world war II

There's a Book for That: Winston Churchill

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”  – Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, whose courage and conviction as Prime Minister led Britain to an allied victory in the Second World War, is once-again part of our cultural conversation due to the popular biopic, The Darkest Hour.  Earlier this month, Gary Oldman took home the Oscar for Best Actor due to his exquisite embodiment of Churchill in the movie. To learn more about the full life, including family perspectives, of Winston Churchill we’ve gathered many hours’ worth of fine reading about the visionary leader. 

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  Churchill and Orwell by Thomas E. RicksCHURCHILL & ORWELL: THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM by Thomas E. Ricks The glorious climax of Churchill and Orwell is the work they both did in the decade of the 1940’s to triumph over freedom’s enemies. And though Churchill played the larger role in the defeat of Hitler and the Axis, Orwell’s reckoning with the menace of authoritarian rule in Animal Farm and 1984 would define the stakes of the Cold War for its fifty-year course, and continues to give inspiration to fighters for truth and freedom to this day. Taken together, in Thomas E. Ricks’s masterful hands, their lives are a beautiful testament to the power of moral conviction, and to the courage it can take to stay true to it. Also available as an audiobook.   Hero of the Empire by Candice MillardHERO OF THE EMPIRE: THE BOER WAR, A DARING ESCAPE, AND THE MAKING OF WINSTON CHURCHILL by Candice Millard From New York Times bestselling author of Destiny of the Republic and The River of Doubt, a thrilling narrative of Winston Churchill’s extraordinary and little-known exploits during the Boer War. Also available as an audiobook.     Clementine by Sonia PurnellCLEMENTINE: THE LIFE OF MRS. WINSTON CHURCHILL by Sonia Purnell Late in life, Winston Churchill claimed that victory in the Second World War would have been “impossible” without the woman who stood by his side for 57 turbulent years. Why then do we know so little about her? Sonia Purnell’s Clementine, the first real biography of this remarkable woman,   The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932 by William ManchesterTHE LAST LION: WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL: DEFENDER OF THE REALM, 1940-1965 by William Manchester, Paul Reid The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm begins shortly after Winston Churchill became prime minister—when Great Britain stood alone against the overwhelming might of Nazi Germany. In brilliant prose and informed by decades of research, William Manchester and Paul Reid recount how Churchill organized his nation’s military response and defense, convinced FDR to support the cause, and personified the “never surrender” ethos that helped win the war.   A Daughter's Tale by Mary SoamesA DAUGHTER’S TALE: THE MEMOIR OF WINSTON CHURCHILL’S YOUNGEST CHILD by Mary Soames In this charming and intimate memoir, Winston Churchill's youngest daughter shares stories from her remarkable life-and tells of the unbreakable bond she forged with her father through some of the most tumultuous years in British history.     Churchill by Paul JohnsonCHURCHILL by Paul Johnson 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, and is sure to appeal to historians and general nonfiction readers alike.     FOR YOUNGER READERS:   War Dogs by Kathryn SelbertWAR DOGS: CHURCHILL & RUFUS by Kathryn Selbert While he is often likened to the English bulldog due to his tenacious personality and even his physical resemblance to the breed, Mr. Churchill was actually a devoted poodle owner and held quite an affinity for his miniature poodle, Rufus, who withstood the trials of World War II by his owner’s side. Readers follow Rufus and Winston’s friendship through major events in the war.   Who Was Winston Churchill? by Ellen Labrecque and Who HQWHO WAS WINSTON CHURCHILL? by Ellen Labrecque, Who HQ, Jerry Hoare Widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century, Churchill was also a historian, a writer, and an artist. He is the only British Prime Minister to have won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and was the first person to be made an honorary citizen of the United States.   For even more on Winston Churchill visit the broad collection: Churchill
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