Churchill: The Life

Arthur, Max
Max Arthur is rightly seen as one of Britain's leading oral historians of the Great War, collecting first-hand accounts of survivors from Britain's armed services, and allowing their stories to be told to a wider audience. He has enjoyed great success with previous books Forgotten Voices of the Great War, and his most recent book Lost Voices of the Edwardians.He has now delved into the superb photographic archives of the Imperial War Museum and other collections throughout Europe and unearthed remarkable, never before seen images, that when married with his contemporary eyewitness accounts, truly give the reader a unique view of the horror that was World War I.

When Winston Spencer Churchill was born in 1874, no one could have predicted the path that lay ahead. But, as it turned out, from Winston's undistinguished academic career to his front-line experiences as a soldier and journalist whether in India, Sudan or Cuba, and during the Boer War or in the trenches of World War I; through his unparalleled political career with all its ups and downs; to his 'finest hour' leading Britain during World War II, he was never to be far from the world's attention.

Now the boy, the soldier, the writer, the orator, the politician, the statesman and the family man are all brought to life in this absorbing illustrated book. Featuring both letters to 'Mama' from the homesick - but rebellious - schoolboy and telegrams to Stalin, it highlights some of the most gripping communications from the Churchill Archives. Facsimiles of hand-annotated speech notes are paired with fascinating memorabilia, such as the poster for the reward for his capture during the Boer War, a specimen of one of his infamous cigars, a favourite gramophone record and his Parliamentary despatch box. This book also showcases pictures from his family photograph collection, providing a more intimate portrait of Churchill the husband, the family man and even Churchill the animal lover. Exhaustively researched, Churchill: The Life includes previously unpublished images - such as Winston as a cadet at Harrow and his casket's final journey into Bladon cemetery - as well as rare images of him as a baby and specially shot artefacts from family archives.

Together with his unique selection of images, acclaimed historian Max Arthur's evocative and insightful narrative text gets to the core of Winston's character, using his own words and those of some of those closest to him, to provide a comprehensive study of the man and his life. This is a stunning tribute to a remarkable man.

A unique illustrated biography of the greatest Briton, in association with Churchill Heritage. Includes rare and previously unpublished images, and highlights from the Churchill Papers, family artefacts and the Broadwater Collection of photograph albums at the Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge, as well as other collections

A unique illustrated biography of the greatest Briton, in association with Churchill Heritage.