Churchill

By: Roy Jenkins

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Winston Churchill is an icon of modern history, but even though he was at the forefront of the political scene for almost 60 years, he might be remembered only as a minor player in the drama of British government had it not been for World War II. In this magisterial book, Roy Jenkins' unparalleled command of the political history of Britain and his own high-level government experience combine in a narrative account of Churchill's astounding career that is unmatched in its shrewd insights, its unforgettable anecdotes, the clarity of its overarching themes, and the author's nuanced appreciation of his extraordinary subject.

From a very young age, Churchill believed he was destined to play a great role in the life of his nation, and he determined to prepare himself. Jenkins shows in fascinating detail how Churchill educated himself for greatness, how he worked out his livelihood (writing) as well as his professional life (politics), how he situated himself at every major site or moment in British imperial and governmental life. His parliamentary career was like no other - with its changes of allegiance (from the Conservative to the Liberal and back to the Conservative Party), its troughs and humiliations, its triumphs and peaks - and for decades, especially the crisis years of the late 1930s and the terrifying 1940s, when at last it was clear how vital Churchill was to the very survival of Britain. He evaluates Churchill's other accomplishments, his writings, with equal authority.

Exceptional in its breadth of knowledge and distinguished by its stylish wit and penetrating intelligence, this is one of the finest political biographies of our time.

©2001 Roy Jenkins (P)2002 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A first-class, well-sustained work of history and a masterpiece of biography." (The Sunday Telegraph)
"This is far and away Churchill's best one-volume biography." (Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.)

excellent listen

An exceptionally well written narrative of the life and policies of one of the most pivotal leaders of his era. A prolific writer as well as a great leader.

Marvellously well written and narrated biography

Roy Jenkins writes in a kind of droll, gracious, slightly archaic and drily amusing style that some will love (I do) but others might find verbose (which it certainly is). If edited by a modern American editor, it would be 30% shorter, with the same amount of "information", but a huge amount would have been lost. Tip, if you like Wodehouse, or even Hitchens, this is your biography of Churchill. If Tom Stoppard wrote history he might write something like this. The author, Jenkins, was a very senior Labour (then lib-dem) politician in the UK, not quite PM but very nearly, and his insights into that world, Cabinet and the House of Commons, and Churchill's role in those places (sometimes with parenthetical analogies to situations in later years) is fascinating for those who like that kind of thing. It is a book that works extremely well in audible form, in part because Jenkins is one of those old-school writers who seems to write for the speaking voice (I imagine him reading many of his sentences aloud with amusement over a glass of after-dinner port as he wrote it) and also because the narrator is extraordinarily good. His characterizations (Afrikaans accent for Botha, mid-Wales for Lloyd Geoge, and numerous others) really enliven the book and make it easier to follow, and make one realize how much would be lost on the page. His Churchill voice is pitch-perfect, not the usual caricature but enough to suggest the man exactly. His educated and ironic tone matches perfectly the dry wit of the writing

Churchill - a token of peace in our time

Roy Jenkins reveals the detail of a political life!
Listen to Robert Whitfield right now

Great Detail, but maybe too great

In search of a book about the life of Winston Churchill, this isn't missing very much if anything. However, this was much more detail than I needed. I can't imagine many people needing this much detail. I found myself often skipping through large sections of historical data that I didn't find very relevant.
I rated 3 stars though because I guess I would rather read a biography with too much detail than too little.

Quite a figure

There is not much to say about this book. It is really good, quite detailed and very very long.

long, but worthwhile

This book was the cradle to grave story of Winston Churchill. The detailed account of his early years and rise to public office gives the listener a glimpse into one very interesting fellow. With the understanding of Churchill that I gained through listening, the actions in World WarI and World War II can be seen through another lens.

An enjoying and thorough biography.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in one of the great figures of the 20th Century (the greatest, according to the author). This is a fairly thorough, but readable personal history. With the exception of some digressions into the day-to-day grind of parlimentary politics (the rules of which may be a source of confusion to some non-British readers, such as myself), the book remains thoroughly enjoyable until the end.

Roy Jenkins may be the ideal person to effectively conjure Churchill's legacy. Although their time in government overlapped but little (and at very different ends of their careers), Jenkins was (I believe) a Labour minister, with a very different set of political beliefs than had Churchill. Nevertheless, it is clear that Jenkins holds Churchill in the highest esteem. This high esteem, coupled with a tendency to deflate Churchill at various points, makes for a compelling picture of a brilliant, difficult and (at times) transformative individual.

The narration is exceptional.

Great narration of the life of a great man

Would you consider the audio edition of Churchill to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version, so I cannot compare the two.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Whitfield's Churchill accent was spot on (at least for my American ear). I also liked the unique perspective that Roy Jenkins is able to add - unusual that a very talented historian and writer can write a biography on a world famous figure with whom he simultaneously served in public office and who also held similar high office as his subject.

Which character – as performed by Robert Whitfield – was your favorite?

FDR, just because it was interesting to hear someone with a British accent try to do an American accent - he was pretty believable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The audiobook is g*d-awfully long. I plodded along for several months (typically listening during long walks), but at times it felt more like homework than entertainment. As an American, I sometimes found it hard to understand all the details of the British Parliament and British electoral process, but I never felt completely over my head.

Any additional comments?

I had read very little about Churchill previously and I'm very glad I made it through the audiobook. The narration is fantastic (different accents for different characters); without the strength of the narration, my rating would have been lower.

Lengthy, Well Written, Excellent Narration

If you only want to get an overview of the man's life, this book is not for you. This book is for the reader who knows the basics of Churchill's long career but who would like to learn more (many more) of the details in between.

Churchill has his strengths and his flaws and this book isn't shy about exploring them in detail through each phase of his life. One quote that stands out in my mind is one where his young grandchild gets through the usual attendants and enters Churchill's study and asks "Grandpapa, is it true that you are the greatest man in the world?" To which his sweet grandfather answered: "Yes, now bugger off".

I found the narration excellent. Not only did the narrator imitate a good Churchill but he switched to good Scots, Welsh, Afrikaner, American and working class English accents with ease.

Takes one to Know One

Great stuff about one of England’s most famous. It was a real pleasure reading another Churchill biography. And maybe that shouldn’t have not have surprised me. What else could be expected when an experienced, articulate politician writes about an experienced, articulate politican?