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The Churchill Sisters: The Extraordinary Lives of Winston and Clementine's Daughters
As complex in their own way as their Mitford cousins, Winston and Clementine Churchill’s daughters each had a unique relationship with their famous father. Rachel Trethewey's biography, The Churchill Sisters, tells their story.Bright, attractive and well-connected, in any other family the Churchill girls – Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary – would have shone. But they were not in another family, they were Churchills, and neither they nor anyone else could ever forget it. From their father – ‘the greatest Englishman’ – to their brother, golden boy Randolph, to their eccentric and exciting cousins, the Mitford Girls, they were surrounded by a clan of larger-than-life characters which often saw them overlooked. While Marigold died too young to achieve her potential, the other daughters lived lives full of passion, drama and tragedy.Diana, intense and diffident; Sarah, glamorous and stubborn; Mary, dependable yet determined – each so different but each imbued with a sense of responsibility toward each other and their country. Far from being cosseted debutantes, these women were eyewitnesses at some of the most important events in world history, at Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam. Yet this is not a story set on the battlefields or in Parliament; it is an intimate saga that sheds light on the complex dynamics of family set against the backdrop of a tumultuous century.Drawing on previously unpublished family letters from the Churchill archives, The Churchill Sisters brings Winston’s daughters out of the shadows and tells their remarkable stories for the first time.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
December 20, 2021
As much as I have read about Winston Churchill I had no idea how little I knew about his children, especially the girls.
There is much to be learned in this book if one is interested.
It’s a close intimate look at the relationship of the three girls and their parents.
As different as Diana, Sarah and Mary were in personality they were forever as close as sisters could be, always being there for the other when the going got tough. I didn’t know that there was a fourth daughter, Marigold, who died in infancy.
I had no idea how close Winston was to his daughters.
I had no idea how devoted he was to them (who would have thought he had the time?)
I had no idea how devoted they were to him.
I had no idea how he came to depend on them at times when Clementine was not by his side (which occurred more often that I knew).
I had no idea that each of them took on serious war work during WWII. They certainly did their part.
This was definitely not your average family.
Their lauded position in the hierarchy of British families did not prevent trials and tribulations in their lives. And there were many of those which included depression, drinking and mental health issues.
While they each had their foibles and none could claim to be perfect one could not say they were a disappointment to their parents or during WWII a disappointment to their country.
Like them or not this was a remarkable family who did the best they could with what they had.
I was leaning towards 3-1/2* but decided to round up to 4*
There is much to be learned in this book if one is interested.
It’s a close intimate look at the relationship of the three girls and their parents.
As different as Diana, Sarah and Mary were in personality they were forever as close as sisters could be, always being there for the other when the going got tough. I didn’t know that there was a fourth daughter, Marigold, who died in infancy.
I had no idea how close Winston was to his daughters.
I had no idea how devoted he was to them (who would have thought he had the time?)
I had no idea how devoted they were to him.
I had no idea how he came to depend on them at times when Clementine was not by his side (which occurred more often that I knew).
I had no idea that each of them took on serious war work during WWII. They certainly did their part.
This was definitely not your average family.
Their lauded position in the hierarchy of British families did not prevent trials and tribulations in their lives. And there were many of those which included depression, drinking and mental health issues.
While they each had their foibles and none could claim to be perfect one could not say they were a disappointment to their parents or during WWII a disappointment to their country.
Like them or not this was a remarkable family who did the best they could with what they had.
I was leaning towards 3-1/2* but decided to round up to 4*
December 3, 2021
This is a thoroughly researched and well written book detailing the lives of the daughters of Winston and Clementine Churchill. I didn't realize how little I knew about the family until I started reading this. Somehow I had a mental picture of Clementine as a strong and caring woman who was the driving force behind Winston Churchill but by the time I was part-way through the book I was very disappointed in her and her lack of involvement in her children's lives when they were young. Reference is often made to how supportive she was of Winston but she must've supported him through correspondence because it sounded like they were hardly ever in the same location. But I digress, this is a book about the sisters.
I was a little taken aback by the copious endnotes. I think I've only ever seen that many in a textbook previously. I suppose they're necessary but I really only read the ones that had a bit of narrative attached to them. The book is broken down into three different sections: The Early Years, The War Years and The Post-War Years. There's no doubt Dr. Rachel Trethewey did her research and I can only imagine how time-consuming it was putting it all together. I'd definitely recommend this book if you're at all interested in the Churchills, or even if you're not because the daughters led very interesting, sometimes tragic, lives. Reading this book has motivated me to look into some books on the Mitford sisters, cousins of Clementine's I believe. In fact, there's a book on the Mitfords written by one of the Churchill sisters.
I'm not sure if there are pictures in the final version of this book but I kept wishing for some! If it does and the library gets copies I'm going to check it out just so I can look at the pictures.
I won an ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway so many thanks to them and to St.Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are my own.
Expected Publication Date: December 7, 2021
I was a little taken aback by the copious endnotes. I think I've only ever seen that many in a textbook previously. I suppose they're necessary but I really only read the ones that had a bit of narrative attached to them. The book is broken down into three different sections: The Early Years, The War Years and The Post-War Years. There's no doubt Dr. Rachel Trethewey did her research and I can only imagine how time-consuming it was putting it all together. I'd definitely recommend this book if you're at all interested in the Churchills, or even if you're not because the daughters led very interesting, sometimes tragic, lives. Reading this book has motivated me to look into some books on the Mitford sisters, cousins of Clementine's I believe. In fact, there's a book on the Mitfords written by one of the Churchill sisters.
I'm not sure if there are pictures in the final version of this book but I kept wishing for some! If it does and the library gets copies I'm going to check it out just so I can look at the pictures.
I won an ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway so many thanks to them and to St.Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are my own.
Expected Publication Date: December 7, 2021
November 21, 2021
I knew a little bit about Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prior to reading the book, but I was delighted to learn so much about his extraordinary daughters!!
The Churchill sisters, Diana, Sarah, and Mary Churchill each very different in personalities but all devoted to their father. Mrs. Churchill, Clemintine, often took vacations away from the family in the early years due to the overwhelming stress of life in the public’s eye. Therefore, Winston was the constant in his daughter’s lives. It was fascinating to learn about each daughter individually; their achievements and also their trials and tribulations. I was captivated by the stories of the daughter’s active role in Winston’s life, even traveling with him during the war era. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the stories shared about their travels together. The book really allowed me to get to know the daughters of Winston Churchill, but also made Churchill more personable for me rather than only a historical figure.
I highly recommend this book if you like well-researched biography-type books and/or if you are a history buff. Dr. Rachel Trethewey kept me engaged all the way to the end with her engrossing narrative about the unknown lives of the Churchill sisters and their father, Winston Churchill.
The Churchill sisters, Diana, Sarah, and Mary Churchill each very different in personalities but all devoted to their father. Mrs. Churchill, Clemintine, often took vacations away from the family in the early years due to the overwhelming stress of life in the public’s eye. Therefore, Winston was the constant in his daughter’s lives. It was fascinating to learn about each daughter individually; their achievements and also their trials and tribulations. I was captivated by the stories of the daughter’s active role in Winston’s life, even traveling with him during the war era. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the stories shared about their travels together. The book really allowed me to get to know the daughters of Winston Churchill, but also made Churchill more personable for me rather than only a historical figure.
I highly recommend this book if you like well-researched biography-type books and/or if you are a history buff. Dr. Rachel Trethewey kept me engaged all the way to the end with her engrossing narrative about the unknown lives of the Churchill sisters and their father, Winston Churchill.
December 3, 2021
I looked forward to reading this because I have always admired Winston Churchill but knew little about his family and home life. The title is a little deceptive. It doesn't just focus on the Churchill sisters, but on his whole family. It exposed a side I knew nothing about.
The book was well-researched and went into great detail from birth to death of all five of the Churchill children. It even detailed most of their spouses and, of course, Winston and his wife, Clementine. If you are interested at all in British history, I highly recommend this biography.
The book was well-researched and went into great detail from birth to death of all five of the Churchill children. It even detailed most of their spouses and, of course, Winston and his wife, Clementine. If you are interested at all in British history, I highly recommend this biography.
March 21, 2023
“Mary could have been a politician in her own right. Of the three Churchill girls, she was the most suited to following in her father’s footsteps. Diana was the most passionate about politics, and Sarah was the most charismatic.”
Biography of Winston and Clementine’s three daughters, Diana, Sarah, and Mary, with material drawn from family letters and archives. The author highlights the triumphs and tragedies in their lives. Their brother, Randolph, makes an appearance as well as another sibling, Marigold, who died young, and their cousins, the Mitford sisters. Due to their father’s role, they had the opportunity to become involved in political and historic events. This book focuses on their relationships with their parents, marriages, divorces, roles during the war years, a few mental health issues, and family dynamics. They developed a strong sense of responsibility and actively supported their father in his public career. Churchill appears to have been an involved father. Sarah’s foray into acting is particularly interesting. I had previously read quite a bit about Winston Churchill and a little about his family, but this is a much more in-depth look at the personalities, accomplishments, and characteristics of his daughters. I found it well-researched, informative, and engaging.
Biography of Winston and Clementine’s three daughters, Diana, Sarah, and Mary, with material drawn from family letters and archives. The author highlights the triumphs and tragedies in their lives. Their brother, Randolph, makes an appearance as well as another sibling, Marigold, who died young, and their cousins, the Mitford sisters. Due to their father’s role, they had the opportunity to become involved in political and historic events. This book focuses on their relationships with their parents, marriages, divorces, roles during the war years, a few mental health issues, and family dynamics. They developed a strong sense of responsibility and actively supported their father in his public career. Churchill appears to have been an involved father. Sarah’s foray into acting is particularly interesting. I had previously read quite a bit about Winston Churchill and a little about his family, but this is a much more in-depth look at the personalities, accomplishments, and characteristics of his daughters. I found it well-researched, informative, and engaging.
December 8, 2021
I loved THE CHURCHILL SISTERS. This luminous and meticulously researched biography reveals — through the life of the daughters — a greater understanding of the family as a whole.
🇬🇧 I’ve read much about their iconic father, Winston, and mother, Clementine, but this is the first bio that, for me, fleshes out each daughter: Diana, the unsure oldest; Sarah, beautiful and dramatic; sweet Marigold, who died of throat sepsis at age two; and finally Mary, the youngest and soundest. We learn too about the close relationship each had with Winnie — a much better parent, it seems, than their emotionally distant mother.
🇬🇧 Unfortunately, tragedy continued to dog the family. Diana committed suicide at 54. Both Sarah and brother Randolph drank heavily and died comparatively young. Only Mary, who called her childhood “idyllic,” lived a long happy life.
🇬🇧 The Churchill Sisters is a spectacular read for Churchillians, of course, and for anyone who loves biographies and women’s histories. Out today.
Thanks to author Dr. Rachel Trethewey, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
🇬🇧 I’ve read much about their iconic father, Winston, and mother, Clementine, but this is the first bio that, for me, fleshes out each daughter: Diana, the unsure oldest; Sarah, beautiful and dramatic; sweet Marigold, who died of throat sepsis at age two; and finally Mary, the youngest and soundest. We learn too about the close relationship each had with Winnie — a much better parent, it seems, than their emotionally distant mother.
🇬🇧 Unfortunately, tragedy continued to dog the family. Diana committed suicide at 54. Both Sarah and brother Randolph drank heavily and died comparatively young. Only Mary, who called her childhood “idyllic,” lived a long happy life.
🇬🇧 The Churchill Sisters is a spectacular read for Churchillians, of course, and for anyone who loves biographies and women’s histories. Out today.
Thanks to author Dr. Rachel Trethewey, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
December 6, 2021
I've always admired Winston Churchill, so I found it intriguing to learn more about his family. Winston was a loving and involved father with all his children.
I always thought Clementine, Winston's wife, was the backbone of the family, but this book shed light that Clementime was not. While her children were young and growing up, Clementine was not as involved. After all these years, I found Clementine to be a fisappointing figure.
I loved the story of each daughter and it's sad to know they were critiqued on everything they did, because of who their father was.
If you enjoy British history, I recommend this book!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I always thought Clementine, Winston's wife, was the backbone of the family, but this book shed light that Clementime was not. While her children were young and growing up, Clementine was not as involved. After all these years, I found Clementine to be a fisappointing figure.
I loved the story of each daughter and it's sad to know they were critiqued on everything they did, because of who their father was.
If you enjoy British history, I recommend this book!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 13, 2021
Three beautiful, talented sisters from an illustrious family, The Churchill Sisters Diana, Sarah, and Mary Churchill each had different personalities but shared in common their idolization of their father, Winston.
Winston was a loving and involved father, while Clementine needed distance and often escaped the demands of her life by taking vacations apart from the family. Later in life, she developed better rapport with her girls, but it was Winston who was always the center of the home.
I loved learning about these woman, especially their service during the war and their role supporting their father politically. But I was saddened to know that, like their brother Randolph, who is believed to have suffered from bipolar disease, they did not have happy ever after lives.
Sarah served in photo reconnaissance during WWII. After the war, she resumed her life as an actress. Her commitment to her career resulted in several failed marriages. Then, she suffered the loss of her beloved soul-mate. She struggled with self-esteem issues and alcoholism.
Diana had a career in the Royal Navy Services during the war, but later had two failed marriages and contended with mental health issues.
Mary served during the war in anti-aircraft batteries and accompanied her father on important political missions. She had a successful marriage and children and wrote her parent’s biographies.
This accessible, concise, and moving group biography will appeal to many kinds of readers.
I was given a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
Winston was a loving and involved father, while Clementine needed distance and often escaped the demands of her life by taking vacations apart from the family. Later in life, she developed better rapport with her girls, but it was Winston who was always the center of the home.
I loved learning about these woman, especially their service during the war and their role supporting their father politically. But I was saddened to know that, like their brother Randolph, who is believed to have suffered from bipolar disease, they did not have happy ever after lives.
Sarah served in photo reconnaissance during WWII. After the war, she resumed her life as an actress. Her commitment to her career resulted in several failed marriages. Then, she suffered the loss of her beloved soul-mate. She struggled with self-esteem issues and alcoholism.
Diana had a career in the Royal Navy Services during the war, but later had two failed marriages and contended with mental health issues.
Mary served during the war in anti-aircraft batteries and accompanied her father on important political missions. She had a successful marriage and children and wrote her parent’s biographies.
This accessible, concise, and moving group biography will appeal to many kinds of readers.
I was given a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
July 23, 2021
Winston and Clementine Churchill had four daughters. While one died in childhood, the rest went on to lead colorful lives and play important parts in their father's.
This is an interesting joint biography of Winston Churchill's daughters. While I had never paid much attention to them before, I learned they led quite fascinating lives, doing things such as playing important parts in the war effort. I liked that the author balanced the sisters' personal lives with placing them in the larger context of time as women in the public sphere. The author's writing style reminded me of listening to a clear and engaging history lecture.
However, I did wish that the book went more in-depth - the short length meant that many important parts of the sisters' lives were skimmed over or underdeveloped. This book felt more like a good launch-point to start learning about the Churchill sisters than anything very comprehensive.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is an interesting joint biography of Winston Churchill's daughters. While I had never paid much attention to them before, I learned they led quite fascinating lives, doing things such as playing important parts in the war effort. I liked that the author balanced the sisters' personal lives with placing them in the larger context of time as women in the public sphere. The author's writing style reminded me of listening to a clear and engaging history lecture.
However, I did wish that the book went more in-depth - the short length meant that many important parts of the sisters' lives were skimmed over or underdeveloped. This book felt more like a good launch-point to start learning about the Churchill sisters than anything very comprehensive.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 7, 2023
This is the second of three books I'm reading about British women during WWII. In the first, The Mitford Affair, those sisters were cousins to the Churchill children. It sounds like Diana, Sarah and Mary were never as snarky as the Mitford girls, but still had their share of secret elopements and failed marriages. I've read Lady Clementine which was written by Marie Benedict so I had some idea of the children, especially Marigold.
Well, what if you were Churchill's baby? And female at that?
Well, you'd learn how to build bricks, even if they hurt your toes when you dropped them.
Animals on the table at Chartwell! Tango the cat is on the table and there's a chicken in the room. Mary was responsible for them. This was painted for the Churchills' silver anniversary.
Sarah was an actress and had a part in Royal Wedding with Fred Astaire.
It seemed the girls did great during wartime because they were busy, but fell apart when there was no urgency to their lives. There's a ton of footnotes and some photos at the back. The real part of the book is only about 260 pages.
Well, what if you were Churchill's baby? And female at that?
Well, you'd learn how to build bricks, even if they hurt your toes when you dropped them.
Animals on the table at Chartwell! Tango the cat is on the table and there's a chicken in the room. Mary was responsible for them. This was painted for the Churchills' silver anniversary.
Sarah was an actress and had a part in Royal Wedding with Fred Astaire.
It seemed the girls did great during wartime because they were busy, but fell apart when there was no urgency to their lives. There's a ton of footnotes and some photos at the back. The real part of the book is only about 260 pages.
March 5, 2022
-Disclaimer: I won this book for free through Goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.-
DNF'd at 13%
An extremely thorough book!
This used very technical wording with tons of fillers. I found myself avoiding this book because of how tired it made me. If this was a project to read this, I would take the F. I felt like I was reading essay after essay. And some of it was kind of confusing.
I can say, they did research. However, unless you are a Churchill fanatic, I can't see someone being interested in this one for long. I listened to some of the audiobook but could not get far into it because of the tone being very dull.
DNF'd at 13%
An extremely thorough book!
This used very technical wording with tons of fillers. I found myself avoiding this book because of how tired it made me. If this was a project to read this, I would take the F. I felt like I was reading essay after essay. And some of it was kind of confusing.
I can say, they did research. However, unless you are a Churchill fanatic, I can't see someone being interested in this one for long. I listened to some of the audiobook but could not get far into it because of the tone being very dull.
March 30, 2021
This is so well done — I’m a sucker for epic biographies, and especially about WWII era figures. What I love, firstly, about this book specifically is that it focuses on the three Churchill daughters, Diana, Sarah, and Mary. There are numerous books about Winston Churchill, and Clementine, but I found this book to be more interesting (to me) than any previous books I’ve read.
Obviously this book covers a lot of ground, from the birth of Diana in 1909 to the death of Mary in 2014. But I never felt overwhelmed with information or confused about the timeline. I think this book was structured very well, and I liked seeing all of the through lines woven in throughout the book. And of course, I am a giant nerd and very much appreciate the extensive bibliography and notes section :)
This book places the Churchill sisters in context, socially, historically, etc. It was so interesting to me how different, yet similar each of the sisters were. Particularly at the end, when the author made the point of saying that Diana and Sarah went in completely opposite life directions while Mary kind of had the best of both worlds, and was the happiest sister. No doubt stemming from her childhood and security with Moppet vs. Diana and Sarah dealing with Edwardian Clementine who didn’t really know how to effectively parent. This book makes me want to go seek out additional information, and particularly I want to read both Sarah and Mary’s memoirs!!
Obviously this book covers a lot of ground, from the birth of Diana in 1909 to the death of Mary in 2014. But I never felt overwhelmed with information or confused about the timeline. I think this book was structured very well, and I liked seeing all of the through lines woven in throughout the book. And of course, I am a giant nerd and very much appreciate the extensive bibliography and notes section :)
This book places the Churchill sisters in context, socially, historically, etc. It was so interesting to me how different, yet similar each of the sisters were. Particularly at the end, when the author made the point of saying that Diana and Sarah went in completely opposite life directions while Mary kind of had the best of both worlds, and was the happiest sister. No doubt stemming from her childhood and security with Moppet vs. Diana and Sarah dealing with Edwardian Clementine who didn’t really know how to effectively parent. This book makes me want to go seek out additional information, and particularly I want to read both Sarah and Mary’s memoirs!!
December 10, 2021
The Extraordinary Lives of Winston and Clementine’s Daughters
Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary could never forget they were Churchills. They were surrounded by a clan of larger than life characters: their father Winston “the greatest Englishman”, their mother Clementine,” the socialite, their brother Randolph “, the Golden Boy and their eccentric cousins, the Mitford Girls where ever present one way or the other in their lives. This is their story from the time they were born till the day the lights went out.
Drawing on family letters and the copious archived deposits in the Churchill Archives Centre, the author brings to live the remarkable although tragic story of three women: Diana, Sarah and Mary (Marigold died at age 2) each had different characters but all three were imbued with a sense of responsibility toward their father, each other and their country. In alternate chapters we breeze through their intimate saga and their complex family dynamics. It is inevitable that facets of Churchill’s achievements are explored along with his devotion to his daughters and theirs toward him.
Although thousands of books have been written about Winston Churchill but this is the first account focussing on his daughters. The book brings colour into the Churchill saga and gives cinematic glimpses into the privileged. It is well-said, well-researched and interesting.
A lot is said in this book I could go on and on but I will stop here not wanting to remove the enjoyment by giving too much.
I received an advance copy of this book from St-Martin Press and Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: this is the way I see it.
Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary could never forget they were Churchills. They were surrounded by a clan of larger than life characters: their father Winston “the greatest Englishman”, their mother Clementine,” the socialite, their brother Randolph “, the Golden Boy and their eccentric cousins, the Mitford Girls where ever present one way or the other in their lives. This is their story from the time they were born till the day the lights went out.
Drawing on family letters and the copious archived deposits in the Churchill Archives Centre, the author brings to live the remarkable although tragic story of three women: Diana, Sarah and Mary (Marigold died at age 2) each had different characters but all three were imbued with a sense of responsibility toward their father, each other and their country. In alternate chapters we breeze through their intimate saga and their complex family dynamics. It is inevitable that facets of Churchill’s achievements are explored along with his devotion to his daughters and theirs toward him.
Although thousands of books have been written about Winston Churchill but this is the first account focussing on his daughters. The book brings colour into the Churchill saga and gives cinematic glimpses into the privileged. It is well-said, well-researched and interesting.
A lot is said in this book I could go on and on but I will stop here not wanting to remove the enjoyment by giving too much.
I received an advance copy of this book from St-Martin Press and Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: this is the way I see it.
March 19, 2022
This is Nonfiction/Biography. I didn't love this one. I also didn't hate it. It was just okay. The three surviving daughters of Winston Churchill were complex in all aspects. They each had very different lives as they navigated life with a dedicated and famous father and a distant mother. They seemed to struggle in life when it came to finding their way.
This wasn't a struggle to get through. I just didn't find this as interesting as I had hoped. So 2 stars.
This wasn't a struggle to get through. I just didn't find this as interesting as I had hoped. So 2 stars.
November 27, 2021
I love history and thought this might be an interesting book to read. Unfortunately (at least for me), this particular story did not fit with what I normally enjoy.
Author Rachel Trethewey achieved what a good historian should do, crafting her story with a huge amount of facts to back up her book. Those who desire to read more can find a large bibliography, and each chapter has many instances in the Notes section to support each revelation. On the other hand, there are countless notations of tiny habits and idiosyncrasies supported by a single footnote that one is sometimes left to question if these were isolated incidents rather than character flaws. In the entire scheme of things, at times they seem trivial without a future incident tied to them.
For those who are looking for more of a tell-all type feel to their reading, this is the perfect book for you. Ms. Trethewey’s work at diving deep into the tragedies and scandals of the three sisters earns the book a five-star rating. Readers who yearn for more historical events tied directly to their individual actions might only offer three-and-a-half. Taking the book as a whole and attempting to stand in both corners, I can recommend four stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance electronic copy of this book.
Author Rachel Trethewey achieved what a good historian should do, crafting her story with a huge amount of facts to back up her book. Those who desire to read more can find a large bibliography, and each chapter has many instances in the Notes section to support each revelation. On the other hand, there are countless notations of tiny habits and idiosyncrasies supported by a single footnote that one is sometimes left to question if these were isolated incidents rather than character flaws. In the entire scheme of things, at times they seem trivial without a future incident tied to them.
For those who are looking for more of a tell-all type feel to their reading, this is the perfect book for you. Ms. Trethewey’s work at diving deep into the tragedies and scandals of the three sisters earns the book a five-star rating. Readers who yearn for more historical events tied directly to their individual actions might only offer three-and-a-half. Taking the book as a whole and attempting to stand in both corners, I can recommend four stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance electronic copy of this book.
July 1, 2023
What an interesting book for anyone who doesn't know much about Winston Churchill's daughters. It's a fascinating family, and this book is specifically about the 3 sisters and their lives and their close relationships with each other and their parents. They had a brother, too, but the book isn't about him so he's there but on the periphery. Well researched and well written. Although many books have been written about this family and about Churchill, there is apparently new information here.
It's a different time from today when these siblings grew up and norms for wealthier parents were different in that time. The family was well traveled and they knew many other people of note of that time period. So it is endearing that each of the sisters wanted to just be a normal person in her work and relationships. It's hard to lead an ordinary life when your father is Winston Churchill.
The perspective of this story is likely different from most about this family. Each daughter went her own way and jumped into life in her own way. While they remained close and loving, they were also tolerant of each other and of others who lived life differently. They apparently wrote beautifully and were involved in politics.
The book might make a great movie, although movies have trouble conveying all the nuances of a story such as this one, especially when it is historical. Still, people often learn more from historical movies than they do from dry school history books.
Britain is a country with such a long history, and most of it is interesting and more intertwined than might be imagined.
I received this book from Goodreads Giveaways.
It's a different time from today when these siblings grew up and norms for wealthier parents were different in that time. The family was well traveled and they knew many other people of note of that time period. So it is endearing that each of the sisters wanted to just be a normal person in her work and relationships. It's hard to lead an ordinary life when your father is Winston Churchill.
The perspective of this story is likely different from most about this family. Each daughter went her own way and jumped into life in her own way. While they remained close and loving, they were also tolerant of each other and of others who lived life differently. They apparently wrote beautifully and were involved in politics.
The book might make a great movie, although movies have trouble conveying all the nuances of a story such as this one, especially when it is historical. Still, people often learn more from historical movies than they do from dry school history books.
Britain is a country with such a long history, and most of it is interesting and more intertwined than might be imagined.
I received this book from Goodreads Giveaways.
February 14, 2022
While I really enjoyed this, I think it suffered from being read simultaneously with Candice Millard’s book on Churchill. (Sometimes my multiple book at a time reading habit really is a curse) This came off more as a very well researched celebrity news article than a historical book. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it quite a bit, but it just seemed lacking in comparison to some of the other (admittedly heavy) books I’ve read on the family.
August 12, 2022
This could more appropriately be subtitled, Public Figures Are Really Not That Interesting.
December 9, 2021
THE CHURCHILL SISTERS: THE EXTRAORDINARY LIVES OF WINSTON AND CLEMENTINES DAUGHTERS.
BY: RACHEL TRETHEWEY
This was a fascinating and meticulously researched biography of the Churchill family that went in to detail the chronology of each of the Churchill family members including extended family and spouses. I say this because it begins with both of Winston and Clementine's mother's and father's. I am amazed with how much fine detail and the organizational skills Author, Rachael Trethewey, must have painstakingly took at amassing such a comprehensive accomplishment of compiling so many facts in this tomb. It gives the births of the five children and manages to move forward in a linear fashion that includes their upbringing through their adult years. This encompasses the political years of Winston and the many different estates they moved from during his rise to be Prime Minister. It begins with a brief description of Winston's and Clementine's unhappy childhoods. It is divided into three parts; Part One is "The Early Years", Part Two is: "The War Years" and Part three is "The Post-War Years." This book claims to be the first book written about his four daughter's: Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary focusing on Winston as not just a great war hero but who he was as a father. Much has been written how integral a part Clementine's role in helping Winston becoming the great man he was. The argument being that Churchill could not have achieved all that he did without Clementine by his side. This biography illuminates that he also depended on his three daughters having one by his side when Clementine was off on one of her vacations or holidays. His three daughters were raised with an intense amount of duty from their earliest ages. This book has gathered information from hundreds of previous unpublished family letters that show how he was always a loving father whom his relationships with his daughters was intimate and informal. Whenever one of his daughter's faced a turbulent time they could always count on him for advice and he would make them feel better. I was surprised at how much time Clementine spent away from her daughters during their early formative years. It wasn't uncommon during the era for mother's to leave a lot of the childcare up to nannies, but clearly Winston was the more affectionate parent early on. It is thought that Clementine suffered from watching her closest family member--her sister Kitty die and perhaps that explains her needing to constantly need to go off on trips for as much as she did while they were young. When Clementine was older and her daughters grown women, she wished that she had not spent as much time away during her children's early years. She then said she was very much a woman of the Edwardian era. Winston and Clementine had one son who was born after Diana and who Winston had political aspirations for. His name was Randolph and early on he was the golden child due to his gender being a male. His erratic behavior undermined family peace and Winston and Clementine's daughters were limited by their gender like so many women who lived during their generation. It wasn't until Diana, Sarah and Mary proved themselves with their dedication during World War II did Winston change his viewpoint that his daughters should aspire to get married and have children. This book covers a multifaceted aspect of too many details to cover in a review. There is a vast amount of details that this Author covers and I highly recommend it to all lovers of history and I can guarantee you will be inspired by the lives of Diana, Sarah and Mary. They led interesting lives and had a deep and profound love of each other and their family. There is much inspiration to be gained and I learned so much. I am grateful to have read it and the trials and tribulations that this family endured throughout I am left with the knowledge that the Churchill sister's had a deep and abiding love and the bond of sisterhood that carried them throughout it all. I loved it! There were divorces, mental illness, which I never knew existed and made for a rather sad read. But ultimately their was a great and enduring love of family. This is a very riveting read and this Author has done a terrific job of staying true to the facts as much is footnoted.
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley, Dr. Rachael Trethewey and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#TheChurchillSisters #DrRachaelTrethewey #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley
BY: RACHEL TRETHEWEY
This was a fascinating and meticulously researched biography of the Churchill family that went in to detail the chronology of each of the Churchill family members including extended family and spouses. I say this because it begins with both of Winston and Clementine's mother's and father's. I am amazed with how much fine detail and the organizational skills Author, Rachael Trethewey, must have painstakingly took at amassing such a comprehensive accomplishment of compiling so many facts in this tomb. It gives the births of the five children and manages to move forward in a linear fashion that includes their upbringing through their adult years. This encompasses the political years of Winston and the many different estates they moved from during his rise to be Prime Minister. It begins with a brief description of Winston's and Clementine's unhappy childhoods. It is divided into three parts; Part One is "The Early Years", Part Two is: "The War Years" and Part three is "The Post-War Years." This book claims to be the first book written about his four daughter's: Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary focusing on Winston as not just a great war hero but who he was as a father. Much has been written how integral a part Clementine's role in helping Winston becoming the great man he was. The argument being that Churchill could not have achieved all that he did without Clementine by his side. This biography illuminates that he also depended on his three daughters having one by his side when Clementine was off on one of her vacations or holidays. His three daughters were raised with an intense amount of duty from their earliest ages. This book has gathered information from hundreds of previous unpublished family letters that show how he was always a loving father whom his relationships with his daughters was intimate and informal. Whenever one of his daughter's faced a turbulent time they could always count on him for advice and he would make them feel better. I was surprised at how much time Clementine spent away from her daughters during their early formative years. It wasn't uncommon during the era for mother's to leave a lot of the childcare up to nannies, but clearly Winston was the more affectionate parent early on. It is thought that Clementine suffered from watching her closest family member--her sister Kitty die and perhaps that explains her needing to constantly need to go off on trips for as much as she did while they were young. When Clementine was older and her daughters grown women, she wished that she had not spent as much time away during her children's early years. She then said she was very much a woman of the Edwardian era. Winston and Clementine had one son who was born after Diana and who Winston had political aspirations for. His name was Randolph and early on he was the golden child due to his gender being a male. His erratic behavior undermined family peace and Winston and Clementine's daughters were limited by their gender like so many women who lived during their generation. It wasn't until Diana, Sarah and Mary proved themselves with their dedication during World War II did Winston change his viewpoint that his daughters should aspire to get married and have children. This book covers a multifaceted aspect of too many details to cover in a review. There is a vast amount of details that this Author covers and I highly recommend it to all lovers of history and I can guarantee you will be inspired by the lives of Diana, Sarah and Mary. They led interesting lives and had a deep and profound love of each other and their family. There is much inspiration to be gained and I learned so much. I am grateful to have read it and the trials and tribulations that this family endured throughout I am left with the knowledge that the Churchill sister's had a deep and abiding love and the bond of sisterhood that carried them throughout it all. I loved it! There were divorces, mental illness, which I never knew existed and made for a rather sad read. But ultimately their was a great and enduring love of family. This is a very riveting read and this Author has done a terrific job of staying true to the facts as much is footnoted.
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley, Dr. Rachael Trethewey and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#TheChurchillSisters #DrRachaelTrethewey #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley
September 19, 2021
This book was such a pleasure to read.
I hadn't given much thought to Winston Churchill's daughters before being invited to review this title, but isn't that usually the case? Outside of the five doomed wives (and let's face it, surviving number six probably had no easy task on her hands) of King Henry VIII, not much interest is given to the people surrounding well known historical figures (usually men).
And of course, any one who has done serious historical studies (I'm not expert level, but with degrees in it and having taught the subject, I like to think I have some in depth knowledge), knows the stature and presence of Winston Churchill, one of history's most influential statesmen. But to be honest, I couldn't tell you much about his children.
Dr. Trethewey's wonderfully readable book presents these women in detail and gave so much more insight to not only their lives, but that of Churchill the husband and father and the context of the Edwardian era as well. I would not hesitate to recommend this to any student and lover of history.
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for a review through NetGalley.
I hadn't given much thought to Winston Churchill's daughters before being invited to review this title, but isn't that usually the case? Outside of the five doomed wives (and let's face it, surviving number six probably had no easy task on her hands) of King Henry VIII, not much interest is given to the people surrounding well known historical figures (usually men).
And of course, any one who has done serious historical studies (I'm not expert level, but with degrees in it and having taught the subject, I like to think I have some in depth knowledge), knows the stature and presence of Winston Churchill, one of history's most influential statesmen. But to be honest, I couldn't tell you much about his children.
Dr. Trethewey's wonderfully readable book presents these women in detail and gave so much more insight to not only their lives, but that of Churchill the husband and father and the context of the Edwardian era as well. I would not hesitate to recommend this to any student and lover of history.
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for a review through NetGalley.
September 30, 2021
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free book.
I don't read many biographies because they don't usually work for me, but that was not the case with this one. I could not stop reading once I started. Trethewey beautifully tells the story of the Churchill sisters' lives in the book. Each one led a different and fascinating life. She explored their childhood and how it affected the sisters as adults. Each problem one of the women faced was described with detail, yet grace. I learned so much, and I liked the glimpse inside the more personal side of Winston Churchill's life. The family, while it had its flaws, really came alive in this book, and I could feel the familial bond between the family members. I also liked how Mary, Diana, and Sarah were able to have their sisterhood shown and documented all in one place. Their connections were admirable to read about.
I don't read many biographies because they don't usually work for me, but that was not the case with this one. I could not stop reading once I started. Trethewey beautifully tells the story of the Churchill sisters' lives in the book. Each one led a different and fascinating life. She explored their childhood and how it affected the sisters as adults. Each problem one of the women faced was described with detail, yet grace. I learned so much, and I liked the glimpse inside the more personal side of Winston Churchill's life. The family, while it had its flaws, really came alive in this book, and I could feel the familial bond between the family members. I also liked how Mary, Diana, and Sarah were able to have their sisterhood shown and documented all in one place. Their connections were admirable to read about.
December 5, 2021
A well-written and thoroughly account of Churchill's life and how it relates to his daughters. The title makes it seems like it just focuses on the daughters, but it is more on the home-unit and, for that, the book is actually better.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own
September 28, 2024
I said immediately after finishing The Six last summer that I wanted to read about the Churchill sisters so when I saw this on sale awhile ago, I grabbed it and it was what I hoped for! Such interesting (and equally tragic in many ways) lives.
April 16, 2025
Fascinating and exhausting.
April 21, 2024
3.5 An intriguing read about the Churchill daughters, sharing the challenges, adventures, privileges of growing up in the Churchill clan. I especially admired the work each of them invested in during WWII, independently serving with perseverance, deeply devoted as their father was.
December 2, 2021
A fascinating account of Winston and Clementine Churchill’s remarkable daughters. With information gleaned from hundreds of previously unpublished family letters, the author shares intimate details about these passionate four sisters and their unbreakable bond who would go on to support their parents through Winston’s final years as prime minister.
Clementine always put her husband’s and her own needs above her children and would travel often to escape the demands of her daughters, leaving them with a variety of nannies. It surprised me that the sisters did not become detached from their parents. Quite the opposite is true. They remained caring, responsible and dependable during the growing tumultuous times. I fell in love with these extraordinary and inspiring women and enjoyed learning the softer side of Winston Churchill.
Daughter Sara is quoted as saying that Winston ‘created in his children the same emotions he inspired in people during the war.’ I believe he indeed excelled at this.
Clementine always put her husband’s and her own needs above her children and would travel often to escape the demands of her daughters, leaving them with a variety of nannies. It surprised me that the sisters did not become detached from their parents. Quite the opposite is true. They remained caring, responsible and dependable during the growing tumultuous times. I fell in love with these extraordinary and inspiring women and enjoyed learning the softer side of Winston Churchill.
Daughter Sara is quoted as saying that Winston ‘created in his children the same emotions he inspired in people during the war.’ I believe he indeed excelled at this.
March 30, 2022
Somewhat interesting, but the writing really wasn't up to par. It read like a good high school term paper, but a term paper nonetheless. Aside from Sarah, whose autobiographies the author heavily referenced, I didn't really get a feel for who the sisters were deep down.
A note about the cover photo. I thought Diana (in the middle) looked strange. I finally figured out why. The same picture is in the photo section of the book, but it's really Clementine in the photo, not Diana. I can't believe there isn't a picture somewhere of the sisters together as adults. If not, what a shame. Diana's outfit looks very incongruous with her sisters on the cover and she also seems a lot younger than she should be in respect to her sisters ages in the photo. Very weird. I think it would have been better to have three separate pictures of the sisters on the cover if one could not be found of all of them together.
A note about the cover photo. I thought Diana (in the middle) looked strange. I finally figured out why. The same picture is in the photo section of the book, but it's really Clementine in the photo, not Diana. I can't believe there isn't a picture somewhere of the sisters together as adults. If not, what a shame. Diana's outfit looks very incongruous with her sisters on the cover and she also seems a lot younger than she should be in respect to her sisters ages in the photo. Very weird. I think it would have been better to have three separate pictures of the sisters on the cover if one could not be found of all of them together.
April 25, 2025
This book was an interesting peek into the lives of the Churchill daughters, but I wanted more about the rest of the family to round out the picture. Winston and Clementine had 5 children, 4 of them girls. Diana was the eldest followed by Sarah, Marigold and Mary. Sadly, Marigold died as a toddler but the book follows her sisters throughout the rest of their lives. Since Diana and Sarah were about a decade older than Mary, they had very different childhoods. The older girls suffered from a mother who was not hands on in their raising since, feeling the pressure of being a mother and the wife of as politician, Clementine spent significant time away from home for her nerves. The children had a revolving door of nannies and governesses, most of whom could not tolerate Randolph, the only Churchill boy. He and Diana were the closest in age and thick as thieves, taking great pleasure in driving the staff away. Mary, on the other hand, was mostly raised by Moppet, a cousin of Clementine, who basically became a surrogate mother to Mary. But all of the girls were very close to Winston, who was unusually involved for a father of that time, who spent hours building forts with them and otherwise spending time with them, things that Clementine never did. It is not clear exactly how their upbringing impacted their adulthood but the older children had numerous marriages and divorces while Mary, who had a more stable childhood, had a long-lasting, successful marriage. I really wanted more information on Randolph. The book kept making vague references to his negative impact on the family as he got older and into adulthood, acting as if I should know what he was doing that was so terrible. Eventually we get some info that he ran some ill-advised election campaigns that wounded his father politically and that he had a drinking problem, along with marriages and divorces, but there wasn't any great detail about his terrible behavior. I understand that this was a book about the sisters, but in honesty it is as much about Winston and Clementine as it is about the girls so I'm not sure why Randolph was glossed over so much. It would have been helpful in understanding the whole family dynamic. The war years were covered heavily and highlighted the roles that the girls all took, including serving as Wrens, air-raid wardens and ambulance drivers, and they all accompanied Winston on various diplomatic trips during the war years. It was during these years, and the years immediately following the war, that the older girls married and divorced. Poor Sarah had a husband and a lover both commit suicide and a second husband die young from a stroke. Sadly she never had any children. Diana was divorced but remarried an MP and had children. She spent her time raising her children and supporting her husband's political career but after the children were grown, the two drifted apart and got divorced. I was surprised that Diana committed suicide. Both she, Sarah and her mother spent time in mental hospitals over the years. Sarah tried to self-medicate with alcohol, with disastrous consequences. She followed in Randolph's footsteps and died relatively young from alcohol. Mary was the only one who had a long, happy marriage. Her husband was also in politics and he also died relatively young but Mary never remarried. She lived into her nineties, as did her parents, dying only a decade ago. An interesting historical take on the family that left me wanting more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2024
A few years ago I listened to Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz and wanted to know more about the Churchill family, so I chose to listen to Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell. I was interested in more, so I chose The Churchill Sisters.
Winston and Clementine Churchill had four daughters: Diana, born in 1909, Sarah born three years later, then Marigold born in 1918 and finally Mary in 1922. Marigold died of an infection that developed into septicemia when she was two. They had one brother, Randolph who was born between Diana and Sarah. The stresses of being the children of an important politician and prime minister of England affected all of them.
In many ways The Churchill Sisters is mostly a book about the Churchill family as the girl’s relationship with their parents, throughout their lives, was preeminent. Clementine was a somewhat distant parent when the children were young, but was more interested in them when they were older adolescents and adults. Winston tried to spend time with them each day and was the more caring parent. They enjoyed spending time at Chartwell, their family’s country home in Kent. Little mention is made of Randolph in the book.
Diana and Sarah married and divorced several times. Sarah wanted to be a dancer and actress and was mildly successful. As she aged she found many great loves, suffered tragedies, was a successful author and struggled with alcoholism. Diana and Mary spent time with their growing families and supported politically involved husbands. Diana’s life was marked by long periods of depression which ended with suicide. All three women actively supported their country during WWII.
Mary lived the longest. Her husband was a Member of Parliament, and served several government posts. She accompanied him to his ambassadorship in Paris and to Rhodesia where he was a governor. Like Sarah she was a successful author.
Sarah attended the Teheran Conference in 1943 and the Yalta Conference in February 1945 with her father and Mary attended the Potsdam Conference with him in late July 1945.
The Churchill children:
Diana (1909 –1963)
Randolph (1911 –1968)
Sarah (1914 –1982)
Marigold (1918–1921)
Mary (1922–2014)
Rachel Trethewey’s biography of the four sisters appears to be a straight forward account with little evaluation or judgment. But she does consider whether depression and alcoholism, which some of the sisters suffered, came from their parent’s or from previous generations, and decided not.
For more Churchill family history, I intend to read The Daughters Of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War next. The Mitford family and their daughters were mentioned several times. I might look for a book about them.
I listened to The Churchill Sisters which was pleasantly narrated by Juliet Stevenson.
Rating: 3+
Winston and Clementine Churchill had four daughters: Diana, born in 1909, Sarah born three years later, then Marigold born in 1918 and finally Mary in 1922. Marigold died of an infection that developed into septicemia when she was two. They had one brother, Randolph who was born between Diana and Sarah. The stresses of being the children of an important politician and prime minister of England affected all of them.
In many ways The Churchill Sisters is mostly a book about the Churchill family as the girl’s relationship with their parents, throughout their lives, was preeminent. Clementine was a somewhat distant parent when the children were young, but was more interested in them when they were older adolescents and adults. Winston tried to spend time with them each day and was the more caring parent. They enjoyed spending time at Chartwell, their family’s country home in Kent. Little mention is made of Randolph in the book.
Diana and Sarah married and divorced several times. Sarah wanted to be a dancer and actress and was mildly successful. As she aged she found many great loves, suffered tragedies, was a successful author and struggled with alcoholism. Diana and Mary spent time with their growing families and supported politically involved husbands. Diana’s life was marked by long periods of depression which ended with suicide. All three women actively supported their country during WWII.
Mary lived the longest. Her husband was a Member of Parliament, and served several government posts. She accompanied him to his ambassadorship in Paris and to Rhodesia where he was a governor. Like Sarah she was a successful author.
Sarah attended the Teheran Conference in 1943 and the Yalta Conference in February 1945 with her father and Mary attended the Potsdam Conference with him in late July 1945.
The Churchill children:
Diana (1909 –1963)
Randolph (1911 –1968)
Sarah (1914 –1982)
Marigold (1918–1921)
Mary (1922–2014)
Rachel Trethewey’s biography of the four sisters appears to be a straight forward account with little evaluation or judgment. But she does consider whether depression and alcoholism, which some of the sisters suffered, came from their parent’s or from previous generations, and decided not.
For more Churchill family history, I intend to read The Daughters Of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War next. The Mitford family and their daughters were mentioned several times. I might look for a book about them.
I listened to The Churchill Sisters which was pleasantly narrated by Juliet Stevenson.
Rating: 3+
March 22, 2023
Fabulous little book! Having spent hundreds of hours reading about Winston Churchill, I still knew very little about his daughters. This was a delightful way to get to know each of them. Mary might be one of my role models! And Winston was a beloved and tender father. My only criticism is that it was too short. I would have like more details. Often the author would mention something like her strong faith" but didn't give any examples. I listened to the audio and was half afraid that it was abridged. Still, very enjoyable and I loved the little gem about Mary passing Parliament square and saying "Night, night, Papa."
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