Sir W. Churchill Research Recommendations (1 Viewer)

[Beaufighter]

Cheers Forum Squadron members:

Thank you in advance for your time. I would appreciate any recommendations for reading material related to Sir Winston Churchill. With the mass of published material on the gent I figured I would spearhead a frontal attack & ask for quality reinforcements via Treefrog member recommendations from our astute High Command! Thank you again.

Tail winds,
Beaufighter

 

[thebritfarmer]

Not sure if this will help (I have not seen it or read the book) but it is PBS and they usually have pretty good shows. It is done by Winston's granddaughter.


http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-churchill-churchill-dvd-book-save-5--pi-1452230.html

 

[Beaufighter]

Cheers:

Many thanks for the assist! Off to check it out. Anyone else from across the pond have a favorite read about Churchill???

Tally Ho,
Beaufighter

 

[jazzeum]

Marc,

Aside from Churchill's multi volume history of the War, I'd recommend two books:

Troublesome Young Men by Lynne Olson, which is not just about Churchill but about the Conservatives who helped bring him to power.

Another one is John Lukacs' Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat about Churchill's first speech as PM. It's not that long but it's a wonderful book.

It's also possible that the web site of the Churchill Foundation may have recommendations.

 

[4th Hussar]

I would start with his official biography by Gilbert and move out from there

 

[UKReb]

You would be hard pushed to think of another man who has had so many books/biographies written about his life. So I appreciate your predicament in selecting one definitive tome that best covers this extraordinary man.

I personally have read- over the years- about a dozen what I would describe as good reads on Churchill, some of the recommendations already posted by other members I have not read but for a full biography- as the last poster stated- is Churchill-A Life by Martin Gilbert-it is a very good book but a slight warning it assumes the reader has a good knowledge of British history and it's politics as it is very sparse on any background information to some of the monumental decisions made by Churchill so it may prove annoying to someone not familar with the Brit way of life as such.

But one book that I have read twice and my personal favorite that I would thoroughly recommend as a very good introduction to Winnie is:

Churchill A Study in Greatness by Geoffrey Best- very comprehensive for just 400 pages with very elegant writing that is easily digested making it a pleasure to read.

Reb

 

[jazzeum]

You would be hard pushed to think of another man who has had so many books/biographies written about his life.

Yesterday, I was looking at the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission website and they gave a link to a list of the best books about Lincoln as put together by the owner of the Abraham Lincoln in Chicago who says that, except for Napoleon, no other "historical personage" has been studied and written about as much as Lincoln.

 

[UKReb]

Yesterday, I was looking at the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission website and they gave a link to a list of the best books about Lincoln as put together by the owner of the Abraham Lincoln in Chicago who says that, except for Napoleon, no other "historical personage" has been studied and written about as much as Lincoln.

Brad in that case I had better change that to Englishman

 

[jazzeum]

Bob,

I had only posted that because when I saw it I was surprised. I would have expected Napoleon to be up there but am now wondering whether Jesus Christ is not the most studied and written about (perhaps he's considered more of a religious than historic personage).

 

[UKReb]

Bob,

I had only posted that because when I saw it I was surprised. I would have expected Napoleon to be up there but am now wondering whether Jesus Christ is not the most studied and written about (perhaps he's considered more of a religious than historic personage).

And some would say almost a mythical personage.

 

[Beaufighter]

Cheers Gents:

Many thanks for all of your replies which were greatly appreciated. Your suggestions should keep me busy for a while!

A Sincere Thank You,
Beaufighter

 

[1879fanatic]

This is your must-have. It is a small paper-back that I pick up every year or so, in the hopes that I can at least remember the wit and elegance and brilliancy of the man. It's not all quotes. It's quotes added to the historical context in which they were spoken or written. It's a great opener for you! Mike