Review of the masterful three-volume biography of Winston Churchill by the historian and renowned biographer William Manchester: The Last Lion: Visions of Glory 1874-1932 (1983); The Last Lion: Alone 1932-1940 (1988); and The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm 1940-1965 (2012).
I’ve had these volumes in my library for several years but never had time to read them until the past couple of years. I’ve read several other books by Manchester also in my library including The Death of a President, the Arms of Krupp, American Caesar, and One Brief Shining Moment. In my opinion, these tree volumes of more than 3000 pages represent his best work, although the final book was finished by his close friend Paul Reid due to the death of Manchester in 2004. As with all of Manchester’s books, these three volumes are meticulously researched. They represent not only the most extensive biography of Churchill, but also a history of the decline of the British Empire, WWI, and WWII. Churchill was at the center of all these critical historical events.
The volumes are not for the light-hearted reader. Manchester packs more history in one sentence than many authors do in an entire chapter. His notes at the end of each volume are extensive and important to read as well. His narrative keeps the attention of the reader and he covers everything about Churchill: family life growing up, especially his relationship to his mother; his education; his own family life as an adult; his lifetime of public service; his friends; the fact that although he grew up as part of the British elite, he had to write books and articles to pay his bills; his personal characteristics and values; his views of Britain and the world; and his views of other significant figures over the course of his lifetime. One of the themes that jumps out to the reader is Churchill’s fascination with history and literature and his complete mastery of the English language. This is most evident in his extensive publishing record and in his public speeches, many of which are known to people over the entire world. Of the three volumes, I liked the second volume The Last Lion: Alone 1932-1940 the best as it provides the world with the fact that he was perhaps the only leader in the 1930s that sounded the alarm bell for the rise of Hitler. It ends with Churchill becoming Prime Minister in May of 1940.
If you wish to learn about the man whom many consider to be the most important person in British history and perhaps the world of the 20th century, these volumes are for you.
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