My Early Life

A Roving Commission

By: Sir Winston Churchill

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

This is the story of the first 25 years of Mr. Churchill’s life, up to the point where his unique parliamentary career was just beginning. From childhood and his apprentice days at Harrow and Sandhurst we follow him on active service to Cuba, the North-West Frontier of India, Omdurman and the Boer War (including the historic story of his escape from captivity), while in the background are his early adventures in politics and literature.

“I have tried, in each part of the quarter-century in which this tale lies, to show the point of view appropriate to my years, whether as a child, a schoolboy, a cadet, a subaltern, a war-correspondent, or a youthful politician.... When I survey this work as a whole I find I have drawn a picture of a vanished age.”
— from the author’s Preface

©1930 Charles Scribner’s Sons (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Frederick Davidson employs a slight Churchillian drawl, making this one of the most completely satisfying programs in years.” (Library Journal)

Exciting and informal!

it was great to hear this in a British Accent and a lot of history!

Loved it

Wonderfully narrated and very entertaining. I like very Churchill and am so glad that he wrote so many books. The narrator was great, like listening to a younger Churchill!

An entertaining intro to a great man

Winston Churchill was, in addition to being one of the greatest men of Western history, a terrific writer. I was entertained as well as informed by his story, which teaches not only about his life, but about human nature. Frederick Davidson is, hands down, my favorite narrator. He brings every story to life.

Great and accessible read

Highly interesting autobiography. Although some bits and pieces were difficult to comprehend given different historical and cultural background, I thoroughly enjoyed learning new things about British Victorian era as well as the author himself.

Very good

Great narration. Excellent story of Churchill’s early life. Cheeky humor and fascinating look at a bygone age.

Alike a fictional novel of adventure

This book runs from his earliest memories as 4 a year old, in impressive detail, every year though 12 years old and then through high school and college. Then continuing through his adventures and trails that brought him to the end of the Boear Wars. The performance by the reader was very pleasant and skilled. It was very easy to pretend that Winston himself was reading the book to me, as the reader spoke in the same accent and rhythm as Winston. I had no clue that Winston embarked on so many travels across oceans and continents. His recounts of .... blood, victory, anxiety, whit, youthful depression, interpersonal conflict, all amongst the discomforts of the weather of Cuba, india, and the antarctic ocean.... made his humanity undoubtable.

I highly recommend this book to those who aren't history buffs, and love tales of adventure and life amongst men with a good supply of scotch whiskey and cigars.

Great read (listen). Inspiring story.

This helps me better understand many things.
Like the relationships between England and her colonies.
like Why I've heard Churchill was a badass cavalry officer prior to WWI.
How important and influential it is to be able to tell a story.
Churchill was an amazing guy.
this is an amazing story.
the narrator was great.

Fantastic!

Churchhill is witty and brilliant and entertaining as a stand-up comic. He guides you through history and puts you into the thick of all his adventures, creating a living history that breathes and smells,
But of all the audiobooks I’ve ever listened to, I don’t think anybody’s ever captured the spirit of an historical figure like Frederick Davidson. This man is a wonderfully talented voice actor, and it’s an absolute pleasure to hear him read this work.

Can’t Get Enough

He was a brilliant man! He understood what people valued and was not afraid to speak his mind. If only we had a present day version!

Great, just great.

I’ve listened to The Last Lion trilogy three times and this brought WSC’s perspective to his life. Loved it.