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Churchill
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 38 hrs and 18 mins
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Summary
From a very young age, Churchill believed he was destined to play a great role in the life of his nation, and he determined to prepare himself. Jenkins shows in fascinating detail how Churchill educated himself for greatness, how he worked out his livelihood (writing) as well as his professional life (politics), how he situated himself at every major site or moment in British imperial and governmental life. His parliamentary career was like no other - with its changes of allegiance (from the Conservative to the Liberal and back to the Conservative Party), its troughs and humiliations, its triumphs and peaks - and for decades, especially the crisis years of the late 1930s and the terrifying 1940s, when at last it was clear how vital Churchill was to the very survival of Britain. He evaluates Churchill's other accomplishments, his writings, with equal authority.
Exceptional in its breadth of knowledge and distinguished by its stylish wit and penetrating intelligence, this is one of the finest political biographies of our time.
Critic reviews
"This is far and away Churchill's best one-volume biography." (Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.)
What listeners say about Churchill
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Peter Thomas
- 15-07-10
A fine Potrait of a Great Man
To do justice to the life of one of the Greatest Ever Politicians of our times is a difficult feet but Roy Jenkins in the main achieves this, I am certain that some will feel that perhaps too much attention is given to the art of politics but given the Authors background it is unsurprising. All in all it is an excellent Potrait of a Great Man and the Narrator does a fine job. A bargain and well worth the time.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Duncan Fraser
- 30-11-16
Excellent Biography
Would you consider the audio edition of Churchill to be better than the print version?
On a par
What other book might you compare Churchill to, and why?
Would not compare it to any in that it is the best warts and all I have listened too
What does Robert Whitfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Drama
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Warts and all
Any additional comments?
No
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- Chris
- 15-02-16
Excellent
A beautiful use of the English language, i would definitely recommend investing the time to listen
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Overall
- Ainslie
- 22-03-06
Iain Macleod
As a single book description of Churchill's life, this is an excellent biography. As a politician himself, Roy Jenkins analysis of Churchill is inciteful and always interesting.
This is a biography that will allow you to better understand one of the 20th Century's most important leaders.
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25 people found this helpful
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- Rob Medway
- 29-06-19
THE BEST-
This is the best biography I have ever heard or read.
The subject is worthy of the extreme care which the author has devoted to his chosen character.
He demonstrates the quality of his education and his great command of the English language which is a real joy to hear. Being a former politician and statesman Roy Jenkins has intertwined this works with his personal, pertinent and unique insights of our national political life. He deals with Sir Winston in a sympathetic yet wise and realistically,way - 'Warts and all' as Oliver Cromwell would say.
It is beautifully read and the book is a wonderful exemplar of how lessons for the present and future conduct of national and international affairs can be garnered from history
Thank you so much Mr Jenkins for your brilliant work and I hope labour of love.
Thank you Mr Churchill for the tenacious way you lead our country in times of peril.
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- Karl
- 07-05-23
Incredible
Incredibly well narrated and incredibly well written. I’ve listened to this twice from start to finish.
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Overall
- Tom
- 19-12-09
A long book but very enjoyable
I read this book when it was first published and very much enjoyed it and it translates very well to audiobook - narration is excellent, perfectly paced with characters brought vividly to life.
Roy Jenkins presents a very believable and admiring portrait of Churchill - warts as well as genius. What amazed me when I first read the book, and now, is Churchill's indefatigable self confidence and energy. I am not sure that he was blessed with that much greater brains than the rest of us, but his courage, commitment, inexhaustible energy and vision is truly astonishing - it is hard not to compare to the current lot of politicians and find the latter severely wanting. And Roy Jenkins' prose is direct and readable.
I know it's 37 hours long but the journey is well worth the time!
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18 people found this helpful
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- J. Wood
- 14-01-18
Insightful biography with not a stone unturned
Although a very long book this was well worth the time I invested in reading it. Roy Jenkins provided me with an informative insight into the orders of the day, the context and Churchill's actions. A great read.
It would be an enhancement if the Chapter Titles could be added rather than it simply saying Chapter 1 etc.
I would also like to see some additional speed options added. Currently they jump from 1.5 to 2 a 1.75 would be most helpful.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Mr.
- 15-05-14
Massive and impressive.
This is a very fine piece of work. Long, with many strands to follow, the journey is made surprisingly easy by a deft narrative touch, meticulous research and an absolutely first class narration. As well as being a tremendously informative work with regard to its stated subject, this is a revealing piece in its demonstration of the political class's entrenched sense of entitlement on so many levels. This revelation must certainly have been Roy Jenkins' intention with regard to Winston Churchill, but I wonder if he realised how much of his own ruling class presumption and smugness would leak through in his story telling? A splendid historical biography, but also a pointer to how little the ruling elite differ from generation to generation and how very far removed they are from the lives and concerns of those whom they purport to represent. Highly recommended.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Conor Daly
- 21-11-17
Great unbiased biography of Churchill
Great book written by someone who clearly spent an immense amount of time gathering sources. The most remarkable thing about this book is how unbiased he comes across and how he presents Churchill’s story as factually as he can. A great book to get an insight into 19th and 20th century Britain and Europe and a factual look at Churchill’s life and career.
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