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Summary: The Best One Volume Biography of Churchill
Review: The 90 year life of Winston Churchill is so eventful and important, it is difficult to chronicle in a single volume. Indeed, Churchill's official biography, of which Martin Gilbert was a major author and collaborator, consists of eight volumes. That said, the average reader, interested in the facts of Churchill's life and times, does not have time to read multiple volumes. Thus, a top quality single volume work becomes imperative. This is not simply a condensation of the eight volume work but is rather a new work in its own right, which draws on the eight volume work as a major source. Gilbert also relies heavily on Churchill's own archives, the archives of his wife Clementine and the materials of important persons in Churchill's life such as Lady Asquith. As with all of Gilbert's books, this volume is thorough, authoritative, factual and slightly prosaic. One advantage though is that the book is liberally filled with Churchill's actual written and spoken words. Churchill's words are never dull and liven up the text considerably. The book follows Churchill's life in chronological order from his birth in 1874 through his death in 1965. Although all aspects of his life are touched on, Gilbert's emphasis is on Churchill's public role. The reader unfamiliar with Churchill will be amazed at the number of events of British history in which Churchill played a primary part. In his early twenties, Churchill saw action as an officer and then as a journalist in a number of British colonial wars. Most notably, he was taken prisoner by the Boers during the Boer war, from which he escaped. Originally elected to Parliament as a Conservative during the reign of Victoria, Churchill soon broke with the Tories over the issue of tariffs, which Churchill adamantly opposed. Joining the Liberals, Churchill soon rose to high office. Together with David Lloyd George, Churchill was a major figure in the passage of numerous social and labor reforms. By 1911, Churchill was named First Lord of the Admiralty, where he prepared the British Navy for the conflict with Germany that he sensed was coming. Churchill's career stalled during the First World War when his sound plan to capture Constantinople via Gallipolli, was undermined by the military men charged with carrying it out, Churchill was forced to resign the Admiralty and ultimately saw action as the commander of a Brigade in France. He returned to the cabinet as Minister of Munitions prior to the war's end. After the war, Churchill served as Colonial Secretary where he supported the Zionist movement for a Jewish homeland in Palestine and had much to do with the issuance of the Balfour declaration. He never wavered from his position that a Jewish homeland in Palestine was not only just but that it served British interest. In this, as in so many other areas, Churchill stood largely alone. In his role as Colonial Secretary, Churchill essentially created the modern Arab nation states including Egypt, Jordan and Iraq among others. Churchill also served as Home Secretary where he worked out the settlement with Michael Collins and Sin Fein that created the Republic of Ireland. Churchill moved away from the Liberals as they began to lose ground to the Labour party who he adamantly opposed. For a number of years Churchill was essentially an independent supported by the Conservatives. He was finally invited back into the Conservative fold, serving in the opposition shadow cabinet of Stanley Baldwin in the late 1920's. Churchill again broke with the Conservatives over the party's policy favoring centralized Indian home rule. This was an issue over which all parties were largely in agreement yet Churchill was adamant in his opposition. He believed that the end of the British Raj in India would lead to the Hindu persecution of lower castes and slaughter between Hindu and Muslim nationalists. History has, of course, proven him right and gradual independence might have saved millions of lives. At the time, however, he was subjected to the worst ridicule and ostracized. Churchill's stance seemed to spell the end of his career. All through the thirties, he maintained his seat in Parliament yet was never asked to serve in a government. He was ignored, in succession by Ramsey McDonald (head of a Labour/Conservative coalition), Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain. His warnings about Hitler, the threat from Germany and Britain's growing weakness were utterly ignored. Only when the war began in September 1939 was Churchill invited back into the Admiralty and into the War Cabinet by Chamberlain. Finally, in 1940, when Chamberlain was forced to resign, Churchill was asked by the King to take his place. At 65, in the hour of Britain's greatest peril, Churchill was Prime Minister and the head of a national unity government determined to defeat the Nazi menace. Gilbert spends a disproportionate amount of space on these vital five years. At the age when most people are retiring, Churchill with enormous vitality was traveling the globe in support of the British war effort. Upon Germany's defeat, in July 1945, Churchill was promptly turned out of office and the Socialists took over. He continued to lead the Conservative party in opposition and was returned to power in 1952. At first, an outspoken critic of Stalin's Soviet Union (he coined the phrase "the iron curtain") Churchill came to favor a political resolution of differences between the West and the Soviets. Finally, retiring as Prime Minister and head of the party in 1955 at the age of 81, Churchill's final words of advice to his successors was to "stand with the Americans." Winston Spencer Churchill is one of the pivotal figures of the twentieth century and one of the greatest men of all time. This book does justice to his greatness. For a much greater insight into Churchill's character and personal life, I recommend the two books in "The Last Lion" series by William Manchester. This book is clearly superior to the recent biography by Roy Jenkins. It is the finest one volume biography available.
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Summary: "Because I shall write it..."
Review: The title of this review was Sir. Winston Spencer Churchill responding when asked how he thought History would remember him. He had no concerns, because as he explained he would be his own biographer. Mr. Churchill did author many books most of which are still readily available in print today, and as far as his ability to use a pen, The Nobel Prize he received for his writings answers that question. As mentioned elsewhere Martin Gilbert (now Sir Martin Gilbert) finished the 8th volume of the official Churchill Biography in 1988. It is also true that he dedicated decades of his life to the work. What is not as well known is that the work is not yet complete. There are 8 volumes and there are also 15 additional volumes of correspondence, personal letters, etc., that are also equally important to this body of work. Finally, there are more volumes yet to come, so this work not only has stretched decades, its creation has spanned 2 Centuries like the great man himself. It is also important to note that Sir Winston's Son Randolph Churchill published the first volume. Sir Gilbert joined Randolph in 1962, Volume 1 was published in 1966, and Sir Gilbert officially accepted the monumental task in 1968. This one volume work is brilliant. I have read the 8-volume version, and some of the companion volumes, and to think it could be distilled into one book, however thick, would have seemed an insurmountable task. Sir Gilbert is the authority on the man who many argue was the man of the 20th Century, and one of the great Statesman of History. Sir Winston certainly was a brilliant leader; to stop there is to not know the man at all. He was an accomplished writer, he was a painter, he was a mason (the type that build walls), a trowel not a secret handshake was used, and he was an orator without peer, who today is still quoted on a regular basis. If you read one book, then please make it this one. My introduction to Churchill was through the as yet uncompleted 3-volume work of Mr. William Manchester, which is also excellent. Once introduced to this giant of history, one book will not do, he was too large, larger than life, as large as the events he guided, and the Western Democracy that he saved until others came to his aid. How different the world would have been had his party not been voted from office in the midst of the final peace negotiations. The only consistent player was Stalin, and he won hands down. A man that must be a part of any library, as our present is due in part to this individual. And remember he was 50% American. But then perhaps we can take a bit of pride and say, no surprise at all!
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Summary: Very good overview of Churchill's life
Review: This book gives a detailed account of Churchill's life, from boyhood, through his military career, and above all, his political exploits, culminating with his leadership of Britain during WW II. The narrative is very precise and straightforward, with little or no 'opinion' from the author. The book also, disappointingly, gives little or no detail about Churchill's thought processes in decision making or views on policy, nor does it give much insight into his personal life or habits. (You won't find any mention to speak of about his love of cigars, for example). Overall, though, extremely well written biography of one of the 20th century's giants.
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Summary: An Excellent Biography
Review: This book is a surprisingly easy to read biography on one of the most complicated men in history. Martin Gilbert's work is based on the voluminous papers, journals, and other writings penned by his subject. This unique source of information provides for an accurate and authoritative study of the truly inspirational accomplishments of Winston Churchill. Although it is rather long, (960 pages) it is a surprisingly easy read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a detailed study of one of the greatest men of the 20th century.
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Summary: Riveting book -- full of the man himself.
Review: This book is full of direct quotes from Churchill's letters, diaries, speeches and other writings. This was the single biggest revelation to me: that Churchill was a writer even more so than a politician or a warlord. I hadn't understood that before reading this book. This is just one of the great enlightements of this book. Another stunning thing is to learn how many of the issues with which Churchill grappled are issues we are facing today in the U.S. In his "liberal" period in the 20s he was focused on issues such as lowering incarceration rates for first time offenders and how to keep the working class working and how to protect the dignity of the poor. In the late war years the issues become how do you set up and protect fledgling democracies? During the war years, this book is hard to put down. I raced home from work every day to get back to the war effort. My heart soared with each setback of the British air force and I feared the air raids every night. It is transporting. My admiration for Churchill, the man is unbounded; for this writer, I have nothing but gratitude for bringing such a man so intimately into my living room. If I had one criticism, I would say this book is long on facts and short on analysis. I know Churchill was controversial and subject to one or two no-confidence votes during the War. Mr. Giblert, however, is so admiring of his subject, that the reader cannot understand how anyone could have criticized the man. It seems a shame to close this review with criticism, however, because this book is my favorite of all possible things: An Excellent Read.
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Summary: The best one-volume account of Churchill's life
Review: This book is simply outstanding. Gilbert has provided us with an extremely well-researched account of one of history's great figures (and no wonder, since he has virtually dedicated his life to the study of Churchill). While it is full of detailed information, Gilbert's abilities as a writer make the book very easy reading. Despite its length, I breezed through this book in just a few days. If you can only have one book on Churchill, this should be it.
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Summary: Great book for history lovers!
Review: This book is widely entertaining, fun, and interesting. Winston Churchill had an amazing life that spanned much of the 20th Century. This is the abridged (only 950 pages) version of Gilbert's multi-volume work. But though it is many pages, it is a quick read and a must read for biography lovers like myself.
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Summary: Outstanding
Review: This is an absolutely outstanding piece of work by Gilbert. I have never before read a biography that I could not put down. Portrays the Churchill that is more than just a great statesman, but a war hero, sucessful author and a man among men. I highly recommend this book about one of the greatest men of the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Summary: As Good as it gets!
Review: This is an exhaustive, comprehensive and ultimately definitive biography of one of the great men of the last century.It is certainly one of my five favourite books of all time. More than any other Churchill biography that I have read, it gives the reader an unique insight into what made the man tick. Sir Martin should be applauded for this A1 example of the biographer's craft. I recommend it to anyone who only wants to buy one biography about Churchill.You will Never Regret It!
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Summary: Get a life!
Review: This is biogrpahy at its worst. Uncritical, subjective and poorly written, the book has conveniently glossed over Churchill's many blunders in politics, his unstable personality, his sexual perversion and his character faults.
The voters told Chutchill, depsite what his admiring biographers wrote, what they thought of him by giving him the boot.
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