The Great Republic: A History of America

by Winston S. Churchill

The Great Republic is Sir Winston Churchill's personal vision of American history, from the arrival of the first European settlers to the dawn of the Cold War, edited by his grandson, the historian and journalist Winston S. Churchill. The book is a magnificent retelling of the American story, including some of the best short histories of the   Revolutionary War and the Civil War ever written. The bulk of this book, America's history up to the twentieth century, has until now been found only within Churchill's much longer four-volume A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1953. The chapters on America from that larger work have been knit together into a whole, and to them Winston S. Churchill has added essays and speeches of his grandfather's, many never before published in book form, to bring the book up to the mid-twentieth   century.
        
Sir Winston Churchill's renown as a statesman has tended to overshadow his great gifts as a historian. History was the work of his heart's delight, and few subjects were dearer to him than America. His mother, Jennie Jerome, was American, and all of his life Churchill harbored a deep warmth of feeling for this country and a sense of its special destiny. With fondness, he called America "the Great Republic," and in his later years he trained all of his powers on the history this book contains. The Great Republic is stirring in its sweep and breathtaking in the flash and vigor of its insights. Only an author with Sir Winston Churchill's special perspective on America, his experience as a leader and strategist, his intimacy with the responsibilities of guiding a nation, and his great gifts as a narrative historian could have written a book that lays out America's history, character, and destiny with this book's special brilliance.

Statesman and historian Sir Winston Churchill led Great Britain through the Second World War as prime minister. He was the author of forty-two books, including the six-volume history The Second World War, which was chosen by the National Review as the nonfiction "book of the century."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, American, The United States Of America, World History

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

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

[Malachi Cyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook, read by Winston Churchill's grandson, and it was really cool! I'm pretty sure the book only dated up to pre WWI, but for the audio they added a bunch of his speeches to kinda wrap it up. Recommended to anyone who likes history!

[Margaret Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and worthy history of America from the perspective of arguably the greatest British citizen of all time. The first half is a summary of Sir Winston Churchill's writings about "the New World" from its early settlements by English immigrants up to about 1900. The second part is a collection of his writings and speeches as a journalist, and then as Prime Minister (twice), offering US history in "real time"—1906, 1929-30, 1933, 1937, the WWII years 1938-1945, and post-war 1946-1963. A final epilogue is a short collection of essays about the history of British political foundations upon which the US Constitutional system blossomed: English Common Law, the Magna Carta, and the earliest sowing of the Westminster Parliament.

US high school and college history teachers could do their students valuable service by making this book required reading.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't help but wonder how much of Winston Churchill's adoration of American had its root in his love for his mother. Churchill's respect for America as an expansion and perfection of British values and society is evident. He spoke fondly to and of President Roosevelt and General Eisenhower. He greeted the US Congress as would an old friend. The only entity as beloved by Churchill as America would be the English language itself. He believed in the bonds of a common language and in an inherit unity of all English speaking peoples.

The first half of the book tells the story of America from its origin as a lofty idea in the heads of a few inspired men of the 1700's. He teaches the reasons for the Revolutionary War, the battle plans, the shortcomings and strengths of each general, and describes life of the common citizens throughout the painful birth of the nation. Churchill describes the details of the economic and cultural differences between North and South which made a split unavoidable. He explores the complexities of slavery and the disastrous consequences of the institution.

"The Great Republic" continues on through the 1900's with adept insight into the roots of the industrial revolution and the growth of the largest capitalist economy the would had ever seen or imagined. Churchill also probes the economies of Europe revealing causes and consequences of the World Wars. Several of his letters and speeches included in the book demonstrate his character, will, and warmth; as a leader he is a standout in a field of good and smaller men.

The reader is also offered glimpses of Churchill as an individual. He was intrigued by the American social customs which differed from those of the British. He noted that when attending dinner parties in America, cocktails and appetizers were served for an hour before guests were invited to sit for dinner. He saw this as an an unusual practice, but he determined it was a metamorphosis of entertaining style that made sense; everyone at least would get a beverage and something to satisfy his appetite while waiting for all guests to arrive, and it allowed for guests to arrive late without missing the meal and without drawing attention to their lateness. He didn't cherish the American menu so much though; he noted that American dinners were made up of healthy greens, fruit, and typically a main dish of chicken. He clearly preferred beef, he said every day his wife prepared a beef entree.

Since at least 50 years have past since the publishing of this book, some of Churchill's observations of America seem nostalgic. I can only wonder how his view of current American cities would be soured in comparison to the glee he experienced during his visits and tours in the mid-1900's. For example, Churchill thoroughly enjoyed California. He delighted in its perfect climate, wineries, and the beauty of the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles. He noted the complete absence of poverty in all of the cities and surrounding areas, and the picturesque gardens of every home. He loved the uniqueness of the skyline of every American city, something that still endures.

I feel quite inadequate to assign a rating to a book by so great a person with so great a command of the English language. Obviously, this is a 5-star book written by a superb storyteller with a brilliant mind.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. Fun to see American history from the perspective of a great Englishman, Winston Churchill. On the colonization of America, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Reconstruction, Great Depression, American Isolation and reluctant involvement in WWI and WWII, Westward expansion, etc., Churchill peppers his description of these great events with references to how these events were perceived in England.

On the Civil War, for example, apparently England thought it very unlikely the Union could bring the South back through fighting. On WWII, Churchill believed it could have been entirely prevented if the world had recognized the problem of Hitler in 1933 or 1934. In this book, which is a shorter version of his much longer historical works, Churchill doesn't go into too much detail of his efforts to persuade Roosevelt to come to the aid of the civilized world. And there is practically no self-aggrandizement throughout the entire book.

Despite the long adversarial history between England and America in the 18th and 19th centuries, the first and second world wars in the 20th solidified an Anglo-American unity that remains unbroken.

[Melsene G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very lengthy book, this one edited by Winston's grandson. The first part is good-history of America that you don't necessarily learn in history class. The slant is British as the author and editor are not Americans. Part 2 includes selected articles, broadcasts and speeches by Winston to the House of Commons, and Congress, etc. Some interesting stuff here. Part 3 was tough to digest. It covers English common law and the Magna Carta, but it's difficult reading. You'd probably learn more from US historians.

[Kathryn Cox]

Quite interesting to get an American History lesson from a British perspective. Churchill was always fascinated with military history and gave insightful commentary on key battles ranging from Lexington & Concord to Gettysburg. The individual speeches included from 1945-55 show the political genius Churchill maintained well into old age.

[lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. British perspective. Well written.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Adam Gossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed that

[Ron Me]

An excellent history of the US, unfortunately only up through the Civil War. A number of things of which I was unaware. In '32 he said Roosevelt was a dictator! The second part is just snippets.

[Maleek Haider]

great story teller

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid but somewhat shallow and, for my taste, overly Churchill-centric.

[Mike Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book is taken from Churchill's great History of the English Speaking Peoples, and it's a very good concise history of America through the 19th Century. The second half consists of many of Churchill's speeches, made at various points during the 20th Century. The editing was done by the great man's grandson, and unfortunately it meanders through the decades and through the issues that Concerned Churchill, without any discernible pattern. Still, there's much here that is worth reading. I don't know of a better short history of the precolonial and colonial days, and Churchill's observations about American culture and politics are interesting. The speeches, many of which have been published and broadcast elsewhere, range from inspiring to informative to amusing.
All in all, this isn't a bad way to discover Churchill, the author, but for the reader with time to do it, the better way is to plunge into his great histories of the English speaking peoples and of World War Two.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished speed reading the book. I only started speed reading though after I found that for the most part he was covering the same stuff as my history course (Gileskirk). It was a very good book. Everything you would expect from Sir Winston Churchill. I will read it again some other time, but as of right now most of the info in the book is fairly fresh in my mind.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much information about the United States packed in this book that I was hooked from the first page (that's probably because I never read this stuff in any history book when I was in school!). An excellent read for anyone interested in American history.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

American history retold by a Brit with wit and energy.

[Shatterlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is so informative and highly readable, not a dry boring history book. this is how history should be written

[Brandon Minster · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first exposure to the writings of Churchill, and thus directly responsible for my reading all six volumes of his history of the Second World War.

[Griff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrative history of America

[Jeremy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome history of the US told from the British perspective. And perhaps more importantly, a son of both America and Britain.

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes the perspective on American history was interesting, but for the most part, the chapters (especially the second and third parts) just felt slapped together because they related to the US.

[Alden · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.bookpage.com/9910bp/winsto...

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books of Churchill.