The Churchill Literary Society

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....

Churchill standing above the crowd at the Ministry  of Health balcony giving the famous victory sign. On May 8th of this year the world celebrated the 75th anniversary of VE day. Although celebrations were sadly different from the festivities that had been planned (no parties in the streets or celebratory cream teas with friends and neighbors, this year), there were still many ways to celebrate. Allan Packwood of the National Churchill Museum hosted a webcast with Celia Sandys, Churchill's granddaughter, as a guest; a pianist played the popular World War Two song "We'll Meet Again" in the church of St. Mary which was broadcast all over the UK; and Churchillians everywhere (including me) flashed the iconic "V is for Victory" sign every few minutes while proudly reciting Winston Churchill quotes for all to hear. I enjoyed VE day under lockdown with tea, a  Victoria sponge, and cucumber sandwiches. Although these proceedings aren't quite as nice as the annu...

Churchill and Clemmie at Hendon Air Pageant, 1914. Winston Churchill had been interested in airplanes since the very beginning of their origins. Even in the infancy of a eronautics , Churchill realized how instrumental airplanes could be in warfare. His first proposal on this subject was in February, 1909 – only six years after the Wright brother's first brief but successful flight in Kitty Hawk, and three months after the first "sustained fight" in the UK. "The problem of the use of airplanes was a most important one," he propounded, "and we should place ourselves in communication with Mr. Wright himself, and avail ourselves of his knowledge." The same year, the United States bought the first airplane for its army. Churchill quickly promoted a British air force as well. In 1911 Churchill used his new position as First Lord of the Admiralty to promote what is now known as the Royal Naval Air Service, or RNAS. In a speech on air power in 1913 that he ga...

Winston Churchill went many places and did many things. His life is full of interesting facts. Complete the quiz below to see what you remember. Loading…

Churchill in 1912; shortly after  founding the Other Club Winston Churchill had been in parliament for nine years by 1911, and during this time he had become notoriously controversial. Churchill had already changed political parties once (he was to do so again in 1922), he staunchly supported free trade, a largely unpopular ideal, and he also fought for Irish Home Rule campaign - a movement that many members of Parliament strongly opposed. To support him was often seen as supporting contentious political ideals. It is because of this that Churchill and his friend, F. E. Smith (Smith, who held many political beliefs similar to Churchill, later became the 1st Earl of Birkenhead) were blackballed when they asked to enter one of the most prestigious and renowned political clubs in England: a fortnightly dining club known simply as "The Club." Founded in 1764 by the artist Joshua Reynolds and the essayist Samuel Johnson, the Club was to be "composed of the heads of ...

Churchill (left) in Egypt in 1921 For the past month or so, I have worked on creating a digital map that charts all of Winston Churchill's travels. It will catalogue everywhere he went. As you may imagine, it is a large task; Churchill traveled everywhere from Calcutta to New York in his long life. So far, I have charted everywhere that he has traveled, as far as I know, up to the year 1907. I have fifty-eight years to go, but am planning to finish it sometime this month, if possible. Keep checking the map, as I am updating it constantly. I hope that you enjoy this resource!

In 1929, Winston Churchill visited Virginia and made Richmond's elegant Executive Mansion, the oldest in the United States, the base of his operations. Edwin Slipek Jr. notes: "In May 1929, the energetic Churchill, 54, suddenly found himself out of political power and with a rare chunk of time on his hands…. He lost his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and not unimportantly, the salary that came with it....Seeking to generate some income, Churchill decided to step up his writing, a skill for which he also was widely recognized. His new projects included a biography of John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, an ancestor, as well as a series of 10 newspaper articles for London's Daily Telegraph that would chronicle his North American trip." Churchill relished the trip, and when he wasn't writing or socializing with his hosts, Gov. Harry F. Byrd and his wife, Anne Beverley Byrd, he could often be found tramping through Civil War battlefields and ...