Churchill was a man
uniquely suited to the role he played in WWII. He was a warlord and a
statesman, a unique combination that gave him the personality to lead
his nation through one of the worst periods in world history. The
question this book seeks to answer is: What made Churchill that way?
Three periods of
Churchill's life are the focus of the book: war, empire and peace. In
the section on war, the author highlights Churchill's experiences
during the Boer War and the war in the Sudan. Here he saw the horror
or modern warfare against the traditional tactics of earlier
generations. It gave him a dislike for scientific warfare, but also
the realization that the challenge must be met. He also realized that
more than a soldier he had to be a statesman to affect the outcome of
world conflict. This section was my favorite and has lessons that we
can help us today.
Churchill believed
in democracy. People should be allowed to rule themselves, but he was
also a staunch supporter of the empire. The empire gave Britain
status in the world that Churchill was loath to lose.
In peacetime,
he was less successful in leading the country. Being a firm believer
in constitutionality, he disliked Socialism. Although it cost him
political office, he staunchly criticized Socialism believing that it
was bad for the country.
This is an excellent
book. Not only does it present a comprehensive look at the events
that formed Churchill and how he used his experiences, it gives us
lessons for today that we should understand. I highly recommend the book.
I reviewed this book
for Booklook Bloggers.
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