Chasing Churchill: The Travels of Winston Churchill

by Celia Sandys

Sir Winston Churchill was a well-traveled man. By the time he was twenty-five, his thirst for adventure had taken him to Cuba, India’s North-West Frontier, the Sudan, and South Africa, as well as to battle, prison, and worldwide fame. During World War II, when as prime minister he held Britain’s destiny in his hands, he hazarded arduous journeys not only to confer face-to-face with his allies Roosevelt and Stalin, but also to witness firsthand the action at the front. In later years, his enduring passion for painting prompted travels to locales like Marrakech. (He took President Roosevelt there in 1943, simply to view a splendid sunset.) Celia Sandys actually accompanied her famous grandfather on some of his later travels, most memorably on a cruise aboard Aristotle Onassis’s yacht Christina, but for this always engaging book she herself has retraced his many journeys on four continents and sought out the people who knew, entertained, consulted, or simply crossed paths with him. And in numerous photographs and their long-untold stories she finds her grandfather’s character illuminated in new, unexpected, and often surprising ways.

Genres: Biography, History, British Literature

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2003

Reviews

[Mahlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing Churchill by Celia Sandys is a lovingly-crafted book about the importance of travel in her Grandfather Winston Churchill's life and career. What sets it apart from the overcrowded field of Churchill portraits however, is that Sandys goes a step further and retraces her famous relatives footsteps. Traveling first to Cuba and South Africa, she later recreates some of Winston's WWII journeys.

If this book has a weakness, it's that the narrative does not always follow the chronology of Churchill's travels. As a result the last 30% of the book got repetitive.

I would recommend that anyone who reads this book should also see the companion PBS documentary.

[Norm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book for Churchill fans only, but, for them, a fun read. The best anecdote is the recounting of a Mediteranean cruise the author took with her grandfather (Churchill) on Aristotle Onassis's yacht with Tina Onassis and Maria Callas along for the ride. Also along for the ride was Churchill's pet budgie, which he apparently took with him everywhere after he finally retired from politics.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book jumps around in time which is sometimes confusing, but it gives an intimate look into Churchill's life, the way he thinks, the way he operates. Written by his granddaughter, who attempted to follow in his footsteps in his travels fifty years later, there are some wonderful moments. It is brought to life with various pictures that fill the book.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say if you like & love Winston Churchill read if not still read he was and still amazing person in our turmoil history

[Grant Trevarthen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When all deeds are done, and accolades given to those who did their best for mankind, their is one man who stood firm to his beliefs, and saved the free world from an early apocalypse. it has to be Sir Winston Spencer Churchill.(1874-1965).

In her book 'Chasing Churchill', his Grand-daughter Celia Sandys' emulates the travels of her beloved Grandfather.
Celia remembers as a young girl,accompanying her parents as guests of Greek Millionaire/Tycoon and womaniser Aristotle Onassis on board his super luxury boat 'Christina'. She was the unwitting spectator to on of Onassis' frequent dalliances with women other then his wife, this time was with Opera Diva Maria Callas.
As an adult Celia, went to the U.S, where Churchill went during WW2, in his visits with Franklin Roosevelt, and then on to Cuba. the scene of Fidel Castro's triumph in Havana.

Then she travels to India, where Churchill was posted to in the days before the country gained independence.

To my mind, amongst his travels, often at times of great danger. He'll be remembered for his speeches, which made those who were alive, and a member of the British Empire, believe, they could achieve victory over the Nazi & Japanese regimes, history will show they did just that.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and unique take on Churchill, benefitting from the author's familial relationship with him. The personal touches and family photographs personalize this larger-than-life figure. However, the decision to include information from the author's present-day visits to the locales, on the whole is not a successful one. Very little is added by remembrances of people who were children at the time of WSC's visit, and a great deal of fluidity in the narrative is lost by the occasional jump to the present day. Otherwise the writing is felicitous and the subject matter interesting.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting, well written, and Churchill is a great subject but this book seemed to be self-serving (written by his granddaughter) and one sided. It also seemed to try to justify even his smallest faults. Otherwise, a good read.

[MEK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story of Sir Winston Churchill's grandaughter, Celia Sandys, as she retraces steps he took during the Boer War, World War II and later days as Prime Minister of Great Britain. Great for history buffs and armchair travels fans.