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The World Crisis #Vol. V
The World Crisis: The Aftermath
The aftermath of World War I is explored in the fourth volume of Winston Churchill’s “remarkable” eyewitness account of history (Jon Meacham).
Once the war was over, the story didn’t end—not for Winston Churchill, and not for the West. The fourth volume of Churchill’s series The World Crisis documents the fallout of World War I—including the Irish Treaty and the peace conferences between Greece and Turkey.
The period immediately after World War I was extremely chaotic—and it takes a genius of narrative description and organization to accurately and accessibly describe it for us. Churchill, who went on to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature, depicts the international disorganization and anarchy in the period immediately after the war—with the unique perspective of both a historian and a political insider.
“Whether as a statesman or an author, Churchill was a giant; and The World Crisis towers over most other books about the Great War.” —David Fromkin, author of A Peace to End All Peace
Once the war was over, the story didn’t end—not for Winston Churchill, and not for the West. The fourth volume of Churchill’s series The World Crisis documents the fallout of World War I—including the Irish Treaty and the peace conferences between Greece and Turkey.
The period immediately after World War I was extremely chaotic—and it takes a genius of narrative description and organization to accurately and accessibly describe it for us. Churchill, who went on to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature, depicts the international disorganization and anarchy in the period immediately after the war—with the unique perspective of both a historian and a political insider.
“Whether as a statesman or an author, Churchill was a giant; and The World Crisis towers over most other books about the Great War.” —David Fromkin, author of A Peace to End All Peace
- GenresHistoryWorld War I
530 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1929
111 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Winston S. Churchill
1,407 books2,502 followersSir 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 28, 2014
Once again, beautifully written and cannily prophetic. One more volume to go!
April 1, 2022
England made many mistakes during WWI. Churchill was involved in some of the planning that went wrong but he also made good plans that others fouled up. Many people who history has granted a certain greatness to, do not deserve all of the praise awarded to them. Many stumbled into success and others delayed, restricted and even denied work but in the end took credit from others since they were Lord This or That or General / Admiral Important Family Name.
But once the war was over, England stumbled more often than not trying to write the Peace. She angered her citizens at home, betrayed many in military service, waivered in dealing with Russia and the German allies but also her own allies. And again Churchill presents his role. Both good and bad. He describes some of the failings of his associates but also declines to be as harsh as he should be since when written many were still alive or had families still prominent. Current histories are less favorable to many that Churchill mentions.
But the main issue of much of this volume is how it ties up the war years, finishes some incidents and personages but also sets the stage for WWII and more importantly the troubles in the middle east and eastern Europe of today.
But once the war was over, England stumbled more often than not trying to write the Peace. She angered her citizens at home, betrayed many in military service, waivered in dealing with Russia and the German allies but also her own allies. And again Churchill presents his role. Both good and bad. He describes some of the failings of his associates but also declines to be as harsh as he should be since when written many were still alive or had families still prominent. Current histories are less favorable to many that Churchill mentions.
But the main issue of much of this volume is how it ties up the war years, finishes some incidents and personages but also sets the stage for WWII and more importantly the troubles in the middle east and eastern Europe of today.
March 30, 2022
Unfortunately not Churchill's best history. Perhaps he was both too close and a bit too far. The sheer scope of what he tried to capture in one volume - nearly 10 years of history ('18 to '28), from many peoples' vantage points, across the whole globe, from first person to second to omniscient 3rd - creates a book without a real thesis or consistent feel. Look elsewhere for an introduction to Churchill.
That said, it is an interesting read (a skim or two after the sixth original letter is probably warranted). Every man will find the point where they disagree with Churchill and each reviewer is apt to harp about such divergences. Interestingly, one area which caused such an uproar on publication has now become the majority view - namely, Churchill's criticism of the Versailles Conference and Wilson. Read it and see if you agree!
That said, it is an interesting read (a skim or two after the sixth original letter is probably warranted). Every man will find the point where they disagree with Churchill and each reviewer is apt to harp about such divergences. Interestingly, one area which caused such an uproar on publication has now become the majority view - namely, Churchill's criticism of the Versailles Conference and Wilson. Read it and see if you agree!
May 28, 2019
Made through the challenge of reading this series. Churchill demonstrates his superb mastery of the English language and a masterful recollection of the events during WWI.
He ends the book with a rather prophetic quote and one that still resonates in the world today.
He ends the book with a rather prophetic quote and one that still resonates in the world today.
January 13, 2016
Beautiful edition. Really nicely packaged book.
I learned a lot reading this book. It's really several very long essays under one cover.
1. Challenges of demobilization. Churchill was in charge of munitions. Immediately after the Great War he was put in charge of the British Army and Air Forces. He was offered either the Navy and Air Forces or Army and Air Forces. He chose the Army. I wonder how what was a small choice at the time affected air force development around the world over the next 50 years.
2. The British and world response to the Russian Revolution. Churchill gives a great review of what happened to the many anti-Bolshevik forces in Russia, aka, The Red Army. Churchill was known as a hater of Communists, and he doesn't hide it here. While he was one of Lloyd George's closest allies, Churchill makes it clear that he and George were in disagreement over the danger posed by a Bolshevik controlled Russia.
3. The negotiation of The Treaty of Versailles, making clear that Stannard Baker's books about the Treaty, which cast Wilson as a giant among midgets was off base. Unfortunately Churchill only offers one page about the division of the Middle East. He also claims that all the European powers knew the economic elements of the treaty which punished Germany would never be enforced, but were put in due to demands of domestic politics. This book was written about 10 years after the signing of the treaty and makes the point that almost all the economic elements had already been abandoned.
4. Churchill's participation in trying to allow Ireland independence, while maintaining it as a Commonwealth country. I'm no expert on Irish history. I'll be watching the film Michael Collins again. Churchill claims the Anglo-Irish Treaty was fair and that the IRA stopped its adoption because the leadership of the IRA wanted to be assigned or take control of Ireland, as the Bolsheviks had taken control of Russia, rather than submit to Democratic elections. Churchill makes clear his admiration for Michael Collins and sadness at his murder.
5. The post-WWI Greco-Turkish War, which I knew absolutely nothing about. Nothing.
6. A final repudiation of any theory of the cause of WWI other than the German aggression.
The chapters regarding the The Treaty of Versailles start to drag in minutia. The chapters on demobilization, Russia, Ireland, Greece, and Turkey are excellent and educational.
I learned a lot reading this book. It's really several very long essays under one cover.
1. Challenges of demobilization. Churchill was in charge of munitions. Immediately after the Great War he was put in charge of the British Army and Air Forces. He was offered either the Navy and Air Forces or Army and Air Forces. He chose the Army. I wonder how what was a small choice at the time affected air force development around the world over the next 50 years.
2. The British and world response to the Russian Revolution. Churchill gives a great review of what happened to the many anti-Bolshevik forces in Russia, aka, The Red Army. Churchill was known as a hater of Communists, and he doesn't hide it here. While he was one of Lloyd George's closest allies, Churchill makes it clear that he and George were in disagreement over the danger posed by a Bolshevik controlled Russia.
3. The negotiation of The Treaty of Versailles, making clear that Stannard Baker's books about the Treaty, which cast Wilson as a giant among midgets was off base. Unfortunately Churchill only offers one page about the division of the Middle East. He also claims that all the European powers knew the economic elements of the treaty which punished Germany would never be enforced, but were put in due to demands of domestic politics. This book was written about 10 years after the signing of the treaty and makes the point that almost all the economic elements had already been abandoned.
4. Churchill's participation in trying to allow Ireland independence, while maintaining it as a Commonwealth country. I'm no expert on Irish history. I'll be watching the film Michael Collins again. Churchill claims the Anglo-Irish Treaty was fair and that the IRA stopped its adoption because the leadership of the IRA wanted to be assigned or take control of Ireland, as the Bolsheviks had taken control of Russia, rather than submit to Democratic elections. Churchill makes clear his admiration for Michael Collins and sadness at his murder.
5. The post-WWI Greco-Turkish War, which I knew absolutely nothing about. Nothing.
6. A final repudiation of any theory of the cause of WWI other than the German aggression.
The chapters regarding the The Treaty of Versailles start to drag in minutia. The chapters on demobilization, Russia, Ireland, Greece, and Turkey are excellent and educational.
January 20, 2015
Although there is a sixth volume, this book represents the finale of the initial four volumes on the Great War. The final few pages are especially instructive. In speaking of the mass power of mankind for the first time to destroy itself on such a large scale in war, Churchill states, "Healing and surgery in their exquisite developments returned them again and again to the shambles. Nothing was wasted that could contribute to the process of waste. The last dying kick was brought in to military utility.” Amazingly, Churchill highlights some of the reasons that simmered leading to the second World War. However, he ends the book on a hopeful note, placing faith in the treaties of Washington and Locarno to ensure future peace. These treaties were subsequently proven futile or worse, provocation to the subsequent world war. Churchill was not prophetic in the last couple pages of his book, but, nevertheless, it is a fascinating read which I had a hard time putting down for any length of time.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews