Winston's War

February 8, 2010
Military historian Hastings (Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944–45
) adds to his illustrious reputation with this magnificent analysis of Winston Churchill’s years of greatness. In 1938 Churchill seemed a man bypassed by history. By 1945 he had become the greatest war leader Britain ever knew and has since achieved mythic status, “standing higher than any other single human being at the head of the forces of light.” During WWII Churchill wielded more power than any British prime minister in history but remained a democrat. He raised his nation far higher in the Grand Alliance than its material contributions justified. Hastings recognizes Churchill’s strategic errors, his misplaced enthusiasms. Britain’smilitary leaders and military systems often disappointed his soaring hopes. His understanding of the empire and its peoples was limited and unenlightened. His indifference to building a new society resulted in his being turned out of office as the guns fell silent. But “the outcome justified all,” in his eyes. Churchill’s strength of will, rhetoric, and personality enabled the British to understand the reasons for their sacrifices and made Britain’s end as a great power a heroic one. 32 pages of photos, 8 maps.

March 15, 2010
Before he became prime minister at the outset of WWII, Churchill had been largely defined by failure. His justifiable claim to greatness is a product of the six intense and heroic years when he led Britain in its struggle against Germany and Japan. Hastings chronicle of Churchills leadership and management of Britains war effort is detailed, superbly written, and balanced in treatment of achievements and blunders. Hastings convincingly asserts that Churchill, by temperament and experience, was born to be a wartime leader. In truth, he had an unsettling, romantic view of warfare, perhaps characteristic of one raised during the glory years of the empire. Yet he was appalled at the impersonal carnage of total, modern war. On a personal level, Churchill is portrayed as inspiring but mercurial, alternately praising and bullying subordinates, and his rashness and stubbornness led to poor military decisions. Still, his greatness shines through in this superior account of the man and his times.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)