s/t: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory 1874-1932
When Winston Spencer Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace, Imperial Britain stood at t...
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Aug 16, 2007
Taking lessons from Churchill's life is not without its problems. Yes, he was a great man (an assessment he was never ashamed of sharing with others) but today, lesser man cite Churchill far too frequently and borrow from his legacy far too frequently.
Still, there is something undeniably appealing about the man. It may have been his uncompromising demeanor, or his propensity for outlandish stunt-pulling. I tend to think however, that the reason Churchill's story continues to resona More...
Still, there is something undeniably appealing about the man. It may have been his uncompromising demeanor, or his propensity for outlandish stunt-pulling. I tend to think however, that the reason Churchill's story continues to resona More...
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Jan 04, 2012
Brendan
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William Manchester's massive biography of Churchill is not only a good window on the man himself (the better for presenting large numbers of passages from Churchill's own writing) but also a chronicle of the times that formed Churchill and that Churchill formed -- from him time as a dashing young cavalry officer and war correspondent during the Boer War to the controversy surrounding his leadership of the Admiralty during the Great War, and his gradual eclipse from power in intra-war years. Man
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Nov 22, 2008
Sebastien
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I don't think anyone needs to be told this, but Winston Churchill was quite a fascinating person.
The author, William Manchester, does a good job of bringing to life Winston's childhood and early development. This childhood seems to have been extremely crucial in forming Winston's idiosyncratic, independent, and sometimes stubborn adult personality.
After his childhood experiences, Manchester marvelously catalogues Winston's experiences (and constant self-promotion and sea More...
The author, William Manchester, does a good job of bringing to life Winston's childhood and early development. This childhood seems to have been extremely crucial in forming Winston's idiosyncratic, independent, and sometimes stubborn adult personality.
After his childhood experiences, Manchester marvelously catalogues Winston's experiences (and constant self-promotion and sea More...
Oct 04, 2007
Janis
rated it:
Thorough. Very thorough. Thankfully, the subject is fascinating. I learned so much about Churchill and his era (much of it surprising) and enjoyed the book so much that I just made a commitment to an equally long and dense Vol. 2.
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Dec 25, 2011
Christopher
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"He was one of those authors - this writer is another - who believe that the past should not be judged by the standards of the present," says Mr. Manchester.
Reasonable enough stuff, but the sentence highlights two of the main problems herein. First, and this is by no means the best example but does hint at the larger problem, Manchester is a florid writer. It is a nice parallel that someone chronicling Churchill, himself plenty florid, would suffer from a similar ailment, b More...
Reasonable enough stuff, but the sentence highlights two of the main problems herein. First, and this is by no means the best example but does hint at the larger problem, Manchester is a florid writer. It is a nice parallel that someone chronicling Churchill, himself plenty florid, would suffer from a similar ailment, b More...
Apr 25, 2011
Patrick
rated it:
I kept this book in my office and read it during lunch over the course of many weeks, since it was too heavy to carry with me or take home on the weekend. It is one of the most enjoyable nonfiction books I've read in a long time -- maybe ever. Even the 110-page preamble/prologue held my attention, and I felt its length was fairly justified. Now that I've started the second volume, I can say I have just one problem with this biography, which is that the author seems just a little too much in awe
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Feb 20, 2011
Johnsergeant
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I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator was excellent - really captured Churchill's and others voices. It was certainly a marathon listen, but well worth it.
Narrated by Frederick Davidson
41 hrs and 19 mins
Publisher's Summary
Winston Churchill is perhaps the most important political figure of the 20th century. His great oratory and leadership during the Second World War were only part of his huge breadth of experience and achievement. Studying his li More...
Narrated by Frederick Davidson
41 hrs and 19 mins
Publisher's Summary
Winston Churchill is perhaps the most important political figure of the 20th century. His great oratory and leadership during the Second World War were only part of his huge breadth of experience and achievement. Studying his li More...
Jan 09, 2011
Krystina
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This was an excellent, well written, and thoroughly engrossing book about Churchill. I would recommend it, although I must add that towards the beginning of the book, the author does go into some detail about the at times immoral actions, viewpoints, and lifestyle of Winston's mother and her peers. He also describes some methods that were used so that people would not reap the consequences of their actions (ie: illegitimate children). Because of this, I would say be careful and be warned. Since
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Aug 30, 2010
John
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William Manchester was one of the best American historians of his generation. He wrote the signal biography of Douglas McArthur and his first two volumes of Winston Churchill are impeccably researched and beautifully written. I will never forgive Manchester for failing to finish volume three, Churchill in the war years. Can anyone tell me why? Instead he published maybe his weakest work, a story of the Middle Ages called A World Light Only by Fire.
The Last Lion (volumes I and II More...
The Last Lion (volumes I and II More...
Sep 27, 2009
Mel
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The first of the two volumes on Churchill, taking him from birth to the wilderness years (the beginning of the second volume). This first volume is interesting, as it gives you insight about the man. His rather cold parents sent him off to public (private) school and didn't visit or communicate often. That a man who led the world and is one of the most admired in history overcame cold parents and a disastrous defeat when he led the British naval department, among other obstacles, shows how ha
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Jul 22, 2009
Dewey
rated it:
Stunning story of Churchill's miserable childhood and yet great admiration for his father, who died a madman from syphillus, and his mother who was later one of the King's mistresses, his painfully lonely years at prep school and the enormous efforts he made to educate himself as a young army officer after wasted years at military academy. His courage almost got him killed numerous times in South Africa during the Boer War and in Europe during WWI. Manchester tells the story as the best biogr
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May 24, 2011
Tori
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I think that most everyone has heard of Winston Spencer Churchill. If you were to stop someone on the street and ask them who he was, they would probably tell you that he was England’s Prime Minister during World War II. This of course is true; however, there is a lot more to his life than serving as Prime Minister.
William Manchester’s book The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory shows this man’s life from 1874 to 1932. It could be perceived as almost a prequel to More...
William Manchester’s book The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory shows this man’s life from 1874 to 1932. It could be perceived as almost a prequel to More...
Feb 22, 2008
Rogier
rated it:
Oh well, I started to read this one in '01 and then gave up when I found out Wm. Manchester would not be able to complete the last volume, so I switched to reading the Roy Jenkins bio. Now it looks like that last volume will be completed by someone else, and I find myself wanting more background than the Roy Jenkins bio offered. So I'm back at it, and truly, this book is elaborate in terms of providing the background and context of history.
Many of the episodes are priceless in their More...
Many of the episodes are priceless in their More...
Aug 01, 2011
Fascinating, well-written and thoroughly researched book about Churchill from his birth until his seemingly self imposed exile in 1931. Manchester does a spectacular job of setting the scene of Victorian England into which WC was born and forever set his roots. His story is intriguing and never boring whether it be either his lonely childhood, his obstinancy at school, his harrowing escape from Boer prison or his years in Parliament. A great read!
May 15, 2011
This evening I finished Manchester's first volume of his incomplete 2 volume biography of Great Britain's WWII Prime Minister. A wonderful feature of the author's treatment is how richly he embeds Churchill in his times. Readers are treated to a detailed orientation of the events that led up to WWI and Great Britain's involvement in that grinding war. Manchester also does a masterly job of orienting his readers to the height of Great Britain's global dominance as a colonial power and to the b
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Jan 13, 2008
Kevin
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An excellent biography of Winston Churchill. This volume details Churchill's childhood and early political life leading up to 1932. I was surprised at how full a life Churchill lived even before his greatest triumphs during the Second World War. Did you know he was captured during the Boer war, made a POW and then escaped?
It’s amazing how well he was prepared to lead against Hitter. It makes you want to believe in destiny.
If you only care to read a single book about Chur More...
It’s amazing how well he was prepared to lead against Hitter. It makes you want to believe in destiny.
If you only care to read a single book about Chur More...
Jan 06, 2012
Brian
rated it:
Simply the greatest single biography I've ever read. Manchester's two volumes, he was unable to complete his third, give a depth and scope to a human and his time I have yet to find rivaled by any other book. You walk away with a deep understanding, admiration and compassion for a complicated and inspiring individual. Can not recommend both volumes more highly.
May 16, 2011
Kathy
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I am continually amazed by the nondescript childhoods that many important figures have. That Churchill's own father felt he would not amount to much summarizes the difficulties he had while a child. The story of how his pitiful performance in school translated to success in many other areas makes for a fascinating read (or listen in my case)
Jun 16, 2010
Fasincating account of Winston Churchill's early life. It took me several months to get through this 700+ page book but I enjoyed read a few pages a day. The book was interesting to read. Great book for any English history buff. It provides good insight into the mindsight of the British nobility during the late 1800s and early 1900s
Jan 05, 2012
Ian
rated it:
I have yet to find a William Manchester history book I do not like. The author's narative style is such to where I feel as though I am in the room with Churchill. I am aching to grab the second volume and continue the story. It is a great loss to history that Manchester died before completing the third volume.
Nov 11, 2011
"Manchester is not only a master of detail but also of ‘the big picture'....I daresay most Americans reading The Last Lion will relish it immensely." - National Review
Listen to The Last Lion, Vol 1 on your smartphone.
Listen to The Last Lion, Vol 1 on your smartphone.
Feb 13, 2011
Daniel
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Exhaustive research by a personal acquaintance resulted in this series, the first two of which are complete and the third will be forthcoming hopefully this year. Great historical education and adventuresome narrative that kept me turning the pages.
Aug 20, 2011
Jonnie
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Excellent, although his pursuits before 1938 are less well known this era of his life is just as interesting. I have read this book three times and just like others you find things you missed in previous readings which makes it more the better.
Feb 17, 2011
Carolyne
rated it:
I knew I was reading this series to get the World War II. A commitment of thousand of pages before I would get there. And it is worth it. I love this flawed, stubborn, amazing, and courageous man. This is THE Bio to read.
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Oct 29, 2011
Len
rated it:
Very readable and insightful. Flaws and all he was quite complex, vain and self confident individual.
Anxious for Volume 3 to be published. I heard it was due late in 2011. Has anyone heard otherwise?
Anxious for Volume 3 to be published. I heard it was due late in 2011. Has anyone heard otherwise?
Nov 10, 2011
Doc
rated it:
The first volume of an exhaustive biography of a man who really was in the thick of it all during the first half of the 20th century.
I'm been learning a great deal about this remarkable man. Just for example, Churchill was a top polo player in his younger years. He commanded a regiment for some months in the trenches during World War 1. He switched political parties, twice. He was in New York City on the day of the crash in 1929, and on a later visit to the city was struck by a car and sev More...
I'm been learning a great deal about this remarkable man. Just for example, Churchill was a top polo player in his younger years. He commanded a regiment for some months in the trenches during World War 1. He switched political parties, twice. He was in New York City on the day of the crash in 1929, and on a later visit to the city was struck by a car and sev More...
Jul 03, 2010
Trudy
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Winston Churchill's early life. His young life quite lonely and void of his parents. His nanny gave him the love and attention he so needed. It was quite insightfull to the the man.
Sep 07, 2009
Hrpattlsp
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What a glimpse into the world that shaped Churchill's talents and opportunities and challenged his genius and character. Not a positive comment on the morals and ethics of British society.
Oct 03, 2009
Terry
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How a young boy, an unworthy student, and under-loved son, rose through adversity to the man who would ultimately save Europe from its greatest threat since the rise of Napolean.
Feb 28, 2011
Ben
rated it:
One of my all-time favorite biographies. Manchester's research and analysis are always insightful and original, and his writing is almost as good as Churchill's.
