Lord Randolph Churchill

by Robert Rhodes James

A biography that brings to life a dazzling and pathetic figure whose mercurial character enlivened the political scene of the 1880s, yet brought about his downfall. The reader will meet the man as well as experience the colorful politics of the period.

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Sir Robert Vidal Rhodes James (10 April 1933 – 20 May 1999) was a British historian who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1976 until 1992.

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography of Lord Randolph Churchill, father of Winston Churchill. A man who, for a time, was at the centre of British political life until he threw it all away. He was charismatic, charming, and a great political speaker when he wanted to be. But he often went too far, was a bad colleague, rich and confident enough to go his own way even in the face of hostility from his own party.

This was first published in 1959, whilst Winston Churchill was still alive. It is dedicated to him. Winston Churchill also wrote the first biography of his father and I think his father's shadow hung over him - at least whenever there was a crisis. So this biography concentrates almost entirely on Randolph Churchill's political career. There are little throwaway mentions of his family and his marriage, but the focus is on the politics and political intrigue.

I really want now to read a later and broader biography. It is also clear that Rhodes James - even though he is willing to admit to Randolph Churchill's many errors - is an admirer of his. I suspect Randolph Churchill wouldn't have survived in modern politics with his unwillingness to toe a party line.

One thing I did like was Rhodes James allows extracts from letters and diaries to fill the pages - and he explains his reason for that choice in his introduction - so it does give you insight into personalities.

This was the first step in a big Churchill reading project. I'm going to read Martin Gilbert's multi-volume biography of Churchill but I wanted to start by reading about his parents. This volume does leave me with other next reading quests: a book about Winston Churchill's mother - I already have this lined up in Anne Sebba's 'Jennie Churchill: Winston's American Mother'; another more recent biography of Randolph Churchill; a decent book about the politics of the 1860s-1900, especially something on Home Rule for Ireland. There are other people in here too who I'd like to read more about: Lord Salisbury, Parnell, Lord Rosebery, Balfour etc etc. The ever growing chain of books.

Not a bad starting point, but I'm sure there is more to be read.

[Pj Mensel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fact filled and highly readable bio of a very strange man, who was Winston Churchills father, and who may have had Syphillis (although that last fact is omitted from the book.) Something in Lord Randolph caused a truly brilliant career to self-destruct. This book covers his life and his spectacular (in English terms) fall.