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Review
"It turns out that while Wikipedia can ably trace the arc of Churchill's life, Johnson...can give the reader the definite sense of having known Churchill, or at least of having hung out with him for a bit...Churchill lets you spend some time in the man's company, and who wouldn't want that?"
-New York Times Book Review
"Paul Johnson is the most celebrated and best-loved British historian in America."
-Wall Street Journal
"[If] you appreciate clarity, authority, and verve in historical writing, you will understand why I gulped down [Churchill] and now declare it the most exciting biography I read in 2009."
-Jesse Kornbluth, Huffington Post
"Johnson clearly shares and revels in Churchill's generosity of spirit and limitless intellectual energy. He has produced a book that is a joy--and a worthy tribute to both of them."
-Washington Times
"You read Johnson to be provoked and entertained, and on both these scores his biography, like its subject, succeeds wonderfully."
-The American COnservative
"With deft narrative skill and keen insight, Johnson masterfully sketches the phases of Churchill's life...Along the way, Johnson gives us wonderful insights into Churchill's character...Rich with anecdote and quotation, Paul Johnson's Churchill illustrates the man's humor, resilience, courage, and eccentricity as no other biography before."
-National Review
Johnson's story arc is written in fluid prose that beautifully reveals the tension of achievement of Churchill's life."
-Dallas Morning News
"The book's most original offering is--in characteristically vivid prose and a consistent intelligence and urbanity--Johnson's distillation of life lessons from Churchill's storied career."
-Jon Meacham, Slate.com
-New York Times Book Review
"Paul Johnson is the most celebrated and best-loved British historian in America."
-Wall Street Journal
"[If] you appreciate clarity, authority, and verve in historical writing, you will understand why I gulped down [Churchill] and now declare it the most exciting biography I read in 2009."
-Jesse Kornbluth, Huffington Post
"Johnson clearly shares and revels in Churchill's generosity of spirit and limitless intellectual energy. He has produced a book that is a joy--and a worthy tribute to both of them."
-Washington Times
"You read Johnson to be provoked and entertained, and on both these scores his biography, like its subject, succeeds wonderfully."
-The American COnservative
"With deft narrative skill and keen insight, Johnson masterfully sketches the phases of Churchill's life...Along the way, Johnson gives us wonderful insights into Churchill's character...Rich with anecdote and quotation, Paul Johnson's Churchill illustrates the man's humor, resilience, courage, and eccentricity as no other biography before."
-National Review
Johnson's story arc is written in fluid prose that beautifully reveals the tension of achievement of Churchill's life."
-Dallas Morning News
"The book's most original offering is--in characteristically vivid prose and a consistent intelligence and urbanity--Johnson's distillation of life lessons from Churchill's storied career."
-Jon Meacham, Slate.com
Book Description
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 other biography before.
Winston Churchill’s hold on contemporary readers has never slackened, and Paul Johnson’s lively, concise biography will appeal to historians and general nonfiction readers alike.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
In Whitman's sense, Churchill was "large....he contained multitudes.",
By
This review is from: Churchill (Hardcover)
In this biography of less than 200 pages, Paul Johnson has somehow managed to provide a remarkably comprehensive discussion of one of the most complicated, active, and productive public figures who ever lived. It is incredible to me what Winston Churchill accomplished, even taking into full account the fact that he lived for 90 years (30 November 1874 - 24 January 1965). He spent 55 of them as a member of Parliament, 31 as a minister, and nearly nine as prime minister. He was present at or fought in 15 battles, and was awarded 14 campaign medals for bravery, some with multiple clasps. He had been a prominent figure in the First World War and a dominant one in the Second. He eventually published more than ten million words and painted more than five hundred canvasses of significant quality. He was a member of the Royal Society, a Royal Academician, a university chancellor, a Nobel laureate (literature), a Knight of the Garter, and a member of the Order of Merit.What can be learned from a life such as this? Johnson suggests these five lessons: "The first lesson is: always aim high...He did not always meet his elevated targets, but by aiming high he always achieved something worthwhile. Lesson number two: there is no substitute for hard work...The balance he maintained between flat-out work and creative and restorative leisure is well worth study by anyone holding a top position. But he never evaded hard work itself: taking important and dangerous decisions, the hardest form of work there is, in the course of a sixteen-hour day... "Third and in its way most important, Churchill never allowed mistakes, disaster - personal or national - accidents, illnesses, unpopularity, and criticism to get him down. His powers of recuperation, both in physical illness and in psychological responses to abject failure, were astounding... "Fourth, Churchill wasted extraordinarily small amounts of his time and emotional energy on the meannesses of life: recrimination, shifting the blame into others, malice, revenge seeking, dirty tricks, spreading rumors, harboring grudges, waging vendettas. Having fought hard, hr washed his hands and went on to the next contest." "Finally, the absence of hatred left plenty of room for joy in Churchill's life. His face could light up in the most extraordinarily attractive way as it became suffused with pleasure at an unexpected and welcome event...He was emotional, and wept easily. But his tears soon dried, as joy came flooding back. He drew his strength from people, and imparted it to them in full measure. Everyone who values freedom under law, and government by, for, and from the people, can find comfort and reassurance in his life story." Having read and reviewed most of Johnson's other books, I was not surprised by his eloquence, nor by the quality and number of his insights, nor by his circumspection as he balances personal opinions (always acknowledged) with objective analysis. As I concluded reading this book, I was reminded of Albert Einstein's admonition, "Make it as simple as possible but no simpler." That is among Johnson's several achievements when producing this biography. Bravo!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Greatest man of the 20th century...",
By
This review is from: Churchill (Hardcover)
For such a brief treatment of the life of Winston Churchill, this book is a real gem. In my mind this fine book has done what any good brief biography should do: it does a good job of acquainting the reader with the character and it creates a desire to know more. Johnson has not only introduced us to the life and person of Winston Churchill but he has done so in a way that we actually feel we know something of the heart and mind of Churchill. Johnson contends that "Winnie" was the most important figure of the 20th century and after reading this book, I'm inclined to agree.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
the old lion from britain,
By
This review is from: Churchill (Hardcover)
as usual in a few pages JOHNSON GIVES US A FINE ANALYSIS of CHURCHILL character and deeds.. the mEMORY OF WSC IS SECURE.
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