Churchill: Walking with Destiny Paperback – 5 Sept. 2019

I was born in 1956. For a brief period, though I did not know it but Churchill was my Prime Minister in the twilight of his Parliamentary years. My interest in Churchill started in 1965 watching his funeral on television, aged nine with my mother and father tight lipped and my father obviously upset. His upset filtering to me, so that without knowing why I was tearful and sad. At that early age, a sense of the enormity of the event came home to me.I have read many biographies of Churchill since; some good, some average but only one really awful (Boris Johnston). Most are a product of when written and the source material available to them.I confess to having missed Andrew Roberts biography on publication I have only just got round to reading it now.The first thing is this book, at 982 pages in paperback is not at first glance for the faint hearted. Roberts however benefits in his research from memoirs public records and diaries which have been released in recent years to provide up to date analysis.It is testament to the author that he has produced a text which is addictive reading, mixing as it does the sweep of history at home and abroad and Churchill's part in them. Roberts is no fawning biographer. He is both even in his analysis of Churchill's flawed and impetuous judgement as he is in demonstrating Churchill's extraordinary foresight and achievements.Churchill we must remember he was a man of his time and those times are long gone. Yet cometh the hour he was the man.There have been no comparators to Churchill in post war politics; indeed by comparison how small and inconsequential our modern day leaders are.Churchill was fond of quoting Shakespeare, and even on occasion, fooling friends with made up verses, but surely no quotation from Hamlet still applies“He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”An excellent biography. I cannot see it being surpassed as the definitive one volume history of Churchill's life.HIghly readable and highly recommended.

Not a single chapter was finished before I said "Damn, he makes me proud to be English". This books is warts and all, very objective and beautifully written, luring you in from the first page. I can promise that you will laugh regularly, you will be inspired, you will wish you could have had a whiskey and soda with him.I didn't realize Churchill was such an adrenaline junkie which only adds to his character. Winston wasn't perfect but what colossus was? It's a victory that a single volume of Churchill can be so amazing and a testament to Roberts' talent that he could make it so.It's fashionable to hate Churchill (racism, imperialism, etc) and some moments are questionable in modern eyes but many moments to applaud. Really his legions of haters, past and present, hate their own inferiority when compared to his remarkable character. I miss him already.

Unfortunately, I am almost finished this terrific book. Although I'm not an historian by profession, I have enjoyed most of it. The bits I didn't enjoy were the - often too many - details of the political wranglings and their sequelae. What was most enjoyable was WC's childhood background, his resilience in the face of stupidity and resistance, and his incredible insight into what could - and did - happen. Even while not particularly admiring WC's sense that imperialism is generally a 'good thing', it's forgivable in the light of his sense of altruism. What I would dearly loved to have known is why and how someone whose parents were clearly not supportive of him - in fact, the opposite (except in later years, his mother) - managed to not only survive into a grand old age, but was an amazing leader in a time of crisis. But then, the writer isn't a psychologist, I suppose. All in all, a very balanced view of the great man (who, I confess I hadn't much time for before reading the book). It highlights human nature at its best and worst.

It's a beast of a book. Huge amount of detail and full of quotes but a very interesting, and surprisingly easy, read. First few pages are coversed in maps and include a Winston Churchill family tree BUT misses a very important trick......no 'timeline' chart ! Something that would have been hugely useful in helping to put so much of the biography into context, especially in relation to the progress of the two World Wars. Maybe they will include one in any reprint.

One of the best autobiographies Sir Winston Churchill, England's greatest statesman in my opinion, go and buy it and read it part of your heritage