that most people do not understand the difference between Britain, United Kingdom and England -- which many especially in the USA, mainland Europe and even in England itself use interchangably -- thus his error is very common. I imagine that the Scots, Irish and Welsh folks who read this book are greatly irritated by the continual mistake, especially those whose forebearers fought and fell, not for England but for Britain under the Union Jack (the flag not of England but of the United Kingdom). I do not profess to be an expert in history but my recollection is that in 1603 (or thereabouts) the English line of succession ended with the death of Elizabeth I and the Union of the Crowns took place. In this union, King James VI of Scotland became King James the I of England and was King of both (then independent) countries. This was followed in 1707 by the Union of the Parliaments which is basically the union (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) which exists today. Thus, any monarch following James I and the Union of the Parliaments of 1707 was King or Queen of the United Kingdom and not just England and any soldier in the British armed forces after 1707 was a British soldier not English. As I recall the Union did leave a few areas outside and Scotland for example still retains their own Law and educational system. I guess from an author's standpoint a concern may be that if such rudimentary facts are incorrect it could call into question some of the other elements of the biography, however I am sure this is not the case. In conclusion, aside from my comments above, I thoroughly enjoyed my first foray into historical biographies and have today ordered Volume 2 of The Last Lion. PS For those interested........ Great Britain is a geographical term describing the group of two main islands off the coast of Europe. The United Kingdom is a political term describing the four countries which together make up the union - Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. So, there is no such thing as an English, Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish passport, only a UK passport.
Rating: 
Summary: You too can stick to your guns.
Review: "Never, never, never, never give up." is a famous Churchill quote. A few times I had to tell myself that while reading this book. Volume I in this two volume series reads at a blistering pace but then it covers decades instead of a few years. This book reads much slower, and could problably convey as much with a strong editing job, but never giving up was worth it. If you're a Churchill-o-file then this is a must read. If you've ever swam against the tide, as Churchill often did---swimming against the tide of public opinion and the pronunciations of ostrich-like politicos (thus the subtitle "Alone")---then you can appreciate the man's resoluteness. Mr. Manchester's research is in-depth and enlightening. Churchill is an endearing and admirable figure, warts and all.
Rating:
Summary: This can't be non-fiction can it?
Review: This is one of my favorite books. It is truly a page turner. After reading other Manchester works I thought the pacing would be similar, not too fast and not too slow, but what a surprise. It does help that (it seems) Mr. Chrchill rarely slept during the years the book covers. He was everywhere---a lion in the making. The book is information packed and besides giving a great blow-by-blow account of Churchill's early life, gives a picture of the world that is just as enlightening. If Churchill is of interest to you at all---read it! And read it before volume II (which was good but a bit disappointing when compared to this first volume).
Rating:
Summary: MANCHESTER'S FINEST HOUR
Review: Manchester has the ability that few other writers can match of going on for pages and pages and not boring the reader to death. He takes Churchill and makes him and his world live again in the pages of this book. In terms of mastery of the English language and an eye for detail, Manchester has left a worthy memorial to its subject. The second volume is really outstanding as well. The other reviewers who rated this book favorably have said it all. I just want to say Mr. Manchester, wherever you are, please come out with the next volume soon. Also look for American Caesar (about Douglas MacArthur), the Glory and the Dream (about U.S. History, 1932-1972), Goodbye Darkness (about Manchester's Marine Corps service), Death of a President (the JFK assassination) by this author. He never disappoints.
Rating:
Summary: Great Biography of a Great Man
Review: I truly believe that Winston Churchill should have been named Time magazine's Man of the Century. No other person in the 20th century affected the lives of so many. Author Manchester has attempted a three volume biography (volume 2 ends at the start of World War II and volume 3 has not yet been published), which succeeds magnificently. The author brings Churchill alive, and like any great man, he is also flawed, and these are presented without apology. Manchester's style of writing and organization is superb. The story of Churchill's youth and young adulthood is thoroughly explored. The author puts special emphasis on Churchill's childhood and the effects of his relationship with his parents which became obvious throughout his life. I would recommend this book highly.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful!
Review: This book presents a side of Churchill unknown to most Americans. Great background work provides a better understanding of how Winston viewed the world and how he became the savior of Europe.
Rating:
Summary: Towering
Review: Winston Churchill became Prime Minister only when World War II seemed hopelessly to threaten Britain. On retiring to bed late the first night of his tenure, rather than feeling overawed by the desperate struggle ahead, Churchill was "conscious of a profound sense of relief." One can imagine few men who would have felt such enormous self-confidence in a like situation. Manchester's biography brilliantly tells why Churchill was justified in so feeling. "Alone 1932-40" covers the years when Churchill, apparently a political has-been, unceasingly warned the country of the danger Hitler posed. His political superiors, full of class hubris, dismissed the warnings and recoiled from addressing the steps necessary to thwart Hitler. The British people were made of steadier stuff than their leaders, but, spiritually exhausted by World War I, cherished the hope that a second great war could be avoided. Manchester tells the story in thrilling fashion, making it especially compelling by writing not just about Churchill's heroism, but also covering at length and in unsparing terms, the appeasers, Chamberlain, Halifax, Henderson, et al. The story is as engrossing as a novel, and written elegantly enough to carry it along most pleasurably. Manchester's only misstep is his frequent use of the German original along with the English in many phrases quoted from the German principals. This might make sense where the meaning was ambiguous or there was an untranslatable nuance, but this is rarely the case. It seemed as if he was bringing in the German just because he enjoyed it. It's a minor quirk and should not deter anyone from reading a great book. I hope Manchester has not abandoned plans to complete the biography, which is comprehensive, but not intimidatingly long like the Gilbert series.
Rating:
Summary: Churchill or Manchester -- tough choice!
Review: It is hard to tell who is the larger hero -- Churchill or Manchester. Not because the historian is bigger than history, but rather because the historian has so captured history. Churchill aficionados don't need to read heroic prose to be attracted to all that has been written about him. But for the rest of us, Manchester has strung together the words that truly capture the place Churchill created in world history. This volume is the first in what was obviously intended as a trilogy. Unfortunately, we have yet to see the concluding book. I hope it makes it. Here is a challenge. Pick up the book and read the first two pages. You will find yourselve with two major problems. First, about 2000 pages (volumes one and two) of reading that you will want to complete faster than you have time for. Worse, a dull ache of longing for the third volume that may never materialize.
| 
