Sir Winston S. Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values."
Over a 64-year span, Churchill published over 40 books, many multi-volume definitive accounts of historical events to which he was a witness and participant. All are beautifully written and as accessible and relevant today as when first published.
During his fifty-year political career, Churchill served twice as Prime Minister in addition to other prominent positions—including President of the Board of Trade, First Lord of the Admiralty, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Home Secretary. In the 1930s, Churchill was one of the first to recognize the danger of the rising Nazi power in Germany and to campaign for rearmament in Britain. His leadership and inspired broadcasts and speeches during World War II helped strengthen British resistance to Adolf Hitler—and played an important part in the Allies’ eventual triumph.
One of the most inspiring wartime leaders of modern history, Churchill was also an orator, a historian, a journalist, and an artist. All of these aspects of Churchill are fully represented in this collection of his works.
The first volume of Churchill’s two-volume biography of his father was an ambitious project. Lord Randolph Churchill had been a much-maligned character toward the middle and end of his life, and part of the purpose of this biography was to lift the haze of scandal surrounding his name.
This first volume deals with early events in Lord Randolph Churchill’s life, including his upbringing, his education, and his quarrel with the Prince of Wales over a woman being courted by his brother. This episode resulted in a temporary exile from society that would serve as a prequel to Randolph’s later disgrace. While Churchill is clearly a supporter of his father’s, he is not afraid to be honest about the mistakes and failures of his career and personal life.
This collection of speeches cover the period from 1951 to 1952, when Churchill once again stepped into the role of Prime Minister after his defeat in the General Election of 1945. During his first premiership, Churchill had been a renowned wartime leader. In his second, Churchill’s clear priority was the preservation of peace.
These speeches demonstrate a commitment to this path. Churchill tried heroically to negotiate a settlement with Russia during this time, but he was ultimately unable to prevent the conditions that would later give rise to the Cold War. He also held deep regrets over Britain’s failure to prevent violence and death in India during the transition of power and Britain’s withdrawal in the region. These speeches demonstrate perhaps a more introspective Churchill, but one as fiery, brilliant, and human as he was during his wartime years.
Winston Churchill's reputation still looms large in the canon of twentieth-century history-as a war leader, orator, and pillar of strength for Britain in the years of struggle against Hitler. Churchill's inspiring wartime speeches gave the British hope and comfort during years of bombings, violence, sacrifice, and terror.This compilation, composed of speeches made from 1938 to the end of 1940, contains some of his best. Highlights include "This was Their Finest Hour;" "Never in the Field of Human Conflict Was So Much Owed, By So Many, to So Few;" and "I Have Nothing to Offer but Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat." Even many decades after the end of the war, Churchill's words still have the power to stir the blood-and inspire the heart.
