Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18813 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-26
• Binding: Paperback
• 1020 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Book buyers will never tire of reading about Winston Churchill, for "the greatest adventurer of modern political history" (RA Butler's verdict) led a life of action-packed drama and global significance. Roy Jenkins' Churchill is the latest biography of this great Briton, following closely in the tailwind of Geoffrey Best's Churchill: A Study in Greatness. Where Best restores altitude to Churchill's dipping reputation, seeing off academic critics of the last decade or so, Jenkins provides a jumbo-size old-fashioned biography, lauding his subject's achievements, sympathising with his quirks, and stepping lightly over his well-known mistakes. As he did in his earlier biographies of Dilke, Asquith and Gladstone, Jenkins sticks closely to the published record, utilising in particular the definitive researches of Martin Gilbert, but he brings the authority and the inside knowledge of British politics to his book, slipping in his own memories of Churchill, and his own comparable experience sat the Cabinet table. It is all here, from the Boer Wars to the nuclear bomb, from the hustings in Oldham to the diplomacy of Yalta, with due coverage of the big moments--at the Board of Trade and at the Admiralty in Asquith's peacetime and wartime cabinets, taking on the appeasers in the 1930s and Hitler in the 1940s. All the books are here, and all the political relationships tetchy and touchy alike, from Lloyd George to Baldwin, Smuts to Stalin, and of course, the British people. Like its subject the book is bulky and at times indulgent, but impossible not to enjoy.--Miles Taylor

Synopsis
From the admiralty to the miner's strike, from the Battle of Britain to the Nobel Prize, Churchill oversaw some of the most important events the World has ever seen. Roy Jenkins faithfully presents these events, while also managing to convey the contradictions and quirks in Churchill's character. In depth analysis and brilliant historical research make this a magnificent one-volume biography of an extraordinary life. In some ways a companion piece to his excellent biography of Gladstone, "Churchill" is packed with insights that only a fellow politician could convey. "There is no doubt that he has surpassed himself. This is the biography of the year." - Robert McCrum, "Observer". "This is a first class, well-sustained work of history and a masterpiece of biography " - Andrew Roberts, "Sunday Telegraph". "Lord Jenkins of Hillhead is an outstanding biographer...it has the narrative power, sweep and sparkle of the author in his prime." - John Grigg, "Times".

About the Author
Former Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and President of the European Commission, Roy Jenkins is currently Chancellor of Oxford University and President of the Royal Society of Literature. He was recently appointed by the government to look into proportional representation reform. His biography of Gladstone was the winner of the Whitbread Biography Award and his most recent book, Chancellors, was published to great acclaim.

Customer Reviews

A very interesting book
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.