Winston Churchill: A Penguin Life (Penguin Lives)

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Summary: Maybe the best Penguin Life thus far?
Review: Well, I haven't read them all, but I have read quite a few, and I think John Keegan's brief life of Churchill is magnificent. Keegan's expertise on military history adds much to our understanding of Churchill. Through Keegan's lens, we see how Churchill's early experiences in Cuba, India, Sudan, and South Africa were truly formative, rather than mere adventures (and opportunities to earn money through journalism). Similarly, Keegan's explanation of the Gallipoli affair helped me understand for the first time why it brought Churchill such ignomy; conversely, my appreciation for Churchill rose even higher as Keegan clearly laid out how Churchill prepared the British fleet for war against the Kaiser. Keegan also shines light on a usually unremarked upon episode of Churchill's life: his months spent in the trenchs on the Western front during the Great War. I have read the (sadly uncompleted) Manchester and the Gilbert tomes, and I highly recommend this little volume as either an introduction to Churchill or as a tasty treat to those who already admire the great man. I ALSO RECOMMEND PURCHASING AN AUDIO CD OR CASSETTE OF CHURCHILL'S WARTIME SPEECHES (AVAILABLE HERE AT AMAZON).

Rating:
Summary: Winston Churchill - never dull!
Review: Winston Churchill lived 91 busy years, so author John Keegan had to omit a few things about Churchill in this short book (192 pages). Keegan, nevertheless, tells us much about this great man. Churchill was patrician-born (son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough) at a time (1874) when the family was not prospering. His father, Lord Randolph, once chancellor of the exchecquer (Britain's 2nd highest office), ruined his own political career by challenging his party's leadership, died at 43 in 1895. Churchill's mother, born Jennie Jarome - daughter of a wealthy New York stock broker and part owner of the
New York Times - also beautiful and promiscuous - like Lord Randolph, also has little time for Churchill, since she is primarily busy with her own life. Churchill , always a
mediocre, poorly motivated student, nevertheless (as the son of a duke) manages to enter Harrow. There he likewise fails to distinguish himself , but he does master English language syntax, which was later to prove quite valuable! Upon graduation from Harrow,seeing little hope of a more desirable, more traditional career in the diplomatic, home or Indian civil service, Churchill opts for an obtainable military career. After extensive special tutoring and twice failing the entry exam, he finally passes (95th of 104) and enters Sandhurst (Royal Military Academy). Though only 5'6" and deficient in chest expansion, Cadet Churchill finds a home in the cavalry (the last choice for most). He enjoys and excels in Sandhurst's non-academic courses - like military tactics, drill,
gymnastics and horsemanship - and in 1894 he graduates 20th in his class of 130. His mother's contacts land him an assignment to the 4th Hussars, soon to depart for India.
Meanwhile, Winston opts to vacation in Cuba, where rebels are attempting to overthrow the government. He arranges to report his observations there back to a London newspaper. In Cuba, he learns much during his 10-week vacation - namely, that rebel
insurgents, by avoiding major confrontations and by exploiting terrain and weather conditions, can sometimes defeat superior, conventional forces. He also decides that journalism and writing might someday make him famous and prosperous enough to
pursue a later career in politics. He also learns how it feels to come under hostile fire. Churchill then proceeds on to India and assumes his military duties - which leave him ample spare time to accomplish some serious reading (Gibbons, Plato, Malthus, Darwin, Aristotle, Adam Smith, etc) - reading that had earlier seemed unappealing to him.
Churchill was maturing and developing a new interest in facts, order, reason, and history. He travels to northwest India where the British and their Indian allies are battling the
forces of a Buddhist sect. Churchill's mother has secured for him another London newspaper (the Daily Telegraph) assignment to cover this armed conflict. While observing this action (from atop a white horse, whose owner had been killed), he
concludes that 'brown skinned' soldiers are inferior to whites - i.e., display less courage and fighting spirit. Thereafter, he harbors a diminished regard for Indians, their soldiers
and for any proposals to grant India greater self-rule.
Always thinking of his future political career, Churchill seeks out other assignments - as soldier or special correspondent - in an effort to expand his combat experience or his fame as a correspondent. He eventually sees military action in Egypt (where he personally kills 3 and wounds 3 enemy Muslims) and he serves in a cavalry unit of 310 that attacks and mops up a retreating enemy of 3,000. Twenty one British lancers are killed, 49 wounded, and a third of the horses are wounded or injured. (This is all great stuff for Winston's books and news articles.)
Following this action Churchill resigns his commission and returns to England where he launches his writing career and his political career. His ultimate wish is make some money, make a name for himself, and, eventually, restore the family's reputation to its earlier lofty status. In 1899 he runs for office for the first time - and loses. Then he becomes a reporter for the London Morning Post. They send him to South Africa to cover Britain's war with the Boers. The Boers - the original white colonizers of that area, basically, did not to want to share the wealth there ( gold and diamonds) with the new
white colonizers (Britain). Churchill observed that the Boers fought with a skill, courage and tenacity that matched that of the British soldiers. He was much impressed with their
horsemanship, their ability to shoot from the saddle, and their skills with Krupp artillery. Desiring to get closer to the action, Churchill accepts a ride on an armored train that gets
ambushed - and gets him captured. The Boers eventually learn that Churchill is a non-combatant (a journalist) and are about to release him, but Winston has escaped. It takes him 23 days to make his way back to British territory. There he negotiates an officer position (without pay, since his journalist's pay is 12 times more) and then engages in more combat action against the Boers - that includes getting shot off several horses, surviving another armored train ambush, and participating in the rescue of those same prisoners who'd been captured earlier with Churchill when the first armored train was ambushed. (More great stuff!).
Thus far Churchill has led a charmed life: he's seen men killed, he's killed men, he's survived many close calls, and he's experienced war and its tragedies first hand. He then
returns to England to write his fourth book - about the Boer Wars. This book makes him rich and famous and allows him to run again for political office. He wins. He's only 27. He's going to be a member of Parliament for most of the next 50 years. He'll eventually serve in nearly every important government position - and twice as Prime Minister. These next 50 years, dear reader, are the really interesting part of this terrific little book. Read it!