Churchill's Wit: The Definitive Collection

by Winston S. Churchill

Charismatic, erudite and often controversial Winton Churchill was one of the most inspiring leaders of the twentieth century, and one of its greatest wits.His much-celebrated sense of fun and mischief has led to many of his jokes and ripostes becoming almost as well known as his famous wartime speeches. Gloriously definitive, Richard Langworth includes all Churchill's most famous quips and witticisms, as well as little known asides and observations. The only book of its kind to be sanctioned by the Churchill estate, it captures the great statesman at his most eloquent, witty, and engaging, Churchill's Wit celebrates the humour and humanity of this most imposing man. 'My dear young man, thought is the most dangerous process known to man.' 'I believe I am the only man in the world to have received the head of a nation naked.' '[A politician] is asked to stand, he wants to sit and he is expected to lie.' '-Winston, you are drunk, and what's more you are disgustingly drunk. -Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what's more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be disgustingly ugly.'

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Humor, Biography, Historical

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2009

About the author

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, politician and writer, as prime minister from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955 led Great Britain, published several works, including The Second World War from 1948 to 1953, and then won the Nobel Prize for literature.

William Maxwell Aitken, first baron Beaverbrook, held many cabinet positions during the 1940s as a confidant of Churchill.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can), served the United Kingdom again. A noted statesman, orator and strategist, Churchill also served as an officer in the Army. This prolific author "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values."

Out of respect for Winston_Churchill, the well-known American author, Winston S. Churchill offered to use his middle initial as an author.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston...

Reviews

[Chuck Slack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winston Churchill was an amazing orator and communicator. This is a so-so book. Some amazing quotes, stories and passages but there is no intermediary efforts to try to make this an entertaining, easy read.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not side-splitting wit, just stiff upper lip English.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite historical characters. The book is a collection of his wit and storytelling. He was a Conservative, but disliked the extremes on both sides. A man who truly met the moment, when his country needed him. But this book doesn’t focus on his historical record. Simply his quick witted responses. Most of them occurred during the war, but they got better with his age and he had a whole library of responses for the Socialists who ran GB after the war.

Some of my favorites not necessarily politically focused.

David Lloyd George asks Winston for a penny so that he may phone a friend. Winston replies, here’s a sixpence, you can call all your friends.

Lady Astor says if I were married to you, Winston, I would poison your tea. Winston’s reply. If I were married to you, I would drink it.

These are just a few among thousands.

[Hem · Rating 4 out of 5]

WSC, being a man of unmatchable English oratory skills, has been ascribed several times in history in regard to his witty remarks in the House of Commons and outside of it.
I enjoyed the book thoroughly. One would contemplate and agree with his remarks when one reads the quotes mentioned in this book.

P.S. Watching The Crown and The Darkest Hour led me to finding this book.

[Nemezida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always been interested in the personality of Winston S. Churchill, so I’ve decided to read the book “Churchill’s Wit: The Definitive Collection” /edited by Richard M. Langworth/.

The book is a collection of short confirmed quotes by W. Churchill on various topics: from statements about countries and individuals to opinions about literature and religion, some personal moments.

This work is undoubted of interest, but perhaps, since I haven’t been familiar with a detailed biography of Churchill yet, my isolation from the context affected me, so I couldn’t always fully appreciate the wit of some quotes and remarks.

Reasonably, this collection should be considered a valuable reference material on W. Churchill, without any specific entertainment components.

[Paul R · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Ale Romaní · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este señor tenía un humor muy especial: "No pienso demasiado en Dios. Él no ha puesto mucho de su parte".

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for lovers of wit and the English language used at its very best.

Period.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives a great feel for the man with little investment in time and energy.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, lots of good illustrative material