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Churchill
An acclaimed historian presents a revelatory look at the greatest statesman of the twentieth century. For eminent historian Paul Johnson, Winston Churchill remains an enigma in need of unraveling. Soldier, parliamentarian, Prime Minister, orator, painter, writer, husband, and leader-all of these facets combine to make Churchill one of the most complex and fascinating personalities in history. In Churchill, Johnson applies a wide lens and an unconventional approach to illuminate the various phases of Churchill's career. From his adventures as a young cavalry officer in the service of the Empire to his role as an elder statesman prophesying the advent of the Cold War, Johnson shows how Churchill's immense adaptability combined with his natural pugnacity to make him a formidable leader for the better part of a century. Johnson's narration of Churchill's many triumphs and setbacks, rich with anecdote and quotation, illustrates the man's humor, resilience, courage, and eccentricity as no ot
192 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2009
398 people are currently reading
3656 people want to read
About the author
Paul Johnson
134 books829 followersPaul Johnson works as a historian, journalist and author. He was educated at Stonyhurst School in Clitheroe, Lancashire and Magdalen College, Oxford, and first came to prominence in the 1950s as a journalist writing for, and later editing, the New Statesman magazine. He has also written for leading newspapers and magazines in Britain, the US and Europe.
Paul Johnson has published over 40 books including A History of Christianity (1979), A History of the English People (1987), Intellectuals (1988), The Birth of the Modern: World Society, 1815—1830 (1991), Modern Times: A History of the World from the 1920s to the Year 2000 (1999), A History of the American People (2000), A History of the Jews (2001) and Art: A New History (2003) as well as biographies of Elizabeth I (1974), Napoleon (2002), George Washington (2005) and Pope John Paul II (1982).
Paul Johnson has published over 40 books including A History of Christianity (1979), A History of the English People (1987), Intellectuals (1988), The Birth of the Modern: World Society, 1815—1830 (1991), Modern Times: A History of the World from the 1920s to the Year 2000 (1999), A History of the American People (2000), A History of the Jews (2001) and Art: A New History (2003) as well as biographies of Elizabeth I (1974), Napoleon (2002), George Washington (2005) and Pope John Paul II (1982).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 499 reviews
February 23, 2017
At a time of global disarray, perspective can be gained from this biography of a man who helped save the world when it truly was ablaze.
Most Americans only know Winston Churchill as the cigar-chomping Prime Minister whose brilliant leadership of England led to Allied victory in World War II. In Paul Johnson’s"Churchill" we get to know a man who, in addition to preserving “freedom and democracy and the values we hold dear in the West,” accomplished much more in his long life.
Churchill was a true Renaissance personality. He was a man of boundless energy and interests who, from an early age, knew he wanted to make his mark on the world. After serving with distinction in the British military, he became a Member of Parliament, then First Lord of the Admiralty, and later Chancellor of the Exchequer. He also wrote prolifically, including several acclaimed histories and biographies, had a successful marriage and family, and became an accomplished artist, painting more than 500 landscapes.
His was a lonely voice in the 1930's, warning the world of German rearmament and the looming Nazi threat. Most of Europe, still exhausted from World War I, simply ignored Hitler or hoped he would be content with appeasement. What would have happened if Churchill's warnings had been heeded earlier? That is one of the great might-have-been questions of history.
Particularly notable, and one of the traits that makes Churchill so beloved by the British people, was his zest for life. He had no time for what Johnson calls “the meannesses of life: recrimination, malice, grudges, vendettas…” With his 'joie de vivre' he gave each endeavor his best, and then moved on to the next. Life was too short to be encumbered by petty squabbles. As the author puts it, “the absence of hatred left plenty of room for joy in Churchill’s life.”.
A lesson for us all.
Five stars to Paul Johnson’s concise and engaging "Churchill".
Most Americans only know Winston Churchill as the cigar-chomping Prime Minister whose brilliant leadership of England led to Allied victory in World War II. In Paul Johnson’s"Churchill" we get to know a man who, in addition to preserving “freedom and democracy and the values we hold dear in the West,” accomplished much more in his long life.
Churchill was a true Renaissance personality. He was a man of boundless energy and interests who, from an early age, knew he wanted to make his mark on the world. After serving with distinction in the British military, he became a Member of Parliament, then First Lord of the Admiralty, and later Chancellor of the Exchequer. He also wrote prolifically, including several acclaimed histories and biographies, had a successful marriage and family, and became an accomplished artist, painting more than 500 landscapes.
His was a lonely voice in the 1930's, warning the world of German rearmament and the looming Nazi threat. Most of Europe, still exhausted from World War I, simply ignored Hitler or hoped he would be content with appeasement. What would have happened if Churchill's warnings had been heeded earlier? That is one of the great might-have-been questions of history.
Particularly notable, and one of the traits that makes Churchill so beloved by the British people, was his zest for life. He had no time for what Johnson calls “the meannesses of life: recrimination, malice, grudges, vendettas…” With his 'joie de vivre' he gave each endeavor his best, and then moved on to the next. Life was too short to be encumbered by petty squabbles. As the author puts it, “the absence of hatred left plenty of room for joy in Churchill’s life.”.
A lesson for us all.
Five stars to Paul Johnson’s concise and engaging "Churchill".
January 23, 2013
All in all, rather badly done. Well researched, but his focus couldn't have been more limp-wristed and pathetic.
He wrote this book to answer the question, "Did Churchill save England?" The answer, if you were wondering, is yes. He saved not only England, but the world. If it weren't for Churchill, you wouldn't even exist. And neither would puppies or kittens or butterflies or ice cream. I was hoping to hear about the man, or at least some funny quotes from the legend. I got very little of either. I found out a few interesting facts, such as the fact that he took up painting and was good at it--about 500 of his paintings survive--and that--get this--he had between eight and ten million words in print by the time he died. Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire was absolutely dwarfed by his account of the first world war: 1,100,000 words to 2,050,000. The last Harry Potter book, by comparison, has fewer than 200,000, and that's just cause the editors decided to sit back, drink gin and practice saying, "why yes, I am the editor of the most successful books in the civilized world" in front of a mirror instead of actually editing the book. Hardcovers are more expensive.
But Churchill comes across looking kinda like a pansy by this guy's account. A pansy is the last thing he was: he was the one who specifically ordered the bombing of Dresden. He was the one who brutally suppressed the Irish, causing more civilian casualties than anyone seems likely to admit. He was a violent, brutal, bulldog of a man, but this author spends half the book explaining that though Churchill was always smoking a cigar, he never inhaled. Seriously? Why on earth would we care? I was looking for Churchill: the "blood, toil, tears and sweat" Churchill, the "never has so much been owed by so many to so few," the Churchill that almost singlehandedly built up both the British navy and RAF, the one that was so determined to win that he would have nuked every city between Berlin and Belfast if he'd had the bombs, the one that said "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons."
And, if our author was too concerned with explaining how he watered down his whiskey so he didn't actually drink as much as it seemed, too concerned lest our freshly whitewashed hero(?) (he got plenty of exercise) be human, then he could at least have given us some comedy. I mention Churchill to the most uneducated person--to the governmentally schooled among us--and even he will start fumbling around with, "'you may be drunk, but I'm...' no, wait... 'Madam, you're ugly, but I'm Winston...' no..." Churchill was hilarious, quick witted and could be downright vicious with his comebacks, but we're given so little of that in this book that I would never have guessed he had a sense of humour at all (yes, I spell it with a "u", just like honour and valour and all those others. I'd spell dog with a "u" if it wasn't my pastor's name). So, the book was simply boring. I'd hoped for better.
But, if you're more interested in Churchill's policy than his person, in his chronology than his character, this book is well researched, and I have no doubt--no doubt--that it's accurate. A book this boring simply has to be.
He wrote this book to answer the question, "Did Churchill save England?" The answer, if you were wondering, is yes. He saved not only England, but the world. If it weren't for Churchill, you wouldn't even exist. And neither would puppies or kittens or butterflies or ice cream. I was hoping to hear about the man, or at least some funny quotes from the legend. I got very little of either. I found out a few interesting facts, such as the fact that he took up painting and was good at it--about 500 of his paintings survive--and that--get this--he had between eight and ten million words in print by the time he died. Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire was absolutely dwarfed by his account of the first world war: 1,100,000 words to 2,050,000. The last Harry Potter book, by comparison, has fewer than 200,000, and that's just cause the editors decided to sit back, drink gin and practice saying, "why yes, I am the editor of the most successful books in the civilized world" in front of a mirror instead of actually editing the book. Hardcovers are more expensive.
But Churchill comes across looking kinda like a pansy by this guy's account. A pansy is the last thing he was: he was the one who specifically ordered the bombing of Dresden. He was the one who brutally suppressed the Irish, causing more civilian casualties than anyone seems likely to admit. He was a violent, brutal, bulldog of a man, but this author spends half the book explaining that though Churchill was always smoking a cigar, he never inhaled. Seriously? Why on earth would we care? I was looking for Churchill: the "blood, toil, tears and sweat" Churchill, the "never has so much been owed by so many to so few," the Churchill that almost singlehandedly built up both the British navy and RAF, the one that was so determined to win that he would have nuked every city between Berlin and Belfast if he'd had the bombs, the one that said "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons."
And, if our author was too concerned with explaining how he watered down his whiskey so he didn't actually drink as much as it seemed, too concerned lest our freshly whitewashed hero(?) (he got plenty of exercise) be human, then he could at least have given us some comedy. I mention Churchill to the most uneducated person--to the governmentally schooled among us--and even he will start fumbling around with, "'you may be drunk, but I'm...' no, wait... 'Madam, you're ugly, but I'm Winston...' no..." Churchill was hilarious, quick witted and could be downright vicious with his comebacks, but we're given so little of that in this book that I would never have guessed he had a sense of humour at all (yes, I spell it with a "u", just like honour and valour and all those others. I'd spell dog with a "u" if it wasn't my pastor's name). So, the book was simply boring. I'd hoped for better.
But, if you're more interested in Churchill's policy than his person, in his chronology than his character, this book is well researched, and I have no doubt--no doubt--that it's accurate. A book this boring simply has to be.
January 11, 2018
This is my recommendation for one who wants to read a short biography of Churchill instead of 3,000+ pages of Manchester/Reid's The Last Lion, Roy Jenkin's 1,000+ bio, or Martin Gilbert's 1,088 page official biography. At 166 pages, Johnson's book sketches a summary of periods of Churchill's life.
Paul Johnson inserts his opinion and personal memories, both of which I enjoyed.
In Chapter 6, he asks and answers (in ten points) the question, 'Did Churchill personally save Britain?' If you only have time for one chapter to read, this is the one.
In Paul Johnson's opinion, one of Winston Churchill's best books is The River War, a two-volume account of a war in liberating Sudan from radical Islamists.
Paul Johnson inserts his opinion and personal memories, both of which I enjoyed.
In Chapter 6, he asks and answers (in ten points) the question, 'Did Churchill personally save Britain?' If you only have time for one chapter to read, this is the one.
In Paul Johnson's opinion, one of Winston Churchill's best books is The River War, a two-volume account of a war in liberating Sudan from radical Islamists.
October 29, 2021
Sigur, Winston Churchill a fost o personalitate complicată, complexă și despre care s-a scris mult de tot, așa că nu e ușor să o sintetizezi în doar 200 de pagini, dar, precum și în cazul altor cărți semnate de Paul Johnson, vorbim doar despre o mini-biografie, despre un volum care face o sinteză a îndelungatei vieți și cariere a unui om despre care se spune că a reușit să oprească ascensiunea germană și cucerirea integrală a Europei de către naziști. Sigur, mulți dintre noi știm ce a făcut Churchill în cel de-al doilea război mondial, de renumitul om politic a fost mult mai mult decât atât: un apreciat om de litere, un om care nu obosea aproape niciodată, un pictor în stil clasic, un familist și un caracter aparte, care și-a susținut mereu cu voce tare ideile, chiar și cele controversate. Iar Paul Johnson ne introduce în această antecameră a omului de stat, stârnind dorința să trecem peste anii de război și să îl descoperim pe Churchill de dincolo de luminile rampei.
June 19, 2011
Glancing through my reviews, you can see I love good biographies. I also enjoy Paul Johnson's histories. He is highly opinionated, but perceptive and original. Even if you disagree with him, you can respect his conclusions. So, having read some of his histories, knowing less than I should about Churchill, and loving biographies, I jumped into this book enthusiastically.
If you're looking for a Churchill biography replete with nasty secrets of his sex life or anything else, this is not for you. In truth, I've never heard of any scandals involving Churchill. He was devoted to his wife Clemmie and she to him. Ironically, both of their mothers were flagrant adulteresses, although Johnson doesn't mention this. An article in the 2011 summer edition of American Scholar does. I don't fault Johnson for not including this information as it may not bear on any of the great man's actions.
Johnson adulates Churchill, calling him "the most valuable [man of the twentieth century]. Johnson also claims that "No man did more to preserve freedom and domocracy and the values we hold dear in the West." Huh?
What about President Franklin Roosevelt? On p. 82, Johnsons admits that Roosevelt "From the blue.." sent Churchill a letter, offering friendship. The ensuing correspondence "...transforming U.S. factories and shipyards into workshops for the anti-Nazi crusade."
Since Roosevelt also committed troops and material to the Asian and African holdings of the British Empire, this hardly shows the extent of American involvement. Nowhere does Johnson admit the truth: Britain alone was losing the war when America became its ally. Without America, both in World Wars I and II, England wouldn't have been on the winning side.
However, Johnson's account has Churchill as the sole mastermind of D-Day, saying "Thanks to Churchill and his memories of the Dardanelles, Overlord (the Normandy landing) was a dramatic success.(p. 103)" Similarly, every other Allied gain is attributed solely to Churchill.
Johnson mentions that Churchill didn't like Roosevelt because FDR was anti-imperialist. Needless to say, Churchill was very much for the Empire, despite having seen the atrocities committed by the British army on the subjugated peoples--the massacres of people without the firepower of the British. In fact, the young Churchill wrote his mother that he had a "...keen aboriginal desire to killl some of those odious dervishes...I anticipate enjoying the exercise very much. (p. 21)" This from a man who Johnson calls "the most valuable man of the twentieth century"?.
Johnson, writing in 2009 still clearly thinks the Empire was a good things and the subjugation of millions of natives in Africa and Asia was a good thing. It is not for this reason, however, that I give this biography only two stars, nor even just because he more than implies that the British alone won World War II.
I downgrade it because it's just plain boring. Johnson enumerates every medal, every speech, every political party, every vote, every bit of trivia about Churchill. He presumes his readers are familiar with the British system of standing for Parliament in districts in which they don't live. He also presumes that readers will know--or care--about every Lord that Churchill had dealings with. He writes in a straightforward "he did this, then he did that, he gave a speech, he wrote this book, he wrote that book..." style. Nowhere does Churchill leap off the page as a real person.
If you want to learn a little more about Churchill, I suggest "The Forgotten Churchill" by George Watson in American Scholar, Summer 2011, pp. 66-70. I plan to get his book, Take Back the Past. Now, this man can write. He can make his subject leap off the page as a real person.
If you're looking for a Churchill biography replete with nasty secrets of his sex life or anything else, this is not for you. In truth, I've never heard of any scandals involving Churchill. He was devoted to his wife Clemmie and she to him. Ironically, both of their mothers were flagrant adulteresses, although Johnson doesn't mention this. An article in the 2011 summer edition of American Scholar does. I don't fault Johnson for not including this information as it may not bear on any of the great man's actions.
Johnson adulates Churchill, calling him "the most valuable [man of the twentieth century]. Johnson also claims that "No man did more to preserve freedom and domocracy and the values we hold dear in the West." Huh?
What about President Franklin Roosevelt? On p. 82, Johnsons admits that Roosevelt "From the blue.." sent Churchill a letter, offering friendship. The ensuing correspondence "...transforming U.S. factories and shipyards into workshops for the anti-Nazi crusade."
Since Roosevelt also committed troops and material to the Asian and African holdings of the British Empire, this hardly shows the extent of American involvement. Nowhere does Johnson admit the truth: Britain alone was losing the war when America became its ally. Without America, both in World Wars I and II, England wouldn't have been on the winning side.
However, Johnson's account has Churchill as the sole mastermind of D-Day, saying "Thanks to Churchill and his memories of the Dardanelles, Overlord (the Normandy landing) was a dramatic success.(p. 103)" Similarly, every other Allied gain is attributed solely to Churchill.
Johnson mentions that Churchill didn't like Roosevelt because FDR was anti-imperialist. Needless to say, Churchill was very much for the Empire, despite having seen the atrocities committed by the British army on the subjugated peoples--the massacres of people without the firepower of the British. In fact, the young Churchill wrote his mother that he had a "...keen aboriginal desire to killl some of those odious dervishes...I anticipate enjoying the exercise very much. (p. 21)" This from a man who Johnson calls "the most valuable man of the twentieth century"?.
Johnson, writing in 2009 still clearly thinks the Empire was a good things and the subjugation of millions of natives in Africa and Asia was a good thing. It is not for this reason, however, that I give this biography only two stars, nor even just because he more than implies that the British alone won World War II.
I downgrade it because it's just plain boring. Johnson enumerates every medal, every speech, every political party, every vote, every bit of trivia about Churchill. He presumes his readers are familiar with the British system of standing for Parliament in districts in which they don't live. He also presumes that readers will know--or care--about every Lord that Churchill had dealings with. He writes in a straightforward "he did this, then he did that, he gave a speech, he wrote this book, he wrote that book..." style. Nowhere does Churchill leap off the page as a real person.
If you want to learn a little more about Churchill, I suggest "The Forgotten Churchill" by George Watson in American Scholar, Summer 2011, pp. 66-70. I plan to get his book, Take Back the Past. Now, this man can write. He can make his subject leap off the page as a real person.
March 15, 2010
My biggest problem with Churchill biographies (yes, I've read them all in detail) is the length. How do you do justice to arguably the most important leader of the 20th century and perhaps the most important leader of Great Britain ever while keeping it to a manageable size? Churchill himself does not help you. He lived for 90 years, 55 of those years he was a member of parliament, and of those years 31 he spent as a minister, and 8 of those years he was prime minister. Additionally biographers have to content with his almost 10 million words that he published, 500 canvases that he painted, the 20,000 bottles of champagne that he consumed (estimated), the racing stable he built (actually made him money), not to mention his estate Chartwell (that cost him a lot of money) where he personally hand-laid bricks, and dug 3 lakes. So as you can see length becomes a problem.
Well Johnson has finally delivered a concise, accurate, entertaining, and comprehensive introductory biography to Churchill. In fact I argue that chapter 6 is the best chapter about Churchill and his war time record out there, even with Johnson's conservative and hero-worship view of Churchill. In 192 pages it is hard to plum the depths of Churchill's contradictory personality, actions, and decisions, so it is just an introduction, but a fabulous one. For any student embarking on a study of Churchill, Johnson provides much to argue for and against about the man and his leadership. This book is a great alternative to slogging through Manchester or even Gilbert's multi-volume sets.
Well Johnson has finally delivered a concise, accurate, entertaining, and comprehensive introductory biography to Churchill. In fact I argue that chapter 6 is the best chapter about Churchill and his war time record out there, even with Johnson's conservative and hero-worship view of Churchill. In 192 pages it is hard to plum the depths of Churchill's contradictory personality, actions, and decisions, so it is just an introduction, but a fabulous one. For any student embarking on a study of Churchill, Johnson provides much to argue for and against about the man and his leadership. This book is a great alternative to slogging through Manchester or even Gilbert's multi-volume sets.
April 2, 2024
Johnson, with his characteristic wit and sharp historical insight, paints a portrait of Churchill not just as a statesman but as a complex human being whose flaws and virtues coalesced to shape the destiny of a nation and the world.
At the heart of Johnson's narrative is the remarkable breadth of Churchill's life and career, spanning from his early days as a young correspondent in the Boer War to his indomitable leadership during the dark days of World War II. Johnson adeptly navigates through the labyrinth of Churchill's political and personal life, shedding light on his subject's multifaceted personality—his indomitable courage, his unyielding perseverance, his towering intellect, and his occasional but profound lapses.
"Churchill" offers valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and the power of conviction. Johnson highlights how Churchill's extraordinary foresight, eloquence, and unshakeable belief in democracy and freedom stood as a beacon of hope during the bleakest moments. It's a reminder of the impact that strong, principled leadership can have on the course of history.
At the heart of Johnson's narrative is the remarkable breadth of Churchill's life and career, spanning from his early days as a young correspondent in the Boer War to his indomitable leadership during the dark days of World War II. Johnson adeptly navigates through the labyrinth of Churchill's political and personal life, shedding light on his subject's multifaceted personality—his indomitable courage, his unyielding perseverance, his towering intellect, and his occasional but profound lapses.
"Churchill" offers valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and the power of conviction. Johnson highlights how Churchill's extraordinary foresight, eloquence, and unshakeable belief in democracy and freedom stood as a beacon of hope during the bleakest moments. It's a reminder of the impact that strong, principled leadership can have on the course of history.
February 2, 2015
This is a brief history rather than an in depth biography but it reads well even if the author has a tendency to gloss over the less desirable aspects of Churchill's career. It gives the reader an introduction to the main achievements and failures of Churchill's career. It doesn't stray too far into his personal sphere except to mention his aptitude for and love of painting and his fondness for bricklaying which he put to good use while renovating Chartwell. On the occassion of the 50th anniversary of Churchill's death, this book is a quick and enjoyable way of aquainting yourself a little with the great man himself.
March 5, 2022
Un subiect interesant, dar stilul cartii nu e unul fascinant pentru mine. Evenimentele par relatate pe repede-inainte, iar explicatiile nu sunt suficiente pe alocuri. Acest lucru se explica foarte usor, cartea avand mai putin de 200 de pagini. La aceasta se mai adauga si relatarea sub forma unui articol de ziar, cu propozitii si fraze cat mai scurte, care fac totul sa para mult prea impersonal. Cred ca epilogul mi-a placut cel mai mult din toata cartea.
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August 3, 2011Rollicking, fast-paced, brilliant. Best short bio I’ve every read of one of the 20th century’s greatest figures by a man who knew the great man. Like anything Paul Johnson writes, well worth reading. And if you haven’t read Paul Johnson, begin with this slim volume. Then dip into anything else he’s written, perhaps going with Modern Times or History of the American People, both favorites of mine.
December 15, 2024
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. - Churchill
নব্বই বছরের জীবনে ৫১ বছরের বেশি সময় এমপি ছিলেন। মন্ত্রী ছিলেন ৩০ বছরের বেশি এবং প্রধানমন্ত্রী ছিলেন নয় বছরের বেশি সময়। দীর্ঘজীবী চার্চিল ব্রিটেনবাসীর চোখে সর্বকালের সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ ব্রিটিশ। ঔপনিবেশিক দেশগুলোর নাগরিকদের কাছে চরম সাম্রাজ্যবাদী এবং বিরোধীদের চোখে অপরাজেয় এক চরিত্র। চার্চিলের চরিত্র বহুমাত্রিক। তাকে দেখতে হয় অনেকগুলো লেন্সে। বইটির লেখক পল জনসনের চোখে তিনি শ্রেষ্ঠ ব্রিটিশ। তার ছাপ লেখায় সুস্পষ্ট।
চার্চিল বনেদি বংশের সন্তান। তার পিতা রেনডলফ চার্চিলও ছিলেন রাজনীতিবিদ। তিনি স্বল্প সময়ের জন্য অর্থমন্ত্রী হন। কিন্তু প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে মতভেদের কারণে তাকে পদত্যাগ করতে হয়। তিনি প্রধানমন্ত্রী হতে চাইতেন। অথচ রাজনীতির মারপ্যাঁচে রাজনীতি থেকেই ভাঙা মন নিয়ে অবসর নেন৷
শিক্ষার্থী হিসেবে অসামান্য মেধার স্বাক্ষর চার্চিল দিতে পারেননি। স্কুলে তিনি এতটাই সাধারণ মানের শিক্ষার্থী ছিলেন যে, তার পিতা একদম হতাশ হয়ে পড়েন ছেলেকে নিয়ে। এমনকি রাগ করে বেশির ভাগ সময় কথাই বলতেন চার্চিলের সঙ্গে!
ব্রিটেনের মতো সমাজে 'লবিং' কত দরকারি তার উৎকৃষ্ট উদাহরণ চার্চিল নিজে। তার মা পার্টিতে যোগ দিতেন হরহামেশাই। যোগাযোগ থাকত ব্রিটেনের প্রভাবশালীদের সঙ্গে। সেই যোগাযোগ ব্যবহার করেই সেনাবাহিনীতে তুলনামূলক ভালো রেজিমেন্টে যোগ দেন চার্চিল।
নাম কামানোর বাসনা আজীবন চার্চিলের ছিল। তিনি ব্রিটিশ সেনাবাহিনীর হয়ে যুদ্ধে যোগ দিতেন মেডেল পাওয়ার জন্য। এমনকি মেডেলের তালিকায় নাম ওঠাতে তার 'বীরত্বের' পাশাপাশি ভূমিকা রাখত তার মায়ের লবিং!
যুদ্ধক্ষেত্রের বয়ান লিখে খবরের কাগজে পাঠাতেন চার্চিল। লাভ হতো দুইটি। এক. প্রচুর টাকা পেতেন এবং দুই. জনগণ তাকে চিনত। এই পরিচয় তাকে রাজনীতিতে প্রতিষ্ঠা পেতে খুব সাহায্য করেছিল।
চার্চিলের চরিত্রে দুইটা বৈশিষ্ট্য ছিল লক্ষণীয়। প্রথমত তিনি কখনোই হার মেনে নিতেন না। হাল ছাড়তেন না। ভোটে পরাজিত হওয়ার পর তার বিরোধীরা তাকে যাচ্ছে তাই বলে অপমান করে। কিন্তু তিনি তোয়াক্কা করেননি। ক্ষমতার বৃত্তের ভেতরে অনেকবার ছিলেন। ছিটকে পড়েছেন বেশ কয়েকবার। কিন্তু তিনি নিশ্চিত ছিলেন আবার ফিরবেন। চার্চিলের চরিত্রের দ্বিতীয় বৈশিষ্ট্য হলো, গদির প্রতি মোহ। তিনি তার জীবনে পাঁচ থেকে ছয়বার দল বদল করেছেন স্রেফ সংসদ সদস্যপদ ধরে রাখার জন্য!
চার্চিলের জীবনের শ্রেষ্ঠ সময় দ্বিতীয় মহাযুদ্ধকালে ব্রিটেনকে নেতৃত্ব দিয়ে বিজয়ী করা। কিন্তু প্রথমে তার প্রধানমন্ত্রী হওয়ার কথা ছিল না। চেম্বারলেনের পদত্যাগের পর রাজা ষষ্ঠ জর্জ চাইছিলেন লর্ড হ্যালিফ্যাক্স ব্রিটনের প্রধানমন্ত্রী হন। কিন্তু এই দুঃসময়ে দায়িত্ব পালনের জন্য নিজেকে উপযুক্ত মনে করেননি লর্ড হ্যালিফ্যাক্স। তখন দ্বিতীয় পছন্দ হিসেবে রাজা ষষ্ঠ জর্জের মেনে নিতে হয় চার্চিলকে।
লেখক পল জনসনের বিবেচনায় চার্চিল সাম্রাজ্যবাদী বটে। কিন্তু তিনি নিজের স্বার্থে এমনটা নন। বরং ব্রিটেনের সার্বিক কল্যাণের জন্যই তিনি সাম্রাজ্যবাদী। তাই পল জনসনের চোখে চার্চিলকে খামোখা সমালোচনা করা হয় সাম্রাজ্যবাদী বলে!
জীবনীকার চার্চিলের ভক্ত। তাই তার পক্ষে চার্চিলের চরিত্রের সীমাবদ্ধতা চোখে পড়েনি। ফলে বইটি হয়ে গেছে একদেশদর্শী।
ব্রিটেনবাসীর চোখে চার্চিলকে জানতে বইটা পড়তে পারেন। চার্চিল কেন ব্রিটেনের শ্রেষ্ঠ রাজনীতিবিদ তা জানতে বইটা পড়তে পারেন। তবে সার্বিকভাবে চার্চিলকে বুঝতে হলে বইটা পড়া বৃথা হবে।
নব্বই বছরের জীবনে ৫১ বছরের বেশি সময় এমপি ছিলেন। মন্ত্রী ছিলেন ৩০ বছরের বেশি এবং প্রধানমন্ত্রী ছিলেন নয় বছরের বেশি সময়। দীর্ঘজীবী চার্চিল ব্রিটেনবাসীর চোখে সর্বকালের সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ ব্রিটিশ। ঔপনিবেশিক দেশগুলোর নাগরিকদের কাছে চরম সাম্রাজ্যবাদী এবং বিরোধীদের চোখে অপরাজেয় এক চরিত্র। চার্চিলের চরিত্র বহুমাত্রিক। তাকে দেখতে হয় অনেকগুলো লেন্সে। বইটির লেখক পল জনসনের চোখে তিনি শ্রেষ্ঠ ব্রিটিশ। তার ছাপ লেখায় সুস্পষ্ট।
চার্চিল বনেদি বংশের সন্তান। তার পিতা রেনডলফ চার্চিলও ছিলেন রাজনীতিবিদ। তিনি স্বল্প সময়ের জন্য অর্থমন্ত্রী হন। কিন্তু প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে মতভেদের কারণে তাকে পদত্যাগ করতে হয়। তিনি প্রধানমন্ত্রী হতে চাইতেন। অথচ রাজনীতির মারপ্যাঁচে রাজনীতি থেকেই ভাঙা মন নিয়ে অবসর নেন৷
শিক্ষার্থী হিসেবে অসামান্য মেধার স্বাক্ষর চার্চিল দিতে পারেননি। স্কুলে তিনি এতটাই সাধারণ মানের শিক্ষার্থী ছিলেন যে, তার পিতা একদম হতাশ হয়ে পড়েন ছেলেকে নিয়ে। এমনকি রাগ করে বেশির ভাগ সময় কথাই বলতেন চার্চিলের সঙ্গে!
ব্রিটেনের মতো সমাজে 'লবিং' কত দরকারি তার উৎকৃষ্ট উদাহরণ চার্চিল নিজে। তার মা পার্টিতে যোগ দিতেন হরহামেশাই। যোগাযোগ থাকত ব্রিটেনের প্রভাবশালীদের সঙ্গে। সেই যোগাযোগ ব্যবহার করেই সেনাবাহিনীতে তুলনামূলক ভালো রেজিমেন্টে যোগ দেন চার্চিল।
নাম কামানোর বাসনা আজীবন চার্চিলের ছিল। তিনি ব্রিটিশ সেনাবাহিনীর হয়ে যুদ্ধে যোগ দিতেন মেডেল পাওয়ার জন্য। এমনকি মেডেলের তালিকায় নাম ওঠাতে তার 'বীরত্বের' পাশাপাশি ভূমিকা রাখত তার মায়ের লবিং!
যুদ্ধক্ষেত্রের বয়ান লিখে খবরের কাগজে পাঠাতেন চার্চিল। লাভ হতো দুইটি। এক. প্রচুর টাকা পেতেন এবং দুই. জনগণ তাকে চিনত। এই পরিচয় তাকে রাজনীতিতে প্রতিষ্ঠা পেতে খুব সাহায্য করেছিল।
চার্চিলের চরিত্রে দুইটা বৈশিষ্ট্য ছিল লক্ষণীয়। প্রথমত তিনি কখনোই হার মেনে নিতেন না। হাল ছাড়তেন না। ভোটে পরাজিত হওয়ার পর তার বিরোধীরা তাকে যাচ্ছে তাই বলে অপমান করে। কিন্তু তিনি তোয়াক্কা করেননি। ক্ষমতার বৃত্তের ভেতরে অনেকবার ছিলেন। ছিটকে পড়েছেন বেশ কয়েকবার। কিন্তু তিনি নিশ্চিত ছিলেন আবার ফিরবেন। চার্চিলের চরিত্রের দ্বিতীয় বৈশিষ্ট্য হলো, গদির প্রতি মোহ। তিনি তার জীবনে পাঁচ থেকে ছয়বার দল বদল করেছেন স্রেফ সংসদ সদস্যপদ ধরে রাখার জন্য!
চার্চিলের জীবনের শ্রেষ্ঠ সময় দ্বিতীয় মহাযুদ্ধকালে ব্রিটেনকে নেতৃত্ব দিয়ে বিজয়ী করা। কিন্তু প্রথমে তার প্রধানমন্ত্রী হওয়ার কথা ছিল না। চেম্বারলেনের পদত্যাগের পর রাজা ষষ্ঠ জর্জ চাইছিলেন লর্ড হ্যালিফ্যাক্স ব্রিটনের প্রধানমন্ত্রী হন। কিন্তু এই দুঃসময়ে দায়িত্ব পালনের জন্য নিজেকে উপযুক্ত মনে করেননি লর্ড হ্যালিফ্যাক্স। তখন দ্বিতীয় পছন্দ হিসেবে রাজা ষষ্ঠ জর্জের মেনে নিতে হয় চার্চিলকে।
লেখক পল জনসনের বিবেচনায় চার্চিল সাম্রাজ্যবাদী বটে। কিন্তু তিনি নিজের স্বার্থে এমনটা নন। বরং ব্রিটেনের সার্বিক কল্যাণের জন্যই তিনি সাম্রাজ্যবাদী। তাই পল জনসনের চোখে চার্চিলকে খামোখা সমালোচনা করা হয় সাম্রাজ্যবাদী বলে!
জীবনীকার চার্চিলের ভক্ত। তাই তার পক্ষে চার্চিলের চরিত্রের সীমাবদ্ধতা চোখে পড়েনি। ফলে বইটি হয়ে গেছে একদেশদর্শী।
ব্রিটেনবাসীর চোখে চার্চিলকে জানতে বইটা পড়তে পারেন। চার্চিল কেন ব্রিটেনের শ্রেষ্ঠ রাজনীতিবিদ তা জানতে বইটা পড়তে পারেন। তবে সার্বিকভাবে চার্চিলকে বুঝতে হলে বইটা পড়া বৃথা হবে।
February 7, 2023
O mini-biografie unde sunt prezentate principalele realizări și eșecuri ale carierei lui Churchill si ofera in acelasi timp o privire de ansamblu și o perspectivă asupra vieții personale.
Lectii invatate
1. „Tinteste mereu cat mai sus. Copil fiind, Churchill nu a fost incurajat in mod constructiv de catre tatal sau , iar de la mama sa a primit destul de putin sprijin. Stia ca nu are rezultate bune la scoala. Cu toate acestea, a tintit mereu sus... Nu si-a atins permanent scopurile inalte, dar, tintind mereu sus, a realizat ceva de valoare”
2. „ Nu exista vreun substitut al muncii serioase... A facut greseli tot timpul, insa n-a muncit de mantuiala sau neglijent.... a stiut sa-si conserve si sa-si administreze bine resursele de energie”
3. „ Churchill nu permitea ca greselile, catastrofele - personale sau nationale -, accidentele, boala, lipsa de popularitate si criticile sa-l demoralizeze. ”
4. „ Churchill a investit foarte putin timp si energie emotionala in ticalosiile vietii: nu a lasnsat acuzatii, nu i-a invinovatit pe ceilalti, nu a cautat sa se razbune, nu a purtat ranchiuna, nu s-a folosit de trucuri murdare, nu a barfit, n-a avut resentimente si nu a platit polite nimanui... Nu exista nimic mai epuizant si istovitor ca ura. Rautatea intuneca ratinuea. ”
5. „ Absenta urii a facut loc din belsug bucuriei in viata lui Churchill. Ii placea sa imparta veselia cu ceilalti, dar si sa-i inveseleasca... Churchill se bucura enorm de compania oamenilor. ”
Lectii invatate
1. „Tinteste mereu cat mai sus. Copil fiind, Churchill nu a fost incurajat in mod constructiv de catre tatal sau , iar de la mama sa a primit destul de putin sprijin. Stia ca nu are rezultate bune la scoala. Cu toate acestea, a tintit mereu sus... Nu si-a atins permanent scopurile inalte, dar, tintind mereu sus, a realizat ceva de valoare”
2. „ Nu exista vreun substitut al muncii serioase... A facut greseli tot timpul, insa n-a muncit de mantuiala sau neglijent.... a stiut sa-si conserve si sa-si administreze bine resursele de energie”
3. „ Churchill nu permitea ca greselile, catastrofele - personale sau nationale -, accidentele, boala, lipsa de popularitate si criticile sa-l demoralizeze. ”
4. „ Churchill a investit foarte putin timp si energie emotionala in ticalosiile vietii: nu a lasnsat acuzatii, nu i-a invinovatit pe ceilalti, nu a cautat sa se razbune, nu a purtat ranchiuna, nu s-a folosit de trucuri murdare, nu a barfit, n-a avut resentimente si nu a platit polite nimanui... Nu exista nimic mai epuizant si istovitor ca ura. Rautatea intuneca ratinuea. ”
5. „ Absenta urii a facut loc din belsug bucuriei in viata lui Churchill. Ii placea sa imparta veselia cu ceilalti, dar si sa-i inveseleasca... Churchill se bucura enorm de compania oamenilor. ”
December 23, 2009
The outpouring of books that reveal new facts about the life of Winston Churchill continues. This short, 181-page volume received (what I think is) only a so-so review at Slate.com, and not much better elsewhere. I think that is unfortunate. After reading the book, I now understand the reviewers' real objection: it's too short (as if they were trying to say "too short on facts" as opposed to errors of fact). I agree: the book is way too short. On nearly every page there was an event or assertion about which I wanted the author to insert a chapter's worth of text so that I could learn the whole, complete, and probably fascinating story. This book could easily have been several thousand pages and multiple volumes, but the author, who met Winston Churchill, instead wrote a very different kind of book. It reads easily, as if he were speaking at a lecture, not at all like a typical history or autobiography. It was hard to put down, and I consumed it in just two sittings.
One thing that makes this account different is that the author, although young at the time, was actually there at the time in England and knew or worked with most of the principals mentioned.
As with many recently-published books based on research into newly-available (read: recently-released) World War II US and UK Government archive material, new tidbits are revealed and old misstatements of (supposedly accepted) facts corrected. For example, many existing biographies of Churchill portray him as always in financial trouble. And that is true to an extent, but not because of his spendthrift habits as others have claimed. Churchill did spend an enormous amount of money, but he earned as astonishing amount that enabled him to do so. Instead, his problem with money derived mostly from failed investments, but there were only two such big events and one of them was the worldwide stock market crash that caught everybody off guard. He was rescued by friends, as has been documented, but promptly made enough money by his writing to make up for it.
The story behind the story in this intentionally-brief biography consists of justification of the author's assertion that Churchill was the towering figure of the 20th century, and, as Churchill himself asserted to President Roosevelt about things that were afoot, that he would be remembered and talked about for as long as the English language survived. Johnson's thesis is that the actual importance and most valuable consequences of Churchill's actions while in and out of Government have remained unrecognized, and that they prepared both the UK and its eventual ally, the US, together win both World Wars.
For example, in July 1917, Churchill was made Minister of Munitions by Lloyd George. Before, there was stalemate in the trenches because the British troops didn't have the weapons and ammunition that _they_ wanted. Churchill reorganized the ministry, visited the troops, learned what _they_ wanted and within a year the British army was better supplied than either the French or German army. The resulting imbalance resulted in literal slaughter of the German divisions that attacked in March 1918; for the first time, the Germans suffered enormous casualties, and literally began to bleed to death, which has been long acknowledged as the reason Germany sought an armistice in November 1918. Churchill was also responsible for seeing that the newly-arrived American forces were never short of munitions.
In evaluating Churchill's contribution to winning World War II, Johnson notes that it was Churchill's insistence to maintain the even then-despised and discounted bombing campaign against Germany, which cost so many lives, particularly American, that enabled the Eastern front (with Russia) not to become a stalemate, thus enabling Russia to cripple the German Army (using American Lend-Lease supplies), which (if you accept the argument as it currently seems to be in vogue) was essentially solely responsible for the Allied forces being able to gain a foothold in Normandy, France on D-Day. ["... without the British bombing these assets would otherwise have gone to the eastern front. As a result the Germans lost the air war there: by mid-1943, their air superiority had disappeared, and this was a key factor in their losing the ground war, too. These facts tend to be forgotten by those who asset that it was Russia which really defeated Nazi Germany. Without Churchill's bombing campaign, the eastern front would have become a stalemate."]
Consequences of consequences begin to get tenuous, as with all of history, but Johnson makes his case eloquently, albeit with unusual brevity.
If you like to read about World War II or Winston Churchill, this is a wonderful book, not to be missed. Johnson makes the case well that people will still be writing and thinking about Churchill in a thousand years.
One thing that makes this account different is that the author, although young at the time, was actually there at the time in England and knew or worked with most of the principals mentioned.
As with many recently-published books based on research into newly-available (read: recently-released) World War II US and UK Government archive material, new tidbits are revealed and old misstatements of (supposedly accepted) facts corrected. For example, many existing biographies of Churchill portray him as always in financial trouble. And that is true to an extent, but not because of his spendthrift habits as others have claimed. Churchill did spend an enormous amount of money, but he earned as astonishing amount that enabled him to do so. Instead, his problem with money derived mostly from failed investments, but there were only two such big events and one of them was the worldwide stock market crash that caught everybody off guard. He was rescued by friends, as has been documented, but promptly made enough money by his writing to make up for it.
The story behind the story in this intentionally-brief biography consists of justification of the author's assertion that Churchill was the towering figure of the 20th century, and, as Churchill himself asserted to President Roosevelt about things that were afoot, that he would be remembered and talked about for as long as the English language survived. Johnson's thesis is that the actual importance and most valuable consequences of Churchill's actions while in and out of Government have remained unrecognized, and that they prepared both the UK and its eventual ally, the US, together win both World Wars.
For example, in July 1917, Churchill was made Minister of Munitions by Lloyd George. Before, there was stalemate in the trenches because the British troops didn't have the weapons and ammunition that _they_ wanted. Churchill reorganized the ministry, visited the troops, learned what _they_ wanted and within a year the British army was better supplied than either the French or German army. The resulting imbalance resulted in literal slaughter of the German divisions that attacked in March 1918; for the first time, the Germans suffered enormous casualties, and literally began to bleed to death, which has been long acknowledged as the reason Germany sought an armistice in November 1918. Churchill was also responsible for seeing that the newly-arrived American forces were never short of munitions.
In evaluating Churchill's contribution to winning World War II, Johnson notes that it was Churchill's insistence to maintain the even then-despised and discounted bombing campaign against Germany, which cost so many lives, particularly American, that enabled the Eastern front (with Russia) not to become a stalemate, thus enabling Russia to cripple the German Army (using American Lend-Lease supplies), which (if you accept the argument as it currently seems to be in vogue) was essentially solely responsible for the Allied forces being able to gain a foothold in Normandy, France on D-Day. ["... without the British bombing these assets would otherwise have gone to the eastern front. As a result the Germans lost the air war there: by mid-1943, their air superiority had disappeared, and this was a key factor in their losing the ground war, too. These facts tend to be forgotten by those who asset that it was Russia which really defeated Nazi Germany. Without Churchill's bombing campaign, the eastern front would have become a stalemate."]
Consequences of consequences begin to get tenuous, as with all of history, but Johnson makes his case eloquently, albeit with unusual brevity.
If you like to read about World War II or Winston Churchill, this is a wonderful book, not to be missed. Johnson makes the case well that people will still be writing and thinking about Churchill in a thousand years.
April 22, 2020
A pro: this is a mercifully short introduction to a very captivating man, Winston Churchill. A con: Candice Millard has ruined me with her wonderfully flowing, historic prose, so much so that it was hard to read such choppy writing.
January 24, 2022
A great biography! I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a shorter biography of Churchill.
March 24, 2012
I have read a great deal about Churchill and at least a small portion of the huge amount he wrote. While I did not learn much in this book that was new to me, what I found refreshing was the author's straightforward willingness to tell you what he thinks. Perhaps my positive reaction to this work is influenced by my own conviction that Churchill was one of the very few pivotal figures of history, without whom (I am convinced) world affairs would have taken a very different direction. Johnson writes with unabashed admiration of Churchill, though he is more than willing to point out the many times Churchill blundered, usually to his own great misfortune and regret. If you would like to meet "Winston," this book is one way to start. Then read Churchill himself, an experience that will not leave you unchanged.
June 12, 2015
My first book on Churchill and an excellent way to start! Highly readable and interesting narrative which gives the reader a comprehensive view of an amazing life. I especially liked the summary of "lessons from his life at the end, of which there were five:
1) always aim high
2) there is no substitute for hard work
3) never allow mistakes, disaster--personal or national--accidents, illnesses, unpopularity, or criticism to get you down.
4) waste no time or emotional energy on the "meannesses of life;" recrimination, blame shifting, malice, revenge, dirty tricks, spreading rumors, harboring grudges, or waging vendettas.
5) leave plenty of room for joy in life with an absence of hatred.
A worthy read, indeed.
1) always aim high
2) there is no substitute for hard work
3) never allow mistakes, disaster--personal or national--accidents, illnesses, unpopularity, or criticism to get you down.
4) waste no time or emotional energy on the "meannesses of life;" recrimination, blame shifting, malice, revenge, dirty tricks, spreading rumors, harboring grudges, or waging vendettas.
5) leave plenty of room for joy in life with an absence of hatred.
A worthy read, indeed.
December 21, 2014
I can't seem to get enough Churchill biographies. And Paul Johnson's is among the best. Well researched, written and filled with anecdotes and pithy quotes. I especially liked Johnson's arguments as to whether Churchill "saved England" during WWII. Also the lesson's learned at the end of the book were something atypical of biographies, but I loved them. Not only that -- I'm going to retain these for for the future. Inspiring!
May 12, 2018
O carte reconfortantă pentru zilele cu descurajări și depresii: să vezi personajul principal, devenit între timp un nume de referință al istoriei secolului XX, cum își caută drumul în viață, îl nimerește, se prăbușește, reîncepe de la capăt, deschide noi fronturi de activitate, se implică deplin și profund, obține performanțe maximale și merge mai departe, lansînd totodată ironii benigne, concluzii stimulatoare ori autopersiflante.
În tinerețe e luptător (nițel fanfaron în colecționarea medaliilor militare) și corespondent de front pentru războaiele din Africa (pe care le consemnează în seriale de presă). La întoarcerea în Anglia își face drum în politica înaltă, prin figura sa carismatică și inteligența zeflemitoare. Are de încasat lovituri pe la spate, schimbă partidele politice, își învinge adversarii pe care, apoi, îi tratează cu indulgență și bonomie: "Mi-am cîștigat singur existența întreaga viață, așa încît să-mi pot permite întotdeauna o sticlă de șampanie pentru mine și încă una pentru un prieten".
Conduce o flotă de 1.100 nave de război, pe care le coordonează peste tot pe glob, pînă în Atlanticul de Sud. Se implică în dezastrul din strîmtoarea Dardanele și este înlăturat din funcție. Apoi scrie o carte imensă despre lecțiile învățate din Primul Război Mondial și este ironizat pentru egolatrie. Se duce la țară și se apucă de pictură. Revine ca ministru al înarmării. Preia conducerea armatei și a forțelor aeriene. Sprijină "Declarația Balfour", care pune bazele diplomatice ale întemeierii Statului Israel. Este membru activ și respectat (sau persiflat) în Camera Comunelor, de-a lungul deceniilor. Își construiește o casă extinsă la țară, cu o cabană de joacă pentru fiica lui: angajează pentru asta arhitecți, așază cărămizile cu mîinile lui, excavează cantități uriașe de pămînt și amenajează trei lacuri artificiale pe moșie. Aduce lebede negre acolo. Crește vaci, porci, oi, cocoși, capre, un papagal. Îi place să-și hrănească personal animalele, cînd are timp, și își încurajează musafirii să procedeze la fel. Mănîncă lucruri naturale, produse la ferma sa; casa din Londra e decorată săptămînal cu florile de la conac.
Este în repetate rînduri la un pas de faliment, de-a lungul crizelor financiare. Se ceartă cu aliații săi din partid și este exclus din politică. Își reneagă pozițiile, se întoarce în Parlament și devine chiar ministru de finanțe. Cînd cade guvernul și își pierde portofoliul, se apucă imediat de speculații bursiere, cu mare succes ("am strîns o mică avere"). Se prăbușește bursa de pe Wall Street și Churchill își pierde toată averea. Li se adresează oaspeților săi la cină: "Dragi prieteni și foști milionari"...
Se duce în America pentru a scrie și a ține conferințe, ca să-și refacă averea. Traversînd strada, se asigură din direcția greșită și este lovit grav de o mașină. "În ultimii doi ani am suferit trei lovituri foarte puternice. Mi-am pierdut toți banii din cauza crizei bursiere. Mi-am pierdut poziția în Partidul Conservator, iar acum îndur toată această suferință fizică." Dar primește 600 de lire pentru drepturile internaționale de difuzare a unui articol al său.
Venirea la putere a lui Hitler în Germania o percepe corect ca pe un eveniment foarte primejdios, pe cînd populația și alți lideri de opinie britanici se amăgesc în vorbărie pacifistă. Cercetarea biografică detaliază confruntările și mizele militare de-a lungul celui de Al Doilea Război Mondial: Winston Churchill devine în sfîrșit prim-ministru și are posibilitatea de a-și fructifica bogata experiență de viață acumulată pînă atunci. Dîrzenia lui feroce îl transformă în personalitatea cea mai îndrăgită din timpul conflictului: "Nu ne vom lăsa, nu vom eșua. Vom lupta în Franța, vom lupta pe mări și oceane, vom lupta cu și mai multă încredere, cu și mai multă putere, în aer, ne vom apăra insula cu orice preț, ne vom lupta pe plaje, ne vom lupta pe pistele de aterizare, ne vom lupta pe cîmp și pe străzi, ne vom lupta pe dealuri. Nu ne vom preda niciodată!". Forța de impact a discursurilor sale radiodifuzate - pe care le gîndește și le redactează personal - are o influență hotărîtoare în planul confruntării propagandistice, mobilizînd entuziasmul și încrederea maselor mari de oameni.
Sînt trecute în revistă succesele și eșecurile diplomatice și de strategie militară ale lui Churchill, de-a lungul conflictului. Contemporanii observă că n-a fost niciodată un tip răzbunător și consemnează una din devizele sale: “Pe timp de război - dîrzenie. În înfrîngere - sfidare. În victorie - mărinimie. Pe timp de pace - bunăvoință”. Îndată după finalul războiului, pe care l-a cîștigat, pierde alegerile politice și locul din Parlament. Soția sa îl consolează: “E posibil să fie o binecuvîntare deghizată”. El îi replică: “Se pare că e extrem de bine deghizată”.
Se refugiază în pictură, iar tablourile sale, cu sutele, încep să se vîndă la prețuri tot mai competitive. Scrie un manual despre "Pictura ca hobby", bine primit în mediile academice. Se implică tot mai serios în cursele de cai, își cumpără un armăsar pur-sînge, cu care cîștigă treisprezece curse, impunîndu-se pe piața pariurilor. Dar marea miză din viața sa “civilă” este redactarea "Memoriilor de război", întemeiate pe ampla documentație oficială, preluată printr-o înțelegere din arhivele guvernului britanic și transportată în birourile proprii. Sprijinit din umbră de o armată de consilieri, secretare și consultanți istorici, dă o operă fabuloasă, în peste două milioane de cuvinte, recompensată cu Premiul Nobel pentru literatură.
Ultimii 20 de ani îi petrece în seninătate, pe băncile Camerei Comunelor, sorbind în fiecare zi cîte o sticlă de șampanie, vizitîndu-și moșia ori trecîndu-și prin fața ochilor peripețiile vieții. Cartea lui Paul Johnson, un jurnalist pasionat de prezentarea esențializată și atractivă a marilor subiecte pentru publicul larg, aduce mai aproape de sufletul nostru un om extraordinar al secolului XX, căruia continentul european îi datorează suflul democratic și încrederea în valorile umaniste.
În tinerețe e luptător (nițel fanfaron în colecționarea medaliilor militare) și corespondent de front pentru războaiele din Africa (pe care le consemnează în seriale de presă). La întoarcerea în Anglia își face drum în politica înaltă, prin figura sa carismatică și inteligența zeflemitoare. Are de încasat lovituri pe la spate, schimbă partidele politice, își învinge adversarii pe care, apoi, îi tratează cu indulgență și bonomie: "Mi-am cîștigat singur existența întreaga viață, așa încît să-mi pot permite întotdeauna o sticlă de șampanie pentru mine și încă una pentru un prieten".
Conduce o flotă de 1.100 nave de război, pe care le coordonează peste tot pe glob, pînă în Atlanticul de Sud. Se implică în dezastrul din strîmtoarea Dardanele și este înlăturat din funcție. Apoi scrie o carte imensă despre lecțiile învățate din Primul Război Mondial și este ironizat pentru egolatrie. Se duce la țară și se apucă de pictură. Revine ca ministru al înarmării. Preia conducerea armatei și a forțelor aeriene. Sprijină "Declarația Balfour", care pune bazele diplomatice ale întemeierii Statului Israel. Este membru activ și respectat (sau persiflat) în Camera Comunelor, de-a lungul deceniilor. Își construiește o casă extinsă la țară, cu o cabană de joacă pentru fiica lui: angajează pentru asta arhitecți, așază cărămizile cu mîinile lui, excavează cantități uriașe de pămînt și amenajează trei lacuri artificiale pe moșie. Aduce lebede negre acolo. Crește vaci, porci, oi, cocoși, capre, un papagal. Îi place să-și hrănească personal animalele, cînd are timp, și își încurajează musafirii să procedeze la fel. Mănîncă lucruri naturale, produse la ferma sa; casa din Londra e decorată săptămînal cu florile de la conac.
Este în repetate rînduri la un pas de faliment, de-a lungul crizelor financiare. Se ceartă cu aliații săi din partid și este exclus din politică. Își reneagă pozițiile, se întoarce în Parlament și devine chiar ministru de finanțe. Cînd cade guvernul și își pierde portofoliul, se apucă imediat de speculații bursiere, cu mare succes ("am strîns o mică avere"). Se prăbușește bursa de pe Wall Street și Churchill își pierde toată averea. Li se adresează oaspeților săi la cină: "Dragi prieteni și foști milionari"...
Se duce în America pentru a scrie și a ține conferințe, ca să-și refacă averea. Traversînd strada, se asigură din direcția greșită și este lovit grav de o mașină. "În ultimii doi ani am suferit trei lovituri foarte puternice. Mi-am pierdut toți banii din cauza crizei bursiere. Mi-am pierdut poziția în Partidul Conservator, iar acum îndur toată această suferință fizică." Dar primește 600 de lire pentru drepturile internaționale de difuzare a unui articol al său.
Venirea la putere a lui Hitler în Germania o percepe corect ca pe un eveniment foarte primejdios, pe cînd populația și alți lideri de opinie britanici se amăgesc în vorbărie pacifistă. Cercetarea biografică detaliază confruntările și mizele militare de-a lungul celui de Al Doilea Război Mondial: Winston Churchill devine în sfîrșit prim-ministru și are posibilitatea de a-și fructifica bogata experiență de viață acumulată pînă atunci. Dîrzenia lui feroce îl transformă în personalitatea cea mai îndrăgită din timpul conflictului: "Nu ne vom lăsa, nu vom eșua. Vom lupta în Franța, vom lupta pe mări și oceane, vom lupta cu și mai multă încredere, cu și mai multă putere, în aer, ne vom apăra insula cu orice preț, ne vom lupta pe plaje, ne vom lupta pe pistele de aterizare, ne vom lupta pe cîmp și pe străzi, ne vom lupta pe dealuri. Nu ne vom preda niciodată!". Forța de impact a discursurilor sale radiodifuzate - pe care le gîndește și le redactează personal - are o influență hotărîtoare în planul confruntării propagandistice, mobilizînd entuziasmul și încrederea maselor mari de oameni.
Sînt trecute în revistă succesele și eșecurile diplomatice și de strategie militară ale lui Churchill, de-a lungul conflictului. Contemporanii observă că n-a fost niciodată un tip răzbunător și consemnează una din devizele sale: “Pe timp de război - dîrzenie. În înfrîngere - sfidare. În victorie - mărinimie. Pe timp de pace - bunăvoință”. Îndată după finalul războiului, pe care l-a cîștigat, pierde alegerile politice și locul din Parlament. Soția sa îl consolează: “E posibil să fie o binecuvîntare deghizată”. El îi replică: “Se pare că e extrem de bine deghizată”.
Se refugiază în pictură, iar tablourile sale, cu sutele, încep să se vîndă la prețuri tot mai competitive. Scrie un manual despre "Pictura ca hobby", bine primit în mediile academice. Se implică tot mai serios în cursele de cai, își cumpără un armăsar pur-sînge, cu care cîștigă treisprezece curse, impunîndu-se pe piața pariurilor. Dar marea miză din viața sa “civilă” este redactarea "Memoriilor de război", întemeiate pe ampla documentație oficială, preluată printr-o înțelegere din arhivele guvernului britanic și transportată în birourile proprii. Sprijinit din umbră de o armată de consilieri, secretare și consultanți istorici, dă o operă fabuloasă, în peste două milioane de cuvinte, recompensată cu Premiul Nobel pentru literatură.
Ultimii 20 de ani îi petrece în seninătate, pe băncile Camerei Comunelor, sorbind în fiecare zi cîte o sticlă de șampanie, vizitîndu-și moșia ori trecîndu-și prin fața ochilor peripețiile vieții. Cartea lui Paul Johnson, un jurnalist pasionat de prezentarea esențializată și atractivă a marilor subiecte pentru publicul larg, aduce mai aproape de sufletul nostru un om extraordinar al secolului XX, căruia continentul european îi datorează suflul democratic și încrederea în valorile umaniste.
February 12, 2022
I feel that I discovered the most complex person for the last century. Churchill is humble or uptight, apprehensive or kind-hearted and also a well-connected person. He was a passionate, romantic historian and often with inspiration and poetic depth, he was an art lover. A novelty to me was that he won a Nobel Prize for Literature. Impressive personality.
February 8, 2023
very dry. but Churchill was a remarkable man.
"We are all worms. But I really think that I am a glow worm." - Winston Churchill
"We are all worms. But I really think that I am a glow worm." - Winston Churchill
October 10, 2025
What a chad
January 8, 2018
I am not a huge reader, so I am challenging myself to read more in 2018. I appreciated this quick read on Winston Churchill and the overview of history of WWI and WWII. I enjoyed the author’s personal antidotes and his style of writing. It almost read as a “self-help” book. I was drawn in as the reader when Johnson wrote the following on page 3: “None holds more lessons, especially for youth: How to use a difficult childhood. How to seize on all opportunities, physical, moral, and intellectual. How to dare greatly, to reinforce succcess, and to put the inevitable failures behind you. And how, while pursuing vaulting ambition with energy and relish, to cultivate also friendship, generosity, compassion, and decency.” Johnson ends his account with the 5 lessons we can learn from studying the life of Winston Churchill.
My dad was a history teacher and counts Paul Johnson as one of his favorite historians. He has recommended Johnson’s, “A History of the American People” but I have been intimidated due to its length (976 pages). However, after reading “Churchill,” I am more inclined to give it a try.
My Notes of the book:
- Winston survived a premature birth - born 2 months early
- He attributed his success in life to “Conservation of energy” - “Never stand up when you can sit down, and never sit down when you can lie down.”
- Winston did have dark moods, which he called “the Black Dog” - however these eventually went away with his “vigorous” activity.
- Winston resembled his American born mother (Jenny Jerome) more so than his father - Lord Randolph Churchill. He did learn what “not to do” from watching his father who was known for being extreme in his judgments.
- Winston Churchill’s nurse (Elizabeth Everest) who he knew as “Woom” had a profound effect on his life.
- His boyhood “obsession” with his collection of lead soldiers led to his father planting the seed regarding an army career - although his father believed he would not amount to anything. Although WC was not an exemplary student, attending Harrow did prepare him to earn his own living.
- He launched into writing by finding wars and reporting on them for newspapers/books.
- As he started in politics (around age 26), he quickly attracted critics and even enemies. “He had a reputation for being brash, arrogant, presumptuous, disobedient, boastful and a founder.” Pg. 16
- He was a British officer and a journalist at the same time!
- “Churchill’s experiences as a young warrior confirmed and intensified his imperialism.” Pg. 19
- However, “at the same time Churchill had a warm and tender heart and a perceptive insight into the darker side of power.” Pg. 20
- “He was not a party man ...His loyalty belonged to the national interest, and his own. At one time or another he stood for Parliament under six labels: Conservative, Liberal, Coalition, Constitutionalist, Unionist, and National Conservative.” Pg. 22
- 1908 marriage to Clementine Hozier. “The marital fidelity of the Churchills was a remarkable fact, for the way the Commons works tends to erode vows on both sides. Then, too, both parties had promiscuous mothers.” Pg. 27. Clementine and Winston had a son and four daughters (one died in infancy).
- “Certainly, the marriage was spared many of the irritating rubs of close proximity, for Churchill’s hours - up late arguing with colleagues, rising at lunchtime after working in bed - meant that they led separate existences under the same roof: they each had their own bedroom, right from the start. Whatever the reason, fidelity was a godsend and an important contributing factor to Churchill’s success, for he was saved all the worry and emotional storm which adultery provokes.” (Pg. 27-28)
- “When Churchill took over the Admiralty, the policy was then to maintain a 60% superiority over Germany in modern battleships ...Lloyd George complained that Churchill had lost all interest in social reform “and now talks about nothing but boilers.” Pg. 40
- Politics might have contributed to the Dardanelles disaster of WWI - “If Asquith had then appointed Churchill supreme of the operation (and told him to replace Fisher), the campaign might still have succeeded. But he did no such thing. He was already thinking of forming a coalition with the Torres and knew they would require Churchill’s departure from the Admiralty as part of the price.” Pg. 53
- “one of Churchill’s strengths, both as a man and a statesman, was that politics never occupied his whole attention and energies. He had an astonishing range of activities to provide him with relief, exercise, thrills, fun, and not least money. ...and a new venture: a country house.” Chartwell! Pg. 67
- His return to power through Stanley Baldwin's appointment of WC as Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston’s dad’s position. Pg. 72
- Winston’s philosophy of wealth: “The process of the creation of new wealth is beneficial to the whole community. The process of squatting on old wealth, though valuable, is far less lively agent. The great build of the wealth of the world is created and consumed every year. We shall never shake ourselves clean from the debts of the past, and break into a definitely larger period, except by the nergetic creation of new wealth.” Pg. 84
- Winston was hit by a car crossing Fifth Avenue in 1931. He told Clemmie: “ I have now in the last two years had three very heavy blows. First the loss of all that money in the Crash. Then the loss of my political position in the Conservative Party and now this terrible physical injury.” Pg. 87. He wrote an article about this and it printed everywhere. “Then he went back to the fray, shaken but calm, to live more dangerously than ever before, but to fear even less.” Pg. 88
- 1933 Hitler rises to power in Germany and plans to destroy Treaty of Versailles. Churchill read Mein Kampf and warned of Germany but he had few supporters. Pacifism became the “creed of the majority.” Pg. 94
- Sep 3, 1939 Britain and France declare war-Churchill reinstated to his old post of first lord of the Admiralty. After his 2 speeches later that September he received a private letter from FDR offering friendship - “which produced over a thousand letters in the next six years and was of incalculable value in bringing Britain and the US closer, and in transforming US factories and shipyards into workshops for the anti-Nazi crusade.” Pg. 104
- May 10, 1940 Chamberlain resigned as PM and Churchill got the job. (After warning about Germany for the last 6 years). Germans had started campaign against France. “At last I had authority to give directions over the whole scene.” WC Pg. 106
- Chapter 6 attempts to answer the question: Did Churchill personally save Britain as PM from May 1940-July 1945? “Was his leadership essential to its survival and eventual victory.” Pg. 109
- “Churchill might cajoie and bully, storm and rant, but in the end he always meticulously stuck to the rule and left the responsible senior chiefs to take the decision. ...In another key respect Churchill did the opposit of Hitler: all his orders, without exception, were in writing and were absolutely clear.” Pg 111
- “Churchill’s great strength was his power of relaxation.” Pg. 128
- “Clementine Churchill’s belief that the 1945 defeat (for PM) might prove a blessing was abundantly justified.” Pg. 144 - he was able to start writing again - Pg. 147
- March 6, 1946 he was invited by President Truman to come to America and make a speech at Westminster College where he warned of the “iron curtain” and Cold War against Russia
- End of 1951 he returned to office as Prime Minister till 1955 (he was 79 when he left office)
- He lived for 10 more years and died at the age of 90
- 5 Lessons from studying WC’s life: 1. Always aim High. (Pg. 162) 2. There is no substitute for hard work. (Pg. 163) 3. Churchill never allowed mistakes, disaster - personal or national - accidents, illnesses, unpopularity, and criticism to get him down. (Pg. 164) 4. Churchill wasted an extraordinarily small amount of his time and emotional energy on the meannesses of life. (Pg. 164) 5. The absense of hatred left plenty of room for joy in Churchill’s life. (Pg. 165)
My dad was a history teacher and counts Paul Johnson as one of his favorite historians. He has recommended Johnson’s, “A History of the American People” but I have been intimidated due to its length (976 pages). However, after reading “Churchill,” I am more inclined to give it a try.
My Notes of the book:
- Winston survived a premature birth - born 2 months early
- He attributed his success in life to “Conservation of energy” - “Never stand up when you can sit down, and never sit down when you can lie down.”
- Winston did have dark moods, which he called “the Black Dog” - however these eventually went away with his “vigorous” activity.
- Winston resembled his American born mother (Jenny Jerome) more so than his father - Lord Randolph Churchill. He did learn what “not to do” from watching his father who was known for being extreme in his judgments.
- Winston Churchill’s nurse (Elizabeth Everest) who he knew as “Woom” had a profound effect on his life.
- His boyhood “obsession” with his collection of lead soldiers led to his father planting the seed regarding an army career - although his father believed he would not amount to anything. Although WC was not an exemplary student, attending Harrow did prepare him to earn his own living.
- He launched into writing by finding wars and reporting on them for newspapers/books.
- As he started in politics (around age 26), he quickly attracted critics and even enemies. “He had a reputation for being brash, arrogant, presumptuous, disobedient, boastful and a founder.” Pg. 16
- He was a British officer and a journalist at the same time!
- “Churchill’s experiences as a young warrior confirmed and intensified his imperialism.” Pg. 19
- However, “at the same time Churchill had a warm and tender heart and a perceptive insight into the darker side of power.” Pg. 20
- “He was not a party man ...His loyalty belonged to the national interest, and his own. At one time or another he stood for Parliament under six labels: Conservative, Liberal, Coalition, Constitutionalist, Unionist, and National Conservative.” Pg. 22
- 1908 marriage to Clementine Hozier. “The marital fidelity of the Churchills was a remarkable fact, for the way the Commons works tends to erode vows on both sides. Then, too, both parties had promiscuous mothers.” Pg. 27. Clementine and Winston had a son and four daughters (one died in infancy).
- “Certainly, the marriage was spared many of the irritating rubs of close proximity, for Churchill’s hours - up late arguing with colleagues, rising at lunchtime after working in bed - meant that they led separate existences under the same roof: they each had their own bedroom, right from the start. Whatever the reason, fidelity was a godsend and an important contributing factor to Churchill’s success, for he was saved all the worry and emotional storm which adultery provokes.” (Pg. 27-28)
- “When Churchill took over the Admiralty, the policy was then to maintain a 60% superiority over Germany in modern battleships ...Lloyd George complained that Churchill had lost all interest in social reform “and now talks about nothing but boilers.” Pg. 40
- Politics might have contributed to the Dardanelles disaster of WWI - “If Asquith had then appointed Churchill supreme of the operation (and told him to replace Fisher), the campaign might still have succeeded. But he did no such thing. He was already thinking of forming a coalition with the Torres and knew they would require Churchill’s departure from the Admiralty as part of the price.” Pg. 53
- “one of Churchill’s strengths, both as a man and a statesman, was that politics never occupied his whole attention and energies. He had an astonishing range of activities to provide him with relief, exercise, thrills, fun, and not least money. ...and a new venture: a country house.” Chartwell! Pg. 67
- His return to power through Stanley Baldwin's appointment of WC as Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston’s dad’s position. Pg. 72
- Winston’s philosophy of wealth: “The process of the creation of new wealth is beneficial to the whole community. The process of squatting on old wealth, though valuable, is far less lively agent. The great build of the wealth of the world is created and consumed every year. We shall never shake ourselves clean from the debts of the past, and break into a definitely larger period, except by the nergetic creation of new wealth.” Pg. 84
- Winston was hit by a car crossing Fifth Avenue in 1931. He told Clemmie: “ I have now in the last two years had three very heavy blows. First the loss of all that money in the Crash. Then the loss of my political position in the Conservative Party and now this terrible physical injury.” Pg. 87. He wrote an article about this and it printed everywhere. “Then he went back to the fray, shaken but calm, to live more dangerously than ever before, but to fear even less.” Pg. 88
- 1933 Hitler rises to power in Germany and plans to destroy Treaty of Versailles. Churchill read Mein Kampf and warned of Germany but he had few supporters. Pacifism became the “creed of the majority.” Pg. 94
- Sep 3, 1939 Britain and France declare war-Churchill reinstated to his old post of first lord of the Admiralty. After his 2 speeches later that September he received a private letter from FDR offering friendship - “which produced over a thousand letters in the next six years and was of incalculable value in bringing Britain and the US closer, and in transforming US factories and shipyards into workshops for the anti-Nazi crusade.” Pg. 104
- May 10, 1940 Chamberlain resigned as PM and Churchill got the job. (After warning about Germany for the last 6 years). Germans had started campaign against France. “At last I had authority to give directions over the whole scene.” WC Pg. 106
- Chapter 6 attempts to answer the question: Did Churchill personally save Britain as PM from May 1940-July 1945? “Was his leadership essential to its survival and eventual victory.” Pg. 109
- “Churchill might cajoie and bully, storm and rant, but in the end he always meticulously stuck to the rule and left the responsible senior chiefs to take the decision. ...In another key respect Churchill did the opposit of Hitler: all his orders, without exception, were in writing and were absolutely clear.” Pg 111
- “Churchill’s great strength was his power of relaxation.” Pg. 128
- “Clementine Churchill’s belief that the 1945 defeat (for PM) might prove a blessing was abundantly justified.” Pg. 144 - he was able to start writing again - Pg. 147
- March 6, 1946 he was invited by President Truman to come to America and make a speech at Westminster College where he warned of the “iron curtain” and Cold War against Russia
- End of 1951 he returned to office as Prime Minister till 1955 (he was 79 when he left office)
- He lived for 10 more years and died at the age of 90
- 5 Lessons from studying WC’s life: 1. Always aim High. (Pg. 162) 2. There is no substitute for hard work. (Pg. 163) 3. Churchill never allowed mistakes, disaster - personal or national - accidents, illnesses, unpopularity, and criticism to get him down. (Pg. 164) 4. Churchill wasted an extraordinarily small amount of his time and emotional energy on the meannesses of life. (Pg. 164) 5. The absense of hatred left plenty of room for joy in Churchill’s life. (Pg. 165)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2017
Churchill is now my hero.
This is my first Churchill biography. Through research online, I'd seen Johnson's version highly recommended as a way to dip your toe into the sea of Churchill. And I'd agree. At 192 pages, a VERY brisk telling of Churchill's life. Which is exactly what I wanted. I wanted an overview of who he was and why he was such an (the most?) important figure of the 20th century.
Only knock on this book - Johnson assumes a basic understanding of British government which I (and I'm assuming 98% of Americans) have zero! It made parts of Churchill's political career incomprehensible to Americans too lazy to Google each reference.
This is my first Churchill biography. Through research online, I'd seen Johnson's version highly recommended as a way to dip your toe into the sea of Churchill. And I'd agree. At 192 pages, a VERY brisk telling of Churchill's life. Which is exactly what I wanted. I wanted an overview of who he was and why he was such an (the most?) important figure of the 20th century.
Only knock on this book - Johnson assumes a basic understanding of British government which I (and I'm assuming 98% of Americans) have zero! It made parts of Churchill's political career incomprehensible to Americans too lazy to Google each reference.
January 13, 2010
Good, short biography. Oh how have grown tired of the minimum-500-page-biographies that have become standard. These have to explore every nook and crany of the subjects life, their sexual propensities, heavily foot-noted and too often dry and dull.
Johnson is crisp and brief and he draws 4 key lessons from Churchill's life in the epilogue..
Johnson is crisp and brief and he draws 4 key lessons from Churchill's life in the epilogue..
April 9, 2020
If you ever wanted to know the number of clasps on each of Churchill's many medals, this is the book for you! Otherwise, skip this sychopantic, hyperbole-filled pamphlet. The one star rating is out of respect for Churchill himself; otherwise it would have been no stars.
May 13, 2019
A shorter, enjoyable read. I felt it focused most on Churchill's political career than anything else but still gave its readers an overview and some insight into his life from birth to death. I find Churchill fascinating much like I find Theodore Roosevelt fascinating. Men like these seem to have commonality - Keen minds, prolific readers and writers, a wide variety of interests (especially in history), ambition, charisma, resilience, hard-work, strong character...and I guess people either love or hate them. I liked that Paul Johnson was fair to his subject in touching on not only Churchill's successes but also his failures and mistakes. My favorite part was the lessons we can take from Churchill's life at the end of the book:
1. Aim high in all you do.
2. Work hard.
3. Don't allow mistakes, disasters, criticism, unpopularity, etc get you down.
4. Don't waste time or emotional energy on the "meannesses of life" - recrimination, blame shifting, malice, revenge, dirty tricks, spreading rumors, harboring grudges, or waging vendettas.
5. Leave room for joy in life and leave no room for hatred.
Great man, great book.
1. Aim high in all you do.
2. Work hard.
3. Don't allow mistakes, disasters, criticism, unpopularity, etc get you down.
4. Don't waste time or emotional energy on the "meannesses of life" - recrimination, blame shifting, malice, revenge, dirty tricks, spreading rumors, harboring grudges, or waging vendettas.
5. Leave room for joy in life and leave no room for hatred.
Great man, great book.
November 15, 2021
Paul Johnson is one of my favorite historians of all time. And since I have a number of his books, I picked this one a number of years ago and finally got around to reading it. To me it is a good concise and delightful read on Churchill. However, the writer does has his own take on things specifically as to WWII and Churchill. To me that is to be expected as Paul Johnson is from England and unlike many other reviewers that is not something I would quibble over greatly. All in all for a short biographical read on Churchill it is rather good.
January 23, 2020
Excellent short biography of Winston Churchill that includes the high points of his extraordinary life through two world wars. Churchill was not only a great statesman and writer, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953, he painted more than 500 paintings, he also was a great bricklayer, the activity being a great stress reliever. Churchill is a man known to have had great goals, a great work ethic and for never holding a grudge. He knew when to fight and when to back down. A very enjoyable biography!
March 22, 2017
advanced reader finished the book in two sittings. I have to do same in 10.
but the book is worth the trouble. Churchill is really a colossus. one thing i learn from this book is Churchill wasn't a backer for Berty like the movie The King's Speech. on the contrary, he was a staunch supporter of Edward VIII. and even worse, he did so and cost him his political position at a most critical moment of history. had he been able to hold his office at that time, Hitler wouldn't have been able to annex Czechoslovakia and the WWII would have been able to be nip the bud. so, one glitch of him led to another and disaster finally happened. nevertheless, he was still one of the greatest man in history of human.
but the book is worth the trouble. Churchill is really a colossus. one thing i learn from this book is Churchill wasn't a backer for Berty like the movie The King's Speech. on the contrary, he was a staunch supporter of Edward VIII. and even worse, he did so and cost him his political position at a most critical moment of history. had he been able to hold his office at that time, Hitler wouldn't have been able to annex Czechoslovakia and the WWII would have been able to be nip the bud. so, one glitch of him led to another and disaster finally happened. nevertheless, he was still one of the greatest man in history of human.
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