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Winston S. Churchill #4
Winston S. Churchill: World in Torment, 1916–1922
The fourth volume in the official biography—“The most scholarly study of Churchill in war and peace ever written.” (Herbert Mitgang, The New York Times)
Covering the years 1917 to 1922, Martin Gilbert’s fascinating account carefully traces Churchill’s wide-ranging activities and shows how, by his persuasive oratory, administrative skill, and masterful contributions to Cabinet discussions, Churchill regained, only a few years after the disaster of the Dardanelles, a leading position in British political life.
There are many dramatic and controversial episodes: the German breakthrough on the Western Front in March 1918, the anti-Bolshevik intervention in 1919, negotiating the Irish Treaty, consolidating the Jewish National Home in Palestine, and the Chanak crisis with Turkey. In all these, and many other events, Churchill’s leading role is explained and illuminated in Martin Gilbert’s precise, masterful style.
In a moving final chapter, covering a period when Churchill was without a seat in Parliament for the first time since 1900, Martin Gilbert brilliantly draws together the many strands of a time in Churchill’s life when his political triumphs were overshadowed by personal sorrows, by his increasingly somber reflections on the backward march of nations and society, and by his stark forecasts of dangers to come.
“A milestone, a monument, a magisterial achievement . . . Rightly regarded as the most comprehensive life ever written of any age.” —Andrew Roberts, historian and author of The Storm of War
Covering the years 1917 to 1922, Martin Gilbert’s fascinating account carefully traces Churchill’s wide-ranging activities and shows how, by his persuasive oratory, administrative skill, and masterful contributions to Cabinet discussions, Churchill regained, only a few years after the disaster of the Dardanelles, a leading position in British political life.
There are many dramatic and controversial episodes: the German breakthrough on the Western Front in March 1918, the anti-Bolshevik intervention in 1919, negotiating the Irish Treaty, consolidating the Jewish National Home in Palestine, and the Chanak crisis with Turkey. In all these, and many other events, Churchill’s leading role is explained and illuminated in Martin Gilbert’s precise, masterful style.
In a moving final chapter, covering a period when Churchill was without a seat in Parliament for the first time since 1900, Martin Gilbert brilliantly draws together the many strands of a time in Churchill’s life when his political triumphs were overshadowed by personal sorrows, by his increasingly somber reflections on the backward march of nations and society, and by his stark forecasts of dangers to come.
“A milestone, a monument, a magisterial achievement . . . Rightly regarded as the most comprehensive life ever written of any age.” —Andrew Roberts, historian and author of The Storm of War
954 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1975
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About the author
Martin Gilbert
251 books419 followersThe official biographer of Winston Churchill and a leading historian on the Twentieth Century, Sir Martin Gilbert was a scholar and an historian who, though his 88 books, has shown there is such a thing as “true history”
Born in London in 1936, Martin Gilbert was educated at Highgate School, and Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours. He was a Research Scholar at St Anthony's College, and became a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford in 1962, and an Honorary Fellow in 1994. After working as a researcher for Randolph Churchill, Gilbert was chosen to take over the writing of the Churchill biography upon Randolph's death in 1968, writing six of the eight volumes of biography and editing twelve volumes of documents. In addition, Gilbert has written pioneering and classic works on the First and Second World Wars, the Twentieth Century, the Holocaust, and Jewish history.
Gilbert drove every aspect of his books, from finding archives to corresponding with eyewitnesses and participants that gave his work veracity and meaning, to finding and choosing illustrations, drawing maps that mention each place in the text, and compiling the indexes. He travelled widely lecturing and researching, advised political figures and filmmakers, and gave a voice and a name “to those who fought and those who fell.”
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Born in London in 1936, Martin Gilbert was educated at Highgate School, and Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours. He was a Research Scholar at St Anthony's College, and became a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford in 1962, and an Honorary Fellow in 1994. After working as a researcher for Randolph Churchill, Gilbert was chosen to take over the writing of the Churchill biography upon Randolph's death in 1968, writing six of the eight volumes of biography and editing twelve volumes of documents. In addition, Gilbert has written pioneering and classic works on the First and Second World Wars, the Twentieth Century, the Holocaust, and Jewish history.
Gilbert drove every aspect of his books, from finding archives to corresponding with eyewitnesses and participants that gave his work veracity and meaning, to finding and choosing illustrations, drawing maps that mention each place in the text, and compiling the indexes. He travelled widely lecturing and researching, advised political figures and filmmakers, and gave a voice and a name “to those who fought and those who fell.”
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 23, 2018
This was an excellent Churchill volume and biography of this time frame. I learned a lot of new things that were not in some of the other Churchill biographies. We certainly didn't learn this stuff in history class in high school or college for that matter. Martin Gilbert does a wonderful job here and documents things extremely well. During this 6 years, Winston was a member of Lloyd George's cabinet and held top minister posts at the Ministry of Munitions, the War Office and the Colonial Office.
The issues WC dealt with during this time included the Russian issue and the Bolsheviks. He was anti-Bolshevik and anti commie. Irish Home Rule was still an issue and the Sinn Feins and the IRA wanted GB out. Lots of folks were killed. Turkey and Iraq and the Middle East was a big issue. Turkey and Greece were at odds. All were fighting over land and resources-what is else new!
While at the Colonial Office WC dealt with the Jewish homeland issue, Palestine, and who would rule Iraq and Jordan. He was a defender of the Balfour Declaration. WC was with the Liberal Coalition party at this time but kept to his values against socialism and communism. I liked the fact that he was innovative-this is not something you hear about. WC wanted air power and was pushing new things in technology that would be helpful in a future war, which he forecast. There's so much, I took mega notes and have already started volume 5. Thank you and RIP Martin Gilbert. Well done!
The issues WC dealt with during this time included the Russian issue and the Bolsheviks. He was anti-Bolshevik and anti commie. Irish Home Rule was still an issue and the Sinn Feins and the IRA wanted GB out. Lots of folks were killed. Turkey and Iraq and the Middle East was a big issue. Turkey and Greece were at odds. All were fighting over land and resources-what is else new!
While at the Colonial Office WC dealt with the Jewish homeland issue, Palestine, and who would rule Iraq and Jordan. He was a defender of the Balfour Declaration. WC was with the Liberal Coalition party at this time but kept to his values against socialism and communism. I liked the fact that he was innovative-this is not something you hear about. WC wanted air power and was pushing new things in technology that would be helpful in a future war, which he forecast. There's so much, I took mega notes and have already started volume 5. Thank you and RIP Martin Gilbert. Well done!
June 28, 2023
Truly wonderful. This was my first Gilbert volume and it did not disappoint. His writing style is much more straightforward & that of an academic historian rather than a true biographical author. I really enjoyed that approach vs. the journalistic & story telling style of Manchester and Roberts.
This was volume 4 of 8 in the official Churchill biography, republished my Hillsdale in the last decade. I plan on reading all of them eventually.
My main reason for starting with this one was to get introduced to the Russian Civil War & the formation of modern day Palestine. The creation of Israel is something many do not understand and this was a very enlightening way to learn about it. Gilbert does a really refreshing job of not letting his own feelings get in the way of reporting the masses of events that transpire across these world changing moments. He presents the information in its’ almost oceanic volume and allows the reader to swim for themselves. A great read for Churchill and history nerds
This was volume 4 of 8 in the official Churchill biography, republished my Hillsdale in the last decade. I plan on reading all of them eventually.
My main reason for starting with this one was to get introduced to the Russian Civil War & the formation of modern day Palestine. The creation of Israel is something many do not understand and this was a very enlightening way to learn about it. Gilbert does a really refreshing job of not letting his own feelings get in the way of reporting the masses of events that transpire across these world changing moments. He presents the information in its’ almost oceanic volume and allows the reader to swim for themselves. A great read for Churchill and history nerds
April 13, 2023
A tumultuous period in Churchill's life as First Lord of the Admiralty, commanding a battalion in the trenches, then serving as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War (including the Air Ministry) and then Colonial Secretary. In 1922 he lost his seat at Dundee in the General Election called upon Lloyd George's resignation and the end of the Coalition Government so we end this period with him out of office and out of Parliament.
October 19, 2023
I enjoyed the book, but it is massive and detailed. At times you get lost in all the mind numbing details that Gilbert sets out. It takes awhile to get your bearings and get the sweep of the story. The last chapter helped to put it all together though.
Perhaps reading it on the Kindle contributes to this sense. It’s hard to flip back and forth to remind yourself where you are.
You do get a sense of Churchill’s greatness as a leader however.
Perhaps reading it on the Kindle contributes to this sense. It’s hard to flip back and forth to remind yourself where you are.
You do get a sense of Churchill’s greatness as a leader however.
April 23, 2020
Always an interesting subject.
Having red the previous three volumes of his biography I continue to learn something new about Winston Churchill and those around him. He was truly a servant to his government and a leader among men even when it was not popular. Well worth the time investment and an enjoyable experience.
Having red the previous three volumes of his biography I continue to learn something new about Winston Churchill and those around him. He was truly a servant to his government and a leader among men even when it was not popular. Well worth the time investment and an enjoyable experience.
May 17, 2022
Finishing these 915 pages, gets me halfway through the eight volume set. I find in Winston Churchill a person who won often and lost a few times. How did he deal with those wins and losses? That is what makes this biography a must read. We shall not see his kind again!
March 8, 2019
With each volume of this wonderful narration, I find myself coming closer to understanding the human condition.
May 13, 2025
The best
June 29, 2016
"On 7 July 1921 he (Churchill) told the Imperial Conference in London that if Britain could become ‘the Ally of France and the friend of Germany’, she should then be in a position ‘to mitigate the frightful rancour and fear and hatred which exist between France and Germany at the present time and which, if left unchecked, will most certainly in a generation or so bring about a renewal of the struggle of which we have just witnessed the conclusion’. WSC
It's these forward-looking insights by Churchill that Mr Gilbert has woven together from the mountains of material available.
Gilbert's gift is his ability to order all this in a linear mode with his own insights along with Churchills peers and family memos and correspondence.
I give it a four out of five. Mr Gilbert seems to hold back criticism of WSC. What we get is an overview of six of the most crucial years for the world post WW I.
We go from the trenches to the Cabinet with Winston and what a ride. As told by the master of our uncommon language as he lived it.
Gilbert is fair and straight forward leaving the reader to measure WSCs own weight of truth and impact.
It's these forward-looking insights by Churchill that Mr Gilbert has woven together from the mountains of material available.
Gilbert's gift is his ability to order all this in a linear mode with his own insights along with Churchills peers and family memos and correspondence.
I give it a four out of five. Mr Gilbert seems to hold back criticism of WSC. What we get is an overview of six of the most crucial years for the world post WW I.
We go from the trenches to the Cabinet with Winston and what a ride. As told by the master of our uncommon language as he lived it.
Gilbert is fair and straight forward leaving the reader to measure WSCs own weight of truth and impact.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews