Rating: 
Summary: A strong political biography, with a compelling storyline
Review: This is a very good book, with a strong enough story line through Churchill's life that I found it hard to put down. It captures much of what readers are looking to know about Churchill.It is strongest for the insights into WSC's political life (which is quite a strength as that was WSC's core). Jenkins' own political background is no doubt a huge asset. The writing is generally strong, though sometimes idiosyncratic and overgrown. I appreciated the strongly British view and tone, as it provided a feeling of voice for the author and seems necessary for Jenkins' to convey his political analysis. It is weakest in its ability to convey a complete sense of the heart and soul of the man, something a biography must do to some degree to be wholly successful. For example, WSC's relations with politicians are skillfully described, but his family and personal relationships are sketchy. Also, the book sometimes assumes a detailed understanding of the background historical events, so it may help to have another reference source to fill in the gaps if you aren't up to speed on, say, the points at issue in the Suez crisis. A couple dozen sentences would have gone a long way to fixing this. It also gets bogged down at times in the discussions of WSC's books, and in parliamentary details. So I'd underscore the Booklist and Publisher's Weekly descriptions (see them here in Editorial Reviews), as well as the comments of some reviewers here. The New York Times review gushes and glosses over some of the limitations of the book; it's not much of a guide.
Rating: 
Summary: Churchill as a Politician Knows Him
Review: Churchill died at 90. Roy Jenkins, now well into his 80's, seems determined to match him not only for age, but for literary merit. "Churchill" is his most ambitious biography to date, and certainly his best. A prominent cabinet minister of the Wilson Labour government, Jenkins brings to this book a particularly insightful take on Churchill the politician. ("It takes one to know one!") Perhaps most surprising for a past member of a (once) leftist (and now centrist) party, he seems to bring no rigid ideological bias to his interpretation of the greatest parliamentarian of all time, and assesses him in a decidedly pragmatic, even-handed fashion. Appropriately, he does so in a very "English" English, which initially strikes the North American ear as being overly complex and needlessly wordy; but as you become used to his majesterial cadence, its richness and depth of content become apparent, and begin to match that of Churchill himself. Jenkin's Churchill the man is displayed "warts and all", but his conclusion with respect to his subject is somewhat different from the revisionist view of such recent (and predominantly critical) biographers as John Charmley ("Churchill: The End of Glory"); in his own words: "I now put Churchill...as the greatest human being ever to occupy 10 Downing Street." And he should know; as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he once lived just next door at number 11!
Rating:
Summary: Sir Winston As He Was
Review: We Americans tend to see Winston Churchill through the prism of a few months during the Battle of Britain when he stood alone in the world against the Nazis and fascism. As fascinating and dramatic as that period was, a full length biography of Winston Churchill gives the reader the proper context to appreciate Winston Churchill as the leading political figure of the 20th century. Roy Jenkins has authored an extraordinary book that only he as former M.P. and minister could write. The nuances of 10 Downing, Westminister, and Whitehall might elude other historians, but Jenkins knows all the slights and symbolisms of parliamentary politics. Jenkins concludes that Churchill was the greatest British prime minister of all. That's not an easy judgment from Labourite Jenkins who also wrote the award-winning biography of Gladstone. This book is a neccesary addition to the Churchill bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest man of the century
Review: A wonderful book about a wonderful man. At a time when stark moral choices must be made, how refreshing it is to read this fantastic account of Churchill. A comprehensive book, well paced, but particularly well written regarding the events of 1940 when the basis of western civilisation stood on those broad shoulders.
A biography of the greatest man of the century that lives up to his greatness. Enough said.
A must read !!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: ONE OF THE GREATEST LEADERS OF OUR TIME
Review: While I have encountered many historical facts surrounding Churchill's leadership, this is actually the first biography I have read on the man. The book was informative and factual and made for enjoyable reading from a political standpoint; however, the book was primarily based on his acclaimed polital career rather than his personal life. It did touch briefly on his marriage and a few of his quirks and idiosyncrasies but did not provide detail on the psychological elements of the man or what really "made him tick" as an individual. Overall, the book is worth reading, and readers will no doubt agree that Churchill, as one of Britain's most infamous prime ministers, was considered in his day a man ahead of his time.
Rating:
Summary: His Finest Biography
Review: We American anglophiles tend to view Winston Churchill through the single prism of the 1939-1945 period of WW II. Such a limited perspective tends to distort the long and distinguished career of the man that the author concludes was the best Prime Minister ever in England (and that comes from a Labourite). Roy Jenkins has given us a magnificant book that only another member of Parliament could write. He appreciates the political nuances and the verbal swordplay of Whitehall,Westminister and #10 Downing. Winston's strengths as well as his weaknesses are on full display here as you'd expect from a biography of a great man with all the flaws of a human being. This is a must read for anyone interested in the life of Winston Churchill.
Rating:
Summary: Quite readable, nicely done
Review: Jenkins, a history professor and Member of Parliament himself as well as the author of an acclaimed bio of Gladstone, presents a fine biography of Britain's greatest 20th century figure. His own experiences uniquely qualify him to describe Churchill's political fortunes and maneuverings, although the American reader may find the Teens and Twenties either slow going or not sufficiently illuminating of Britain's odd political system, wherein politicians regularly shopped around for a district to represent, even after being defeated in another. This is a fairly traditional public and political bio, not a psychoanalysis (not to imply that Churchill HAD much of a personal life to expose), and moves along at a surprisingly good clip despite its 900-plus pages. Jenkins fully reminds us that Churchill basically earned his living as a writer -- the contracts, writing schedules, and royalties are carefully recorded -- though politics was his avocation. The author writes cleanly and engagingly, though he seems inordinately fond of unnecessarily unusual words like "psephological" and "rumbustious." On the other hand, his wit is dry and regularly in evidence. The U.S. hardcover edition by Farrar, Straus & Giroux is clean until about the halfway point, whereupon one begins to encounter "Feburary" (436), "replies hardly every being allowed" (553) "shore up the the" (706), "dimayed" (721), "The opposition could chose when to relax" (837-8), and similar infelicities. All in all, Jenkins seems to strike a nice balance between a healthy respect for his subject and a clear eye for Churchill's weaknesses, changes of direction, and occasional seizures of dishonesty. Well illustrated with more than 90 b&w photos.
Rating:
Summary: Strong one volume bio
Review: Roy Jenkins brand new biography of Sir Winston Churchill is an entertaining and informative read for both old Churchillians and those who have never entered the Great Man's fascinating world before. Jenkins, an old veteran of Parliament, here uses his many years of political experience to good advantage as he tells of Churchill's life from a secure but lonely childhood to the summit of political affairs during the Second World War. Serious scholars of Churchill will find little that is new here (his main source is the companion volumes to the official biography) but what is here is presented in an entertaining way that makes many of the most familiar episodes of Churchill's life seem fresh. In this post-September 11th world, many of us find ourselves turning to Winston Churchill for inspiration and guidance. Whether you are coming to Churchill for the first time or instead returning to an old friend, Jenkins does well in reminding us eloquence in the cause of justice is timeless.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent biography by a magnificent writer.
Review: Every decade or so a new biography emerges on Winston Churchill, usually not of quality, or containing new substance. I am a big fan of William Manchester's multivolume 'Last Lion' study, and was happily surprised to find new and interesting content presented here in a very readable manner. Roy Jenkins has incorporated some revisionist views, and wonderful prose in what may be the most accessible single volume biography of Britain's most often quoted politician. It is a magnificent piece of work and is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A political biography: shows workings of Churchill's genius.
Review: This is a wonderful biography. Jenkins has an easygoing story style that is fun to read. He also opens the door and shows the internal workings of Churchill's greatness. So many "great man" biographies concentrate on great events and great decisions, to the exclusion of understanding the unique contributions of the man. This book examines the political and literary education which Churchill brought to the table in World War II, the great and small dramas which marked his long accomplished life. Writing a master work on Marlborough was a form of self-education, as was Churchill's history of the English Speaking Peoples. Both elevated his expectations for the British people in war, and he lead them to fulfill his elevated expectations. The historian as leader.... Endless parliamentary debates, including some very real humiliations, gave Churchill a tempered sense of what he could accomplish -- this idealist was probably only ready to lead at age 65, because this education broke against the prow of his stubborn sense of right and wrong. Jenkins captures these formative influences with nuance and drama. This book is an excellent one-volume biography, and provides a daunting argument that life's challenges educate a great leader in a rough and tumble; that self-education also plays a role; that meeting great challenges is the work of a lifetime; that losing and defeat play their role... By the way, this book is not bloated, as one review says, unless you prefer the comic book approach.
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