Churchill and Malta: A Special Relationship

by Douglas Austin

This book recounts the story of the special relationship between Winston Churchill and the people of Malta. No other British colony of the early 20th century did he visit so often or come to know so well.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

The detail that completely flipped my perspective in Churchill and Malta: A Special Relationship was how a bunch of "ancient" city rules were really just old neighbors fighting about noise and trash. Douglas Austin clearly worked from court records and complaint logs, and the pettiness is spectacular, like a baker getting sued over the smell of his own bread. The pacing dragged a bit in the long section on city planning. Solid pick if you love history that proves people have always been annoying.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick verdict on Churchill and Malta: cold, clever, and a bit too pleased with itself. What worked: Douglas Austin's precision, every sentence cut to size. What didn't: I never felt a thing. Recommend for admirers of craft, skip if you read for heart.