Churchill Wanted Dead or Alive

Rating:
Summary: Young man of the century
Review: A cracking-good biography that would make an ideal gift for any teenaged boy (or girl) with brains and ambition. By age 25, the young Churchill had been graduated from Sandhurst, fought as a British Army officer in several campaigns, written an acclaimed best-seller (The River War), worked as a topnotch war correspondent for major London newspapers, been captured by the Boers and held as a prisoner of war (and escaped), advised top generals and politicos, and been defeated in his first try for Parliament, but elected on his second try. Again, in case you missed it - by age 25! Herein the story, told by his granddaughter in the best family tradition.

Rating:
Summary: Family History, by fermed
Review: History written this way, by a descendant about her famous ancestor (Churchill in this case) is both rare and enchanting. The author found stimulation by retracing her grandfather's Boer War steps physically and by seeking out the children and grandchildren of people who interacted with the famous man one hundred years ago.We are fortunate to have a story of the early Churchill told to us this way, in the voice of a young woman not yet born when he was already demonstrating the steel of his determination and his fearlessness. There is love and amazement in Celia Sandys's voice as she covers the subject of her grandfather's exploits. Her encounters with the descendants of those who knew Churchill are rendered with authenticity and warmth. I suspect that the author may easily have lost control over her material (untamed and full of incredibly exciting action) but she did not. For the amateur historian this book is a delight; Churchill connoisseurs will, of course, love it; and for the occasional reader it will be a rare pleasure.

Rating:
Summary: Whether a long time admirer or new fan, the book works.
Review: I am a great admirer of Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, and so being I read nearly every book that is published. As I write this Mr. Churchill was on the cover of one of our National Magazines last week, and the title was "The Last Hero". A man who is completing another biography of Mr. Churchill's life wrote the story inside.

A book by his Granddaughter Celia Sandys could be easily dismissed as a biased treatment, a work lacking objectivity. I believe The Authoress did a remarkable job of adding to the Historical Record without being a revisionist in her Grandfather's favor or to his detriment.

I have read Churchill's own accounts of the adventures contained in this book, and many other books written about this amazing story and I still would recommend it be added to any existing collection of Churchill books.

Mrs. Sandys manages to bring to light new bits of information that at times reinforce the contemporary accounts, and at other moments confirm what might have been an Historical Embellishment passed down through the years. She portrays her Grandfather with candor, and shares the information she collected while reconstructing herself the trip that her Grandfather made so many years ago.

Sir Winston Spencer Churchill M.P. has already taken his place in History. He was a man who seemed to know what destiny held for him, and also what History would say. He once said, "I know how History will remember me, as I shall write it." He once described the human race in the following terms, "We are all worms, but I believe I am a glow worm."

A well written, balanced account of a small part of a life that was full of momentous moments. Mr. Churchill is unique as he is not just part of our History, he is History. That he is still quoted almost daily, new books continue to be written, and a College is to be built confirm this is true.

When confronted with "if you were my Husband I would put poison in your soup", the retort, "if you were my wife I would eat it." Oh to be at that dinner.

Thank you Mrs. Sandys.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: In an era when many of our political leaders are intellectually challenged, it is wonderful to learn more about the most challenging intellect of the last several centuries.

Winston S. Churchill is one of the finest statesmen, writers, and historians of our age. He was also a skilled and brave soldier, a perceptive analyst of human nature and world affairs, and a talented painter. His granddaughter's marvelous book about a brief but exciting period of Churchill's early life gives us a fascinating glimpse into this great man.

A correspondent sent to cover the Boer War, he also fought in it. Captured, he escaped. Ms. Sandys takes us on a personal tour through Churchill's route, talks with the relatives of those who helped Churchill escape, and gives us intimate insights into a man who seems to have, like Minerva, come into this world fully armed with wisdom and valor.

The World-War-II Churchill who most of us know is a mere coda to the sixty some-odd years that preceded it. Celia Sandys makes her grandfather come alive for us ... it is a remarkable book.

Rating:
Summary: The Early Churchill
Review: The author, Celia Sandys, is the subject's granddaughter. As such, she had access to papers, people, and places that few individuals have. She presents a view of the early Churchill (age 20-25) that gives one an objective glimpse of his early life, ambitions, and personality. She has done much field research by access to original papers, actual locations, and descendants of those who knew Churchill in his early 20s. Much of her research is centered in South Africa where the young Churchill had a yen for being where the action was in the Boer War, and having an inordinate amount of luck escaping death and danger. Additionally, she gives detailed maps of his movements, and tries to bridle some of his self-sustaining writings that could not be independently verified. This work should give any reader an understanding that Churchill's early years were a prelude to his more famous leadership role during the dark days of World War II. An excellent read.

Rating:
Summary: I expected more!
Review: This book presents several interesting vignettes relating to Churchill's life and activities during the South African "Boer" war, but overall I was disappointed, and finished wanting more. Overall, I thought this was rather superficial, and I didn't feel as tho I had gained any substantial insight into the life of one of the giants of the late 19th/early 20th century.

Rating:
Summary: Sense of Entitlement and Arrogance
Review: This is the first book that I have ever read about Churchill, so I was very surprised to read example after example of his arrogance and his "at all times" sense of entitlement. His granddaughter (an obviously biased author) recited many of Churchill's actions during the Boer War as examples of his bravery and courage. I, however, interpreted these actions in quite a different manner. One example of Churchill's "bravery" was when his train was ambushed by Boer troops. The author described his behavior as brave and heroic, whereas I viewed his actions as a very calculated tactic for self-advacement. In fact, it was Churchill's fault that the train went so far into Boer territory in the first place--he wanted more information for his newspaper, and his subsequent actions only put the British troops in more danger. The book was also not well written or organized; it reminded me of reading a high school book report.

Rating:
Summary: Churchill in the South African War, ( 1899-1902)
Review: This time last year, appropriately enough, I was reading this book of Churchill's epic escape from the States Model School in Pretoria, an event that had happened 100 years earlier to the very day.The 12 December 1999 was also a day in which I lost a friend in a road accident, thus, the centennial anniversary date becomes etched with the personal. Churchill was clearly a larger-than-life figure all of his life as his grandaughter and author Celia Sandys clearly shows in this historical work in which she followed in his footsteps, visiting campsites, battlefields etc and speaking to descendants of friends and foes alike. Contrary to the assertions of some other reviewers it is a well written and enjoyable book. Some of the interesting vignettes include the detective work the author did on tracking down the gold watches that Churchill had sent to various people for their assistance in his escape from the Boers (or Afrikaners as they are known today). At the time of publication Mrs Sandys had located 6 of the 8 watches. Mrs Sandys is not afraid to challenge Churchill's assertions that he was captured by Gen. Louis Botha himself (later the Union's first Prime Minister, 1910-19)and she rightly dismisses talk that there was ever a romantic entanglement with Helen Botha , the General's daughter. The author is partly correct when she records that Churchill's "huge political ambitions demanded a wife who would be a political asset..." However, that would cut both ways, something Helen Botha alluded to 60 years later when she said it was unlikely that she could fall for him as she was "a Transvaaler." Her father and Churchill may have "got along famously" but it is the author who is disingenous, not Helen Botha, in considering that a personal political rapport could see the leader of the Afrikaner volk, or a member of his family, contemplate such a marriage -particularly after the deaths of some 26,000 Boer women and children in the world's first concentration camps - British concentration camps. Nevertheless, this is a good read about a remarkable soldier-stateman in his younger days. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story, Poorly Told
Review: What a wonderful, engaging story about the 20th Century's most remarkable public figure. Imagine: a war correspondent who brazenly leads his comrades out of an ambush, only to bravely return -- unarmed -- in a futile effort save more of his trapped colleagues. Captured, he plots and executes a daring escape -- succeeding where professional soldiers cannot. His hunger for adventure not yet sated, he returns to the battle field, knowing full well that his re-capture will mean certain death.

They just don't make leaders like this any more!

The downside in this book -- considerable in my opinion -- is the poor (I've elected a charitable adjective) quality of the writing. Ms. Sandys would definitely have been well served by having a professional writer as her collaborator.