Books
by William Manchester
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The Last Lion - Vol. I, Visions of Glory 1874-1932 |
One would think the last word had been written about Churchill but, in this exhaustive study, Manchester surpasses himself for objective and sympathetic historiography. Though he hides every vestige of the author, a hint of real pain permeates his portrayal of this complex personality. We come to understand how so much original thinking, dedication and ability went begging and how strong and even noble was the character who waited forty years for his chance in history.
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 41 August 2007) |
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The Last Lion: Vol. II, Alone 1932-1940 |
Manchester analyses, brilliantly and passionately, the long wait endured by Churchill - not least due to his own fault - before becoming the great British War Leader, embodiment of victory to millions. Manchester gives him to us warts and all, from a backbencher - at 58 'already regarded as an anachronism' - to his coming to power in 1940, 'because he had seen through Hitler from the very beginning'. Let's hope that Volume III maintains this standard.*
* Editor's note: The Last Lion, Vol. I - Visions of Glory 1874-1932 was reviewed in bwl 41. William Manchester had started to work on Vol. III - the last of the series - but died quite recently. Apparently it will be completed and published in the foreseeable future as a posthumous edition.
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 42 October 2007) |
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