The Eccentric Mr Churchill: Little-Known Facts About the Greatest Briton

by Jacob F. Field

This fascinating book contains little-known anecdotes, facts and details from the life of Winston Churchill. As well as providing a new insight into the epochal historical events that Churchill was a part of, it documents some of the lesser known moments of his life, as well as intriguing facts about how he lived and worked, his friends and enemies, loves and hates. Did you know that Churchill invented the "belly band" around cigars? Or that a duck-billed platypus—named Winston—was sent from Australia to join Churchill’s menagerie at Chartwell? Or that he escaped from a POW camp during the Second Boer War? Or that he was a handy bricklayer in his spare time? These and many more extraordinary facts are detailed in this book.

Genres: Biography

192 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Jacob F. Field is a historian and writer. He grew up in South London, completed his undergraduate degree in History at the University of Oxford, and then moved to Newcastle University for his PhD. He completed his doctoral thesis on the Great Fire of London in 2008, and has worked as a research associate at the University of Cambridge since then. Jacob has contributed to books including 1001 Historical Sites and 1001 Battles That Changed The Course Of History and published articles in journals including Economic History Review, London Journal and Urban History.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eccentric Mr Churchill: Little-Known Facts About the Greatest Briton is a good introductory book on Churchill but it is not an extensive biography. If you are looking for that, then this is not the book for you.

As someone who knows of Churchill and the basics, I found this book useful. It was a good start to get the interest in this individual. This book allows readers to connect with Churchill and to learn about the unknown facts about him. We all know about him as a war-time leader but we learn about his family, loves, career and other aspects. It is all brief but I think it was enough to get me more interested to learn more. To go and read other books about Churchill.

4 stars.

[Filipe Martins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Winston Churcill foi um dos políticos mais importantes dos século XX. Como tal merecia uma obra mais inspirada e não apenas uma descrição quase a roçar a literatura cor de rosa. Uma desilusão!

[Mark McElreath · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of anecdotes and short stories from the life of Winston Churchill. Shorter and less detailed than a biography but with enough material to give you a glimpse into the home life, administration, and personal eccentricities of "the greatest Briton." Come to the book with some background knowledge of Churchill or you may get lost amongst the trees.

[Maria Carmo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is interesting but every chapter is like a loose part, therefore it does not reach the same level of interest of other books about Churchill where there is a continued trail in the narrative.

Anyway, it is interesting and culturally meaningful.

Maria Carmo,

Lisbon 9 April 2025

[Mark Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must quick read for the fan of Churchill. How he lives, drinks, and smokes. Easy to read and well worth the time and effort.

[Jerry Wall · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book of snippets about the life of the great statesman of England, leader during WWII
Some interesting, mostly pedestrian.