Churchill: Walking with Destiny

When I took this 1,100 page volume out of the box it weighed a ton. I was pretty sure I would probably abandon it before I finished. I was wrong. Coincidentally I finished the last 50 pages on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. This is the definitive biography of Churchill, a worthy investment in adult education. It looks at his life in incredible detail and benefits from access to previously unavailable sources. The diaries and other writings of many political leaders add to the detail and depth of analysis. The King's notes from their weekly meetings during World War Two were also available for the first time. I'm and early Boomer, born in 1948. The war seemed liked ancient history to me. I sort of knew about Churchill and his importance in world history while I was growing up. I think we had one of his histories on our bookshelf. However, I never got around to reading anything by or about him. This seems like the right time. This volume is, without question, the best place to start. Andrew Roberts' accomplishment is amazing. His style and analysis of Churchill's life are combined into a presentation that is enjoyable and easy to read, with an unparalleled level of detail I had an impression that Churchill was always a popular and widely admired leader, especially during the Blitz. If fact, there were plenty of politicians who disagreed with him throughout his lifetime of public service. They challenged many of his strategies and decisions, especially during WWII. His ascent to Prime Minister was his intention in his younger years. He was the center of controversy during both world wars and the years between them.. He enjoyed popularity with Britain's civilian population during World War Two. That wasn't true of many of the ministers and colleagues in the House of Commons. His strategies and decisions were widely criticized. In fact many were prescient, much to the dismay to many of his foes. Roberts also discusses the US and Roosevelt and their role in supporting the British war effort until the US declared war on Germany and Japan. Stalin didn't play as large a role as we think he did,. Churchill's family members also are crucial to understanding his many of his actions. Their relationships with him contributed to his leadership and ultimate success. I've enjoyed this type of historical biography for a long time, although I didn't particularly enjoy history in high school. This is absolutely at the top of list. It is interesting and educational and worth the investment in time. It puts the first half of the 20th century in perspective. It also sets the stage for American prosperity and recovery from the ravages of war during the second half of the century. You can't help but contemplate the time and effort that Andrew Roberts expended.to create a volume of this significance. I prefer to sit down with a real book with pages made out of paper. It's sad that some of those people are tapping on their smart phones during every moment they are awake. They can't put them down long enough to enjoy a good read. They might benefit from reading something other than their phones..

It has taken me quite a while to sit down and write this review of Andrew Roberts’s remarkable biography of Winston Churchill. There are a few reasons why it has taken me so long. Churchill-Walking with Destiny challenged many of the notions I have had of Winston Churchill since I was a young student of history. It took me a while to come to terms with some of these long-held opinions and evaluate them against the new evidence that Roberts provides. The fact that my reading this book coincided with the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of many of the closing acts of World War II in Europe also delayed my writing this review. Roberts presents evidence and arguments that have led me to re-evaluate not just Churchill’s actions during World War II and the Cold War, but also the respective roles of Britain, the Commonwealth, and other nations from the end of the war until today. Enough excuses! On with the review! I think the most important aspect of this book is that it draws on materials that have not been available to historians and researchers until very recently. Accessing diaries from notables such as King George VI and parliamentary documents from the House of Commons, Roberts is able to explain many of Churchill’s actions and thoughts with much more certainty than could the historians and biographers of earlier generations. Written evidence, especially that of the King, provides insights into some of Churchill’s more questionable and controversial decisions and beliefs. Even if the new evidence does not absolve Churchill of complicity in some events for which he has long been criticized, it does provide greater context and begs consideration of the options that Churchill might have had before him. Roberts carefully reexamines events such as the Tonypandy Riots, the Indian Famine, Churchill’s role in the defense of Antwerp in 1914, the Dardanelles Campaign, and his early opinion of Mussolini. It is the reassessment of Churchill’s roles and actions in these and many other events that really invite readers to reassess Churchill himself. Also explained in several instances is Churchill’s perception of himself and his careful assessment of when to fight for a cause and when to back off. Roberts acknowledges a certain amount of hero-worship for the protagonist, but also criticizes where criticism is due, and asks readers to evaluate certain actions and thoughts within the context of new evidence. Context, itself, is a critical part of this examination of Churchill’s life. While many biographies present decisions, events, and motivations in a rather matter-of-fact manner, Roberts manages to show that decisions were not always simple and straightforward. In fact, most decisions Churchill made—especially during his middle age and through World War II—were well-considered and based on history and a careful reading of his contemporaries, but we’re far from simple. Roberts points out, as have others, that Churchill was often motivated by his perception of how history would judge him—and Britain. He considered how history would judge him and England when advocating for the Dardanelles campaign, resisting the appeasement movement in the 1930s, and many other critical points in history. His use of history to support political and military arguments, and his awareness that he was writing several chapters of history himself helped him arrive at some decisions that might be seen technically and practically as misguided, but morally correct. Regarding the man, himself, Roberts paints a great picture of a man who loved his country, his wife, his friends, and his many artistic and scientific passions. Roberts provides ample evidence of Churchill’s work ethic and his demands for loyalty and facts. Churchill’s abilities to absorb mountains of information (especially when he wanted to) and compartmentalize that information is evident. So to is his ability to (usually) organize military and administrative advisors into cohesive units. The book abounds with humorous anecdotes and sets them in context to allow the reader greater appreciation for his quick and devastating wit. Roberts also shares moments where Churchill’s pride colored his thoughts and writings, allowing readers to understand the flaws in his histories and other writings. As the biography wound down, I found myself wanting more. This want is not a reflection on Roberts, but is actually a compliment. While other biographies and histories left me thinking I “knew” Churchill, Roberts provided so much new information and so much fuller context, that I now feel like there is much more to know. I am hopeful that others will pick up where Roberts left off and help us all better understand the enigma that was—and is—Winston Churchill.

Not a single chapter was finished before I said "Damn, he makes me proud to be English". This books is warts and all, very objective and beautifully written, luring you in from the first page. I can promise that you will laugh regularly, you will be inspired, you will wish you could have had a whiskey and soda with him. I didn't realize Churchill was such an adrenaline junkie which only adds to his character. Winston wasn't perfect but what colossus was? It's a victory that a single volume of Churchill can be so amazing and a testament to Roberts' talent that he could make it so. It's fashionable to hate Churchill (racism, imperialism, etc) and some moments are questionable in modern eyes but many moments to applaud. Really his legions of haters, past and present, hate their own inferiority when compared to his remarkable character. I miss him already.

Its a magnificent read where the author dwells both onto the praises and the critical aspects of Churchill's life. Good from a neutrality point of view, since Churchill was shaped during the sunset of the Victorian era and most of his views in the modern world do no corelate to the values emphasized on back then.

Churchill était vraiment quelqu'un de 'larger than life', une des personnalités les plus marquantes du 20e siècle sans aucun doute. Ouvrage très instructif et bien écrit que je recommande sans hésitation.

Being German I have so far only read a lot of the well known quotes here and there which sparked my interest to find out more about the man behind them. I ordered this book via Amazon and was initially flattened by the shere volume of 982 pages in small print plus the pages with annotations. Often these books make you tired or eventually give up. Not so with this one. I found each and every page interesting and well told and never got tired of it at all. In fact I found out a lot of new things I did not know about apart from Churchill. I also like the fact that the author portraits WC in detail but leaves his own resume and comments until the last chapter. This gives the book a neutral perspective. All in all, if you want to know the subject, this is a perfect book. I don't regret buying or reading it at all.

Amazing biography by an amazing author. Dr. Roberts is a true storyteller. What I've enjoyed the most, is how he delivers insights about Churchill's private life. A true British icon indeed, and one of the best biographies I've read.