Rating: 
Summary: A good and informative study--not a comprehensive biography.
Review: The most important thing to know about Geoffrey Best's "study" of Churchill is that it is exactly that--a well-done and well-argued study or analysis of the great man's life. It is NOT a comprehensive narrative biography, and those who are looking for such a book should look elsewhere. The title itself reveals Best's ultimate conclusions about Churchill, and he is willing--justifiably--to excuse the difficult, overbearing personality of the man (documented in detail in numerous other books) in favor of his accomplishments and energy as the Savior of England. I enjoyed the book and appreciated Best's ability to encapsulate Churchill's remarkable life in 320 pages. Still, the brevity of the book and Best's no-words-wasted approach leave it wanting in a few respects--most notably, Churchill's great speeches and writings are quoted sparingly, with short excerpts rather than lengthy portions included in the text. This hurts Best's case for "greatness" in my view--Best argues that Churchill was a great speaker and writer (and indeed he was), but he doesn't include enough of Churchill's own words to support this conclusion. Also, the book is roughly chronological, but when World War II is covered, Best shifts to a topic-by-topic approach (Churchill's work in the Blitz, his relationship with France, Roosevelt, Stalin, etc.) that requires that the narrative story of Churchill's life be fast-forwarded and rewound at various points. A bit confusing. Nevertheless, this is overall a good book and a worthy effort. If you do not want to tackle one of the many volumious biographies of Churchill, this view through modern lenses is a good one to try. But if you want a "full portrait" of Churchill, you'll have to start somewhere else.
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