Churchill: A Life

Known for his excellently researched and painstakingly detailed books I picked this up with some trepidation. It took me a while to plough through it. I feel that there is a little too much detail for the general reader especially in the 1920s and early thirties. The sections on the two wars, and his exciting early life are much more readable. The book is also very much from the Churchillian point of view and does not devote much space to opposing points of view. This is a good book for seeing the world through Churchill's eyes.

Fact is greater than fiction (14/15 people found this helpful)

Interested in Churchill ? Then read this book. Possibly the greatest works on someone's life I have ever read. From page one I was gripped. How refreshing it was to have a biography that does not linger on the lives of parents and forefathers as so many books do. The book moves quickly into the fantastic,industrious and full life of Winston.

Gilbert writes in a straightforward manner allowing you to access not only the life of Winston , but of the historical and sometimes frightening events of the first half of the 20th century.

"Because I shall write it...", (34/38 people found this helpful)

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!

The never surrender book (12/13 people found this helpful)

Writting a book on Churchill would be like writting the history of modern day Britain. The task is enormous!

If you don't know who is Kitchener, Fisher, Balfour or Lyod George you would not probably like the book. One has to have a certain knowledge on the British history before starting. I myself found it difficult to keep up at times. Most inccidents such as the Galipoli landings does not really have much background explanation. In addtion, the author spends quite a long time in poiting out different poiltician's view point on a certain crisis. The result and effect can be confusing to readers.

However, the book does quite "correctly" potrait Mr. Churchill in every respect of his life. Letters, personal journals narated the whole book. If you are looking for scandals or secret life of Mr. Churchill, this book is definatley not for you.

My favourite chapter would have to be the WWI period. The author not only showed immense interest in the way Churchill handles each crisis, but brings out the "true" Chuchill, which is compassion, emotianal and humourous rather than what most people think.

I do recommend this book to everyone. I cried, laughed and at the end felt as if I had gone into a warzone battle under Mr. Churchill's command.

Outstanding (12/13 people found this helpful)

If you have an interest in Churchill than this is the book for you! From the first page you are instantly taken on the enthralling roller-coaster ride that was Churchill's life. From his early days as a soldier and war journalist, through his early rising political career and subsequent decade in the wilderness to his finest hour as wartime Prime Minister, this book will have you totally absorbed. At times you will roar with laughter, at times you will be brought to tears by the remarkable life of this true British hero. Quite simply the best biography I have ever read.

Martin Gilbert

Reader Reviews:

more reference than novel (5/5 people found this helpful)

Fact is greater than fiction (14/15 people found this helpful)

"Because I shall write it...", (34/38 people found this helpful)

The never surrender book (12/13 people found this helpful)

Outstanding (12/13 people found this helpful)

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