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Revered British historian and journalist Paul Johnson packs decades of wisdom and research into this 192-page biography of the supremely enigmatic Winston Churchill (1874-1965). In the book, Johnson defends his claim that Churchill's extraordinary adaptability and readiness for controversy enabled him to rebound from political setbacks and confront new challenges. A provocative, illuminating, brilliantly concise life by the acclaimed author of Modern Times. Admiring reviews in hardcover; now in paperback.
Acclaimed historian Paul Johnson (A History of the American People) has written a highly-personal and elegantly concise biography of the man whom Johnson -- among others -- believes saved Britain during the perilous days of World War II.This is an unabashedly admiring life of "the towering figure of the twentieth century," who qualifies in his biographer's words as "the most valuable to humanity, and also the most likeable." Johnson shows us a Churchill who was from the beginning of his career in the army and as a journalist/writer, ambitious, fun-loving, and relentlessly contradictory. In politics, he'd switch parties and become a spellbinding speaker. Johnson recalls listening to Churchill's wartime radio broadcasts with his father: "The combined effect was electrifying and transforming."
Churchill was, in Johnson's view, defined by the kind of resilience he called on from his countrymen in his most famous speech. After he pushed the British military into the disastrous Gallipoli campaign during World War I, Churchill carefully plotted his political comeback while enthusiastically pursuing stress-relieving hobbies like painting and collecting butterflies. He would redeem himself by speaking out against Hitler from 1933 on, and demanding that Britain rearm in preparation for a war he considered inevitable. After Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's attempt to treat with Hitler resulted in cataclysm, the hard-liner Churchill took the reins. Johnson offers ten detailed reasons why Churchill saved Britain from the jaws of wartime defeat, citing his energy, his humor, his hard-won friendship with FDR, his strategic foresight, and, of course, the inspiringpower of his oratory.
Churchill's greatest wartime achievement, Johnson says, may have been his insistence that the Allied forces be fully ready before they launched the D-Day assault: "With the costly failure of Gallipoli always in mind, [Churchill] insisted that D-day should not take place until overwhelming strength was established and there was a near certitude of success." Stalin wanted D-Day to begin in 1942, but Churchill wisely demanded the painstaking preparations that led to Allied victory.
Reverential, yes, but also insightful --a short biography that's worthy of its larger-than-life subject.
--Reviewed by Chuck Leddy
SuzySB
Posted May 4, 2010
Recently read this wonderful biography of Winston Churchill and was absolutely riveted by it. Unlike many books on Churchill, this book is short, not comprehensive, but perfectly captures his life story and achievements. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Churchill, WWII, England.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was simply a summary of Churchill's life. Although this book was entertaining, it was not a great work of history.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 22, 2010
The book is incredibly disappointing. Dramatic and historic events are glossed over in a few paragraphs at most. There is virtually no original research here, and what is here is devoted mostly to quoting the subject in times when the author thought he was uttering something witty. This was a deeply diappointing book and one I am sorry I wasted time or money on.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Well written and engrossing story about a central figure of the 20th Century. Well worth reading. I'll probably read it again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 17, 2010
I bought this book for my lady who is from England. She never put it down and said she learned more about Churchill than she ever did before.
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Posted December 5, 2009
Interesting, informative and entertaining. Worth the experience.
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Posted June 27, 2011
This is more hagiography than biography, Not only does Johnson revere Churchill, he credits him with winning World War II all by himself.
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Posted May 14, 2010
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If you don't know the story of Winston Churchill's life you really can't possibly understand the importance of Winston's contributions to the effort of winning World War II and the shaping of the modern political world. Paul Johnson's book does an excellent job of exploring all the important details in Churchill's life. Johnson steadily builds Winston's character through the many phases and events of his lifetime to show how Churchill became the larger than life leader he was.
Johnson's writing style is easy to read and holds your interest throughout the book. I highly recommend this book and found it to be one of the most engaging biographies I have read. It leaves you satisfied and with a desire to dive even deeper into the person of Winston Churchill.
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Posted December 26, 2009
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Overview
An elegant, concise, and revealing portrait of the inimitable leader.Paul Johnson's books are acknowledged as masterpieces of historical analysis. In Churchill, he offers a lively, succinct exploration of one of the most complex and fascinating personalities in history. Winston Churchill's hold on contemporary readers has never slackened, and this exploration of his life casts new light on one of history's most intriguing figures. Johnson illuminates the various phases of Churchill's career-from his adventures as a young cavalry officer in the service of the empire to his role as an elder statesman prophesying the advent of the Cold War-and shows how ...