Recent Churchill Reads

Clementine Churchill, 1908.
Since last spring, when I was first becoming interested in Winston Churchill and the history surrounding him and his family, I have almost always been reading a book on him, and I generally have a stack of Churchill books in my room about two feet tall (err... no, I'm not obsessed at all...). Here are the Churchill books that I have been reading recently.


The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson.

This book is not a formal biography but rather a lighthearted celebration of Churchill's life. In The Churchill Factor, PM Boris Johnson picks all his favorite aspects of Churchill's life (his oratory, Clemmie Churchill, Churchill's hobbies, his books, etc.,) and devotes a chapter to each one. It's one of those books that, although they are non-fiction, are hard to put down. Johnson also incorporates plenty of amusing Churchill stories and witty quips that are sure to keep readers chuckling throughout the book.

Winston and Clementine by Mary Soames.

Compiled by their eldest daughter, this complete collection of Winston and Clemmie's letters is incredibly interesting. In this volume are letters featuring humorous doddles, top-secret political news (the Churchills often signed letters containing confidential information with the postscript "burn after reading," but luckily they never did), and society gossip. The contextual notes before each letter make the book serve as both a dual memoir and biography.

Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts. 

This book has been hailed by numerous reviewers, historians, and Churchill enthusiasts alike as the best single-volume biography written on Sir Winston. Robert's is probably the world's leading "Churchillian," and his writing style is terrific. This tome also makes a great reference book; you'll see it popping up in the sources that I use for this blog frequently.

Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell.

Clemmie Churchill payed a huge role in Churchill's life and this first biography of her is very fascinating. Readers will be surprised that the Mrs. Winston Churchill who often fades into the background of other Churchill biographies was not a quiet or docile, but rather opinionated, witty, and talkative.

Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill by Michael Shelden.

This is a fascinating history of Winston Churchill's early political career. It begins in 1901, when Churchill was first elected as an MP for the House of Commons, and ends at the disastrous Dardanelles Campaign of 1915. Shelden is a brilliant writer and this book gives us a revealing glimpse of the young, controversial, and slightly reckless Churchill.


More book recommendations coming later! Happy reading, and remember to, as Churchill himself said, "Study history, study history, study history."

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