★★★★★ 5
Churchill's "wilderness years" at Chartwell were perhaps the "important years" in preparing him.
Format: Hardcover
A brilliant idea for a new perspective on Churchill, and an even better execution. The author literally examines the guestbook over a ten-year period at Chartwell, Churchill's country home. Not only are the names of the guests fascinating, but the subjects of their discussions are eyebrow-raising in multitudes of ways. From Einstein to German spies, from politicians to celebrities, Churchill was not only busy maintaining connections he deemed useful, but his efforts to stay well-informed were Herculean.
He did not hold an elected office during these "wilderness years," but he dictated volumes of books (no doubt improving his oratory skill), built brick walls, gardened, painted, and traveled like his life depended on it. It is fascinating to gain these new insights into the man. Depressed by his recent failure to be re-elected, he went to work instead of retiring. He imposed upon himself a strict diet of information protein, personal network building, philosophical expansion, and extraordinary production.
All the visitors, discussions, and interactions ultimately resulted in the most fantastic preparation imaginable for a man destined to lead his country as Prime Minister during the greatest war the world has ever known. I found the book extremely well-written yet easy to read, finishing it in just two days.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2025
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