The Fascinating Story of the War That Shaped Winston Churchill

Today, however, he’s often thought of as the owl-like character in period films and TV shows, more caricature than character. What this impression misses—and what historian Candice Millard (Destiny of the Republic, River of Doubt) seeks to redress with her fascinating new biography Hero of the Empire—is the amazing life Churchill led prior to World War II, how unlikely his rise to power once seemed, and how this untold chapter of his life packed in excitement and adventure enough for more than a few more movies.
Born Into Wealth and Power
Churchill was born in 1874, into a world that was different different from the one we know today in almost every way—and was almost as far removed from the world of 1940, when he ascended to power in Great Britain. Born into a family branch of the Duke of Marlborough, Churchill seemed destined for the halls of power himself—and, indeed, he served as First Lord of the Admiralty during World War I, and later as Chancellor of the Exchequer, two powerful positions within British government.
After 1929, however, Churchill slowly drifted into the political “wilderness.” By the mid-1930s, his career appeared to have died on the vine: his positions on several major issues were unpopular and his relationship with his own political party grew strained. And yet, he maintained access to the highest levels of government, and as the war with Germany went poorly for Britain, many of those ideas were proven right, leading to his ultimate ascension in 1940.
Early Ambition
The young Churchill was not only incredibly ambitious, but also a man of action, albeit for arguably selfish reasons. Having lost his first election at the age of 24, Churchill decided that he needed a touch of heroism on his resume if he was going to launch a successful career. Thus, he joined the British Army and chased danger, deliberately putting himself in harm’s way in hopes that he would bring himself fame, glory, and future victory at the polls.
The Boer Wars
Churchill life story becomes the stuff of legend (and action movies) during the Boer Wars. After serving in battle in India and the Sudan and emerging without a scratch (or any notable achievements), Churchill arrived in South Africa during the brutal civil war between the Boers and the British, lugging crates of wine with him like a true aristocrat.
He was captured by the enemy just two weeks later.
He effected a daring escape, hiking through jungle with a bit of money and a few chocolate bars in his pockets. He walked for hundreds of miles, survived close calls that could have seen him dead or recaptured, and promptly reenlisted once he’d attained his freedom. Eventually, he helped to liberate the men he’d been imprisoned with, bringing a remarkable story full-circle.

The Seeds of Greatness
Millard argues this remarkable episode of Churchill’s life laid the foundation for a the great edifice his career became: the way he doggedly pursued his career without care for his own safety or health, how he used his intelligence and wits to evade capture, how little fear he displayed in the face of a terrible ordeal, and how self-possessed and certain of himself he was throughout. It’s hard to argue that the man who survived and triumphed in Africa in 1899 was not marked for greatness, even if some of the traits that made him special would also frustrate his ambitions, if only for a time.
The Foundation
Churchill’s exploits in the Boer War made a splash at home, just as he’d hoped, and his political career was, indeed, secured with the help of this incredible story. Millard not only recounts a story about a 20th-century figure that few are aware of today, she does so with a perceptive eye toward  how it predicted Churchill’s rise—and the intelligent, fearless way he faced down the Nazis and the Blitzkrieg in the early days of World War II. After reading Millard’s account of young Churchill escaping his captors, it’s easy to draw a parallel his most famous speech, wherein he declared without hesitation Britain’s determination to fight until the last breath. This was a man who knew the personal cost of capture and defeat, and believed in the possibility of victory even when you only had a few chocolate bars to your name.