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4.55 AVERAGE
4.55 AVERAGE
being repetitive, however necessarily, is the only drawback to volume two, equally good to volume one.
While I prefer the first volume, the second volume did not disappoint. (Except the narrator, I could have done without the nasal intonation.)
I was a bit thrown off at first with the present tense narration of the introduction but that's most likely due to inattention on my part. It's easy to miss things like chapter headings and etc when listening to an audiobook.
This book, while more history than biography, is absolutely fascinating. Manchester highlights Churchill's intuitive genius and everyone else's head-in-the-sand cluelessness when it comes to Hitler. Absurdly astounding. (I had typed absolutely but autocorrect changed it to absurdly. I like that interpretation.)
I do wish that Manchester had included more about Churchill's personal life. (Yes, a biography that spans more than 2400 pages lacks something. :D) However, Manchester is a historiographical genius. His storytelling ability rivals his subject.
Again, I highly recommend the entire work.
I was a bit thrown off at first with the present tense narration of the introduction but that's most likely due to inattention on my part. It's easy to miss things like chapter headings and etc when listening to an audiobook.
This book, while more history than biography, is absolutely fascinating. Manchester highlights Churchill's intuitive genius and everyone else's head-in-the-sand cluelessness when it comes to Hitler. Absurdly astounding. (I had typed absolutely but autocorrect changed it to absurdly. I like that interpretation.)
I do wish that Manchester had included more about Churchill's personal life. (Yes, a biography that spans more than 2400 pages lacks something. :D) However, Manchester is a historiographical genius. His storytelling ability rivals his subject.
Again, I highly recommend the entire work.
This book ends Just as Churchill is taking office as the Prime Minister and Germany has begun it's blitzkrieg into Belgium and tells the story of his years out of the leadership of government and his gradual return to prominence. As one of the earliest and most consistent critics of Hitler he had to fight to end the appeasement policies of his own countrymen. A well researched and brilliantly told narrative of Churchill's life from 1932-1940, this volume of the Last Lion has a lot of detail about the lead up to WWII but given Churchill's association with that conflict it is a very necessary part of his story. A fast read in spite of its 800 page length the writing style keeps the reader engrossed and the narrative moving forward while also packing it full of interesting details and lots of great information.
Another great volume in the three volume biography of a great man. On to volume three.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Manchester’s second volume is the shortest chronological time period of the three, yet is equally as exciting and jam-packed with information as the first. It tackles Churchill’s life, both political and personal, with the rise of the Nazis and the lacklustre activities of the British Government as its main backdrops. Manchester again depicts Churchill as a great prophet, standing alone while Hitler steamrolls not only to power, but turns Europe into his plaything. While the book is biographic in nature and should be Churchill-centric, Manchester does address a great deal of German history to set the scene. Without it, much of the underlying impetus to depict Churchill as a visionary would be lost. A must-read (after Volume One) for anyone interested in a thorough and powerful political biography of one of the world’s great statesmen, told in such detail that one cannot leave without a great deal of new insight.
Manchester tries to work in a chronological fashion as he begins the book, alternating between Churchill in the Baldwin Cabinet against the fall of the Wiemar Republic. While most of the narrative (regarding Germany) is quite well known, some of the inner workings of the British Government may be new for the reader. Once Chamberlain takes over as prime minister, Churchill is edged out and his speeches in the House shift away from domestic policy and towards the fascist uprisings in Germany and Italy. Churchill stands alone in his critique and foreboding of this ideological and military power build-up, as the British Government seeks diplomatic relations with Hitler and Mussolini. Manchester uses this isolationist theme again, after its effective use in Volume One. The isolation does not come without a cost, as his friends begin to drift away from him and the self-doubt rises. He turns to writing his numerous pieces of non-fiction, which bring him much pleasure, all while Europe is on the brink of cataclysmic change.
The aptly named sub-title of the volume can be illustrated, as mentioned before, as he remains a beacon in the night, while the Fuhrer beats his chest and begins his plan to take over the European continent, plotting to bring fascism to the mainland. Churchill was ignored post-Great War as it related to Russia’s acceptance of communism (Bolshevism), which Manchester reiterates as Churchill repeats his warnings at every opportunity, in the House and in the press. As in 1919, these pleas fall on deaf ears, leaving Churchill to contemplate what lies ahead. Chamberlain, naive and inept to his core, is more concerned with pooh-poohiong the warnings and trusting that Hitler will not cause any concern. He goes so far as to sign a Munich Pact and presumes this will quell Hitler’s need for power and territory.
Manchester is able to weave extensive discussion about the Nazi rise to power and place it against the backdrop of the view from across the English Channel. It is not only sentiment that Manchester uses as his building blocks, but the hard foundation of history, which makes the book all the better. Use of nuances and detailed historical accounts brings the book to life and sells Manchester’s theme that Churchill was surrounded by those whose interest in appeasement was stronger than any rational sentiment. Hitler did not up and decide to take these actions (as I was duped into thinking from the history books), but it was a slow and intricate chess game that Manchester describes. Chamberlain and the French cowered away under their respective rocks and could not understand why the Nazis wouldn’t just ‘be good little boys’.
Manchester fleshes out the entire Churchill, from his twice a day baths, his eccentric food habits at his country estate and even his counseling of Edward VIII prior to his abdication. Churchill is more than a stuffy cigar smoking grump whose interest lies only with climbing the political ladder. While the discussion of letter writing dissipates in Volume Two, Manchester does pull from a number of documents and presents a living history. While it can be quite detailed and even somewhat dense, the reader will surely take away a great deal from the experience and feel the advancing sense of doom with each part of the book.
Without knowing the specifics of the third volume, the reader could presume that this tome presents the least ‘growth’ of Churchill as a person, but perhaps the greatest as a politician. He used his past experiences to better ground himself and holds firm to his beliefs, even in the face of major opposition. By the end, Manchester paints a Europe in the midst of a war and crisis state that could have been averted. The ousting of Chamberlain was a must and the selection of Churchill as prime minister is the only hope Britain has of righting itself, though he cannot do it alone.
Kudos again, Mr. Manchester for your hard work and dedication to the subject. The intricate details presented make for an enlightening read and one the reader can use to better understand Britain’s role in the build-up to World War II. I look forward to the last volume and all it has to offer.
Manchester tries to work in a chronological fashion as he begins the book, alternating between Churchill in the Baldwin Cabinet against the fall of the Wiemar Republic. While most of the narrative (regarding Germany) is quite well known, some of the inner workings of the British Government may be new for the reader. Once Chamberlain takes over as prime minister, Churchill is edged out and his speeches in the House shift away from domestic policy and towards the fascist uprisings in Germany and Italy. Churchill stands alone in his critique and foreboding of this ideological and military power build-up, as the British Government seeks diplomatic relations with Hitler and Mussolini. Manchester uses this isolationist theme again, after its effective use in Volume One. The isolation does not come without a cost, as his friends begin to drift away from him and the self-doubt rises. He turns to writing his numerous pieces of non-fiction, which bring him much pleasure, all while Europe is on the brink of cataclysmic change.
The aptly named sub-title of the volume can be illustrated, as mentioned before, as he remains a beacon in the night, while the Fuhrer beats his chest and begins his plan to take over the European continent, plotting to bring fascism to the mainland. Churchill was ignored post-Great War as it related to Russia’s acceptance of communism (Bolshevism), which Manchester reiterates as Churchill repeats his warnings at every opportunity, in the House and in the press. As in 1919, these pleas fall on deaf ears, leaving Churchill to contemplate what lies ahead. Chamberlain, naive and inept to his core, is more concerned with pooh-poohiong the warnings and trusting that Hitler will not cause any concern. He goes so far as to sign a Munich Pact and presumes this will quell Hitler’s need for power and territory.
Manchester is able to weave extensive discussion about the Nazi rise to power and place it against the backdrop of the view from across the English Channel. It is not only sentiment that Manchester uses as his building blocks, but the hard foundation of history, which makes the book all the better. Use of nuances and detailed historical accounts brings the book to life and sells Manchester’s theme that Churchill was surrounded by those whose interest in appeasement was stronger than any rational sentiment. Hitler did not up and decide to take these actions (as I was duped into thinking from the history books), but it was a slow and intricate chess game that Manchester describes. Chamberlain and the French cowered away under their respective rocks and could not understand why the Nazis wouldn’t just ‘be good little boys’.
Manchester fleshes out the entire Churchill, from his twice a day baths, his eccentric food habits at his country estate and even his counseling of Edward VIII prior to his abdication. Churchill is more than a stuffy cigar smoking grump whose interest lies only with climbing the political ladder. While the discussion of letter writing dissipates in Volume Two, Manchester does pull from a number of documents and presents a living history. While it can be quite detailed and even somewhat dense, the reader will surely take away a great deal from the experience and feel the advancing sense of doom with each part of the book.
Without knowing the specifics of the third volume, the reader could presume that this tome presents the least ‘growth’ of Churchill as a person, but perhaps the greatest as a politician. He used his past experiences to better ground himself and holds firm to his beliefs, even in the face of major opposition. By the end, Manchester paints a Europe in the midst of a war and crisis state that could have been averted. The ousting of Chamberlain was a must and the selection of Churchill as prime minister is the only hope Britain has of righting itself, though he cannot do it alone.
Kudos again, Mr. Manchester for your hard work and dedication to the subject. The intricate details presented make for an enlightening read and one the reader can use to better understand Britain’s role in the build-up to World War II. I look forward to the last volume and all it has to offer.