Winston S. Churchill: Never Despair, 1945-1965

Winston S. Churchill #8

by Martin Gilbert

The final volume of the official biography spans Churchill’s life from the defeat of Germany in 1945 to his death nearly twenty years later. It sees him first at the pinnacle of his power, leader of a victorious Britain. In July 1945 at Potsdam, Churchill, Stalin, and Truman aimed to shape postwar Europe. But while still grappling with world issues Churchill returned to Britain for the general election results and was thrown out of office.

For six years Churchill worked to restore the fortunes of Britain’s Conservative Party, while at the same time warning the world of Communist ambitions, urging the reconciliation of France and Germany, pioneering the concept of a united Europe, and seeking to maintain the closest possible links between Britain and the United States. His aim throughout was to achieve not confrontation with the Soviet Union but conciliation based firmly upon Western strength and unity.

In October 1951 Churchill became prime minister for the second time. The Great Powers were at peace but under the shadow of a fearful new weapon, the hydrogen bomb. Hoping, after the election of Eisenhower in 1952 and the death of Stalin in 1953, for a fresh start in East–West relations, Churchill worked for a new summit conference; but in April 1955 ill health and pressure from colleagues forced him to resign.

In retirement Churchill traveled widely; took up painting again; completed the four-volume History of the English-Speaking Peoples; and watched as world conflicts continued, still convinced that they could be resolved by statesmanship. “Never despair” remained his watchword, and his faith, until the end. That end came slowly; for those nearest to him it was a sad decline. Yet almost to his ninetieth year he was able to follow events with hope and faith in the ability of man to survive his own folly.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, World War II, Politics, Reference, British Literature

1312 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 1988

About the author

The official biographer of Winston Churchill and a leading historian on the Twentieth Century, Sir Martin Gilbert was a scholar and an historian who, though his 88 books, has shown there is such a thing as “true history”

Born in London in 1936, Martin Gilbert was educated at Highgate School, and Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours. He was a Research Scholar at St Anthony's College, and became a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford in 1962, and an Honorary Fellow in 1994. After working as a researcher for Randolph Churchill, Gilbert was chosen to take over the writing of the Churchill biography upon Randolph's death in 1968, writing six of the eight volumes of biography and editing twelve volumes of documents. In addition, Gilbert has written pioneering and classic works on the First and Second World Wars, the Twentieth Century, the Holocaust, and Jewish history.
Gilbert drove every aspect of his books, from finding archives to corresponding with eyewitnesses and participants that gave his work veracity and meaning, to finding and choosing illustrations, drawing maps that mention each place in the text, and compiling the indexes. He travelled widely lecturing and researching, advised political figures and filmmakers, and gave a voice and a name “to those who fought and those who fell.”

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Reviews

[Ken Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most amazing story of a most amazing man.

I'm a slow reader, and thought of reading one volume of Churchill's biography was daunting. I've just finished the eight (last) volume and loved every word of them. I'm looking forward to reading many of Churchill's books.

[Melsene G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final volume of the Gilbert biographies is incredible. It took me a long time to get through it but as a Churchill buff, I learned so many new things that are not found in other Churchill books. I truly believe that Martin Gilbert was a one of kind historian and probably the greatest historian of the 20th century. Likewise, I still believe that Winston was the greatest statesman of his day.

These years, particularly those after the War, are not written about extensively in other Churchill books. Learning about Winston's daily life post being the PM, are fascinating. He painted, he traveled, he gave speeches, he stayed in bed more than most, and he wrote a lot of letters, plus worked on his memoirs. The letters to and from Clemmie are interesting. They both spent a lot of time away from one another which raises questions. I am going to read Mary Soame's biography about her mother to learn more. The time spent on Onassis' Christina yacht was news to me. Health issues were always present. How many strokes or heart issues actually occurred? That remains an open question. Winston had lots of help and always had an entourage, whether it was his private doctor Lord Moran, or his assistants, secretaries, and memoir editors. One of his kids always seemed to be in the picture-which is nice to know.

Learning that daughter Diana committed suicide at the age of 54 was sad. I will have to look into that as it shows that growing up with celebrities is often a curse, not a blessing. Drug and alcohol addiction are always in the mix.

I highly recommend this book and will continue to read more about Churchill and his family. Well done Martin Gilbert.

[Bob Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been working through the 8 volumes of this biography on and off over the past 2 or 3 years. Because each is over a thousand pages, it could be said that it's a slog, and at times, it can get tedious. But with that said, this biographical series documents the life of one of the giants of the 20th century, if not the preeminent statesmen of all time. This volume takes up as WWII is finishing, and runs through Churchill's loss of the premiership in the waning days of WWII. It's apparent that the populace was looking for economic relief, and didn't bank on in this action, costing him the office of Prime Minister. It examines his time out of office, and subsequent regaining the Prime Ministership. It then takes you through his retirement from public life. He was a stunning politician, and a man of incredible wisdom. We need men like this in these times.

[Ramachandran CHEENIYIL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always found that the best moments of great tales are at the very end. The story of this great statesman is no exception. It has been a year since I started reading his story, which also happened to be my first venture into the genre of political history. I complemented it in between with Martin Gilbert's History of World War 1 and World War 2, and I must say that it was an amazing, albeit harrowing journey. I think it would not be too much to say that I am a different man from who I was before I started reading this, and I am better off for it.

[Dale Ogilvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The human story of a great man

Amazing how great events swirled around this one. It is a shame that his high position in society did not have its counterpart with a close relationship with God.

[Fred T Isquith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin Gilbert - Winston Churchill (Vol. 8): Never Despair - 1945-1965

Reading this massive, but excellent, biography was a task I set out before myself some years ago. I have completed its 8th volume. In total the biography is I would estimate more than 8500 pages. I did not read the more than 20 available volumes of the documents that accompanied the publication.

It follows events from the defeat of the Conservative Party shortly after the defeat of Germany (and during the Potsdam Conference in 1945), and notably before the defeat of Japan.through his not wholly uncontested successful maintenance of control of that Party, the Conservative victory in 1951, and his return to the Prime Minister's office, his retirement from that office, in 1955, and his publication of his last work, A History of the English Speaking People, and the continued slow decline and frailty through a series of strokes. ( He retired from Parliament in 1964)

The volume is a great read and rare in biographies describing the story of the "great man's" life to his human decline and age though old age in terrible detail. It is sad and difficult reading from nearly the beginning, as there were those that thought that he had surely lost a step or two by 1951. The details can be excruciating: on a Monday in 1956, who did he meet, what did he say about this or that, of lasting interest or not, what was consumed for a large lunch, and so forth. How did he react to the serious stroke he suffered while he was Prime Minister for the second time, and how was it concealed from the public and the Parliament, and for much of the ministers.

It took awhile . I would not have missed reading this last book. I don't know that I have ever read or seen the like tracking a life in detail to its conclusion. Gilbert writes well and the 1400 pages move along. I acknowledge that I did not read the book without interruption. I did put it down from time to time, to turn to other matters, occasionally for more than a month.

But there you have it. I would say, as a whole, it is definite for anyone interested in the metamorphosis of the 19th century, through the catastrophes of the 20th and the world we have inherited.

[Murray Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy capstone to Martin Gilbert‘s earlier biography

Nothing needs to be said. A great biography of one of the greatest people of all time. In his old age, Churchill‘s humanity, generosity and greatness of spirit shone even brighter. The book is sad, as old age is sad, but still inspiring. How small the politicians of today seem.

[Adam Gossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honor.

[Roger Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eight volume in the series of Churchill's biography. I've finally finished!

[Paul R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A

[Tom A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Churchill biography

Well written, full of detail on Sir Winston in his later years. Very detailed, perhaps to a fault, but very engaging with plenty of humour.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read each volume of this Biography. It was detailed. You will, at times, read about daily activities. Meetings that day, letters written, who was over for dinner. This biography isn't for someone with a passing interest in Churchill. You have to want to know who he was. You live life beside him.

It took me 2 years to get through all 8 volumes, I had to take breaks and read other books. At the end of this volume, when it concludes with the death of Churchill, I cried. There's something about Churchill that I fell in love with. A flawed man, that believed the British Empire was needed to govern India because the Empire would do it better, a man that saw Gandhi as a terrorist, a man that believed only HE could govern at times and a man that could be deeply wounded at the smallest slights and was a demanding boss.

But you get to know the best qualities of this man as well. His bravery that almost borders on suicidal, his joy and love for life, his undying love for his wife, his unbreakable will, his ability to forgive political opponents and his generous magnanimity for those around him. Most all who served him or with him loved him.

I loved this biography (all 8 volumes). Sure, it was a slog to get through meetings and I lost track of codenames and operations during war, but I got to know the man behind the memos and minutes. If you're looking into reading this, I'm sure you know what Churchill did. This biography is a deep-dive into his life. It goes beyond the mythical deeds of a legend during war and gets to the heart of man.

As I said, I came out loving Churchill. I'd recommend this book to anyone that is already familiar and interested in this man. Be careful too, I was quoting a lot of Churchill to my friends as I read these books. I'm sure it grew tiresome!

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains a huge a amount of information.Yet at over 1400 pages, just too long.