The Churchills: A Family Portrait

by John Lee, Celia Lee

The Churchills dominated world politics for generations—but, like every family, they too have their secrets. Winston’s mother, Jennie, had an affair with the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and her spendthrift habits devastated the family’s reputation. The younger brother, Jack, played a crucial role both in Winston’s successes and in holding the family together during tough times. From Sir Randolph’s alleged syphilis to Winston’s illegitimacy, from Jennie’s gambling problem to Jack’s dashed ambitions, authors Celia and John Lee use never-before-seen archives to cut through the rumors and lies and get to the truth about the life of the former prime minister and his relationship with his family.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Lee (June 1946- ) studied Modern History at Birkbeck College, London, earning a MA in Social and Economic History. He also earned a MA from King's College, London in War Studies.

Reviews

[Katharine Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Churchills" - written by Celia and John Lee and published in 2010 by Palgrave MacMillan. This detailed accounting of the Churchill family (not only Winston) showcases both intimate family relationships and the important moments of political and martial British history that occurred during the timeline. The authors take great pains to include letters that reference Winston's parents and his brother Jack, all of whom also had full and interesting lives, but the star of the show is deservedly Britain's wartime prime minister. His careers leading up to this illustrious posting were varied, but always in the public sector, and took advantage of "his temperament and talents for organizing" - he was recognized as "a coming man." I look forward to searching out clips of Winston speaking, "Like his father's, Winston's public speeches were radical, often in defense of workers' rights and against capitalist interests."

Winston's private secretary details characteristics that Winston did not share with his brother Jack, "restless energy, consuming ambition, gift of eloquence or quickness of mind." These all seem to have contributed to form an unlikely hero who garnered "enormous respect and personal regard" from Queen Elizabeth and indeed from the world. The curious motto of the Churchill family is "Faithful but Unfortunate," but especially in Winston's case it does not seem to apply, as the Lees conclude "His reputation as one of the great statesmen of the Western democracies is strong and well earned."

The Author's Note was an unconventional but certainly interesting list of rumors surrounding the Churchill family with supporting evidence to refute or explain them. This is in addition to the many notes of bed-hopping affairs that were common knowledge - a DNA researcher could have a field day working through them!

This book is a great introduction to the Churchills and could lead readers in many different directions depending on their interests.

[Bonnye Reed]

DailyEBooks

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quasi-commissioned by Peregrine Churchill, son of Jack Churchill, nephew of Winston Churchill. The authors are clear in wanting to clear up family misinformation, which is difficult when a lot of it is considered fact, right or wrong. This book also has the appearance of being self-published and doesn't have the professional polish. Very readable, but a different style of punctuation.

Winston is obviously at the forefront, but Jack stands out as an unsung hero/voice of reason in his family. Almost the complete opposite of Winston, Jack is a good student, seems to get in scrapes you think Winston would fall victim to, quick to fall in love and marry, and a very present parent despite long absences. Jack frequently helped Winston and their mother, Jennie, out of financial scrapes, and settled all of Jennie's debts after her death (it took 7 years!). At the beginning of their careers, Winston and Jack's families often lived together to save money. When Jack was serving in WWI, it necessitated his wife and family to rent their family home to stay afloat. Both she and Clementine lived at Blenheim for a spell. Jack was frequently an uncredited researcher and fact checker for Winston's writing. Jack lost his wife to aggressive lung cancer, and for a time, he moved into Downing Street with the Churchills, and he later died of pulmonary issues. Winston was with him at the last and felt his death acutely. Jack was 7 years younger, and Winston outlived him by 18 years.

The authors offer the idea that Randolph (father) did not die of syphilis, but of a brain tumor. It fits the bill--Randolph kept his mind to the very end, but struggled with communication (speaking primarily). And they attempt to clear up any question of Jack being a Churchill, the timelines etc...There were rumors his real father is John Strange, where he gets his name from, but he looks a lot like Randolph etc..

Happy this book exists to learn more about Jack, who is a remarkable person, who is overshadowed by a family full of remarkable people.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography of Winston Churchill and his immediate family. (First, it is interesting that Celia Lee is listed as the first author on the book but Goodreads has John as primary author.) This volume is full of well researched and thoughtful Churchill history. The writing is rather didactic and very linear which actually makes it quite readable - just the facts and fast.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot have too many views of the Churchills

From the introduction-
Our story focuses on four members of the immediate family:
Lord Randolph, his American wife Jennie, and their sons Winston and John (Jack).

There is a family tree chart in the front, 22 short chapters, and a hand full of black and white photos. The notes are at the back of the book instead of on the same page.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history on the immediate family and all the comings and going ons around Winston Churchill.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always felt Churchill was a fascinating individual but I really didn't know anything about his family other than his mother was an American. This was a very readable history of the family, rather than the events of the time, concentrating primarily on Winston's parents and his brother, Jack and his family. There was a substanial amount of material from primary sources, such as letters and journal entries. Amazing family living in amzaing times.

[Judith]

It was about his early life. His father, mother and brother. Touched on his later life but not the main topic of the book. I enjoyed it. It touched on his last home, Chartwell. Joe and I went there on our visit to England. It was one of my favorite places that we went to.

[Judith Guyot · Rating 4 out of 5]

very detailed and a look inside the family. Lots of new information for me.

[Judy]

A revisionist history of the Churchill family, largely based on Winston's nephew, Peregrine's, stash of family papers, including a diary of Jennie's. Straightforward and readable.

[Jonelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I knew of Winston Churchill, it was a treat to get an insight into what made him the great leader that he became.

[Kris]

amazing story of a family

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative about the lives of aristocrats!! Also, interesting about Churchill's brother and rest of family.