The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932

I had known that William Manchester’s biography of Winston Churchill is widely regarded as the best of the lot. What I did not know is that this retrospective was three volumes – each at about 1,000 pages. That’s about 3,000 pages total. Yikes. So I approached this first volume with tiptoes and trepidation. Could I actually make it through 3,000 pages? Is it even possible to write so much about one person? Would it keep my interest?After finishing the first volume, for the most part, the progress report is highly favorable. This is a very long, detailed account of one of the most celebrated figures of the twentieth century. Now, when one says “long”, that usually means “too” long, but that really isn’t the case here. Manchester is simply meticulous, and he doesn’t leave anything out. It should also be pointed out that this first book covers 58 years of the man’s life, so the 1,000 pages or so can’t really be criticized too heavily for only reasons of excess.What I found a bit peculiar is that the introduction to this book actually gives a brief (well, semi-brief – I’m guessing about 50 pages. Since I read an e-book without page numbers, I’m not entirely sure) overview of the man’s entire life. Why give a synopsis of the entire story right before you begin to actually tell the tale? Perhaps the justification might be that the masses who are familiar with the man only know that he was the Prime Minister of England during World War II, and the author wanted to let us know that there was so much more to the story. I didn’t find this cumbersome, yet it did seem a bit unnecessary.Right after this introduction, he then goes into an….um…another introduction? (Maybe it was a “forward” or something. I can’t remember). In this portion, the author takes another 50 pages or so to describe 19th century England for the novice reader. This, in fact, I found very helpful. Maybe since I’m a citizen of the U.S. and know precious little about England’s varied history. It was definitely an asset when describing not only all of the arms of the British Empire, but how the English Aristocracy actually functioned, and how it was drastically different that the vast majority of the starving peasants that lived in the fetid streets of London. Churchill was born into that aristocracy, so it helps the reader digest a lot of the “normal” comings and goings of those relevant to the biography.So we finally then get to Winston’s early years. This book describes his parents to basically be a couple of pompous jerks who see their children as a major annoyance. Winston and brother Jack are quickly sent off to public (similar to what Americans would call “private”) school, and their parents are more concerned with throwing lavish parties then wanting to be bothered with their children. Winston feels the rejection, yet it never seems to overwhelm him too much. Again, the forward to the book leads us to believe that this was perhaps a bit more common in the echelons of England’s high society. Particularly annoying is Winston’s American mother. I guess I could describe her as “promiscuous” (that sounds nicer than “slut”). I couldn’t keep up with all of the men she was sleeping with – both while married and after Winston’s father died prematurely.After school, Winston spends time in the armed forces. He goes to a lot of places, and is in a lot of battles. This never bothers him. He, and all of the youth of England, actually crave the battlefield and have absolutely no fear of dying in combat. It’s suggested that Churchill is using the battlegrounds as a step to politics, which is where most of the book focuses.When Churchill does go into politics, this is where I frequently got lost. It wasn’t that the writing was poor, but I simply don’t know that much about politics in England. I really couldn’t tell you what a Prime Minister really does, what the relationship is between Parliament and the “Royals”, the difference between the labours and the liberals, nor the difference between the tories and the conservatives. Let’s just say that I was very relieved that reading an E-book allows you to quickly look up stuff on Wikipedia. I’ve never had to use a reference site as much as I did when I read this book.So all of the details are here up until 1932. A lot of them are good for his career, but a lot more seem bad. Lots of mistakes are made in the man’s life, and he learned a lot of lessons the hard way. Sometimes I felt the details were a bit too drawn out (the failed Dardanelles experiment in the First World War comes to mind), yet overall the story flowed very smoothly with all events packed in rather tightly.The main thing you have to admire about Churchill was that he was definitely his “own” man. He never seemed to want to say what the masses wanted to hear, nor say what he was “supposed” to say. He spoke his mind. Rather brave for any politician. So although this caused many problems in his political life, it’s easy to now see, in retrospect, how it was just this attitude that helped England win the Second World War.I’m looking forward to the next volume – but my brain needs a bit of a break before I plow back into the man’s life.

A vivid life such as that of Mr. Churchill's deserves every single last of the 800+ pages in this tome. It would be a travesty to spend any less time on arguably the greatest non-fictional character to ever exist. William Manchester understands this well. Manchester has a curious obsession with the life of Winston Churchill, and you'll find that this book is so painstakingly researched that is has you wondering what kind of favors he had to pull. Obsession, however, is an important ingredient in a great biographer. Without it, you cannot get the level of detail that you might otherwise. The other vital ingredient in a great biographer such as Manchester is a certain detachedness that allows him to step back for objective reflection and analysis. While Manchester spends most of the book praising Winston's energy, heroics, ability, wit, skill, work ethic and political prowess, he also is not afraid to excoriate when a fault is found with Winston's actions.But while the history and analysis of the man himself is wonderful, what this book does exceedingly well is provide context. For each one of Winston's major political decisions, there is a strong background of history setting it up. This book is 2/3rds about Winston Churchill the man, and 1/3rd about Great Britain the falling empire. This is apt. The two--the history of Winston Churchill and the history of Great Britain--were intertwined, and have become inseparable in modern lore. For a reader who is shaky on British history like I was, you'll find this a useful blend of the two.Much of the book is told through unearthed letters and correspondences between Winston and others--many to his wife Clementine, many to other members of Parliament, and many to friends and other family members. When I spoke of Manchester's obsession before, this is the best evidence of that. Manchester had to track down these letters--the logistics of which are mind-boggling--sift through them, and then, hardest of all, infuse them into the narrative. Not only does one develop an appreciation and respect for this level of diligence (which appropriately mirrors Winston's level of diligence), but the letters add much value to the story. They allow for a level of deep insight into his life, exposing the more personal and sentimental side of Winston Churchill the husband and father, as opposed to Winston Churchill the great and vicious politician. And yes, he uses sweet lovey-dovey names with his wife, but I will not spoil exactly which ones (it is quite hilarious). In fact, I refuse to spoil much at all, because this book reads like a novel following a character through a fantastical land, and it had me turning page after page wondering what would happen next.If you're like me and were drawn to a Churchill biography because of the insane number of quotables so graciously bestowed to us by him, you will not be let down. Line after line of cleverness, of eloquence, of wit. Sometimes, his relentless usage of language borders on cheesiness. You'll find that his highbrow manner of speech holds effectiveness to those on his side, sways those undecided, and draws ire from those opposite. And further, speaking of opposition, the domestic political opposition to Winston remains a theme throughout (as is the nature of politics.) For Winston, the political barriers halting his rise to the Prime Minstership were severe, subjecting him to political exile on three separate occasions. This was because Winston's often extreme stances and opinions were found unpalatable to those far less skilled than he was. Plots were often devised without his knowledge, behind his back, hidden because none were his equal on the battlefield of open debate.Winston Churchill was a man of action, sharply decisive and beyond courageous. He stared death in the face on several occasions, and whether through fortuitous external forces or his own action, he survived every time. This has led to the notion that Winston had some sort of divine being watching over him. I'm an atheist myself, but it is hard to believe that a man so singularly incredible could not only be born, but also survive long enough to change the very fate of the world for better without the presence of something supernatural. Winston Churchill is truly a one-in-a-trillion human being, and William Manchester is clearly the right man to recount to us his wonderful story. As I said in the title, Winston Churchill would have been damn proud of this masterpiece.I look forward to reading the next two volumes with great joy.

It's exciting, and massively informative about the history of these times, what romps the upper classes and royalty get up to and how we behaved as a nation, I'm almost ashamed to be British! A wittily written, great and easy read and highly educational too. Faults and all and plenty of the hilarious barbed Churchill wit. I also now feel so sorry for him as a child, how terrible it must be to be without parental love, we're lucky he survived to achieve what he did for us, despite all his faults.

Non seulement parce que que se déroule sous nos yeux la vie et carrière de Churchill, personnage complexe et homérique, mais également, peut êre surtout, parce que le long de cette vie, l'auteur nous fais comprendre les grands enjeux politiques du moment: l'Empire, le maintien de l'ordre en Inde, en Egypte, la guère des Boers, les enjeux, choix stratégiques de la Grande Guerre, la question irlandaise, la naissance et la montée du Labour après la guerre et le déclin des Libéraux (et des idées libérales en général). Ce premier tome se termine sur l'entrée en wilderness de Churchill, et l'arrivée de Hitler. Une petite pose après 800 pages avant d'attaquer le Tome II!

Wonderfully absorbing and insightful book, in incredible depth. Interesting and illuminating!The only factor reducing the score of this eBook from a perfect 5 is the excessive number of mis-conversions of text from the scanned original book, which distract and disrupt the flow of reading.

William Manchester's Churchill biographies are unsurpassed for their thoroughness and readability. They comprise an extraordinary chronicle of an extraordinary and inspiring life.

I loved this. Well written on a subject dear to my heart. Must read others. Will buy hard copies it was that good