David Stafford (1) (1942–)

I hoped this book would let me know more about the end of the war in Europe. I thought including stories from men and women who were participating in some way would be a great way to flesh out the story. Alas! Stafford has written a nearly un-readable volume that lacks big picture viewpoint and is confusing throughout. He tells us in the introduction that he will be following 9 (Western) people (American, Canadian, British, New Zealand soldiers; UNRRA worker; BBC correspondant; German mother married to an Italian who gets sent to concentration camp by the Nazis) between the period of Hitler's death and (roughly) the Potsdam conference. I thought at the beginning that 9 people was a lot and it turned out to be too many. Worse, Stafford follows them chronologically, so we hear about each one in each chapter. It would have been better for him to discuss each individual and their experience in separate chapters. Not surprisingly, we find at the end that nearly all of the 9 have published their own books or memoirs of their experiences, so Stafford is left with little to do other than try and provide a larger context for the individual experience. Sadly, I just didn't think that context was provided and that the book overall was poorly written.… (mais)

This is a chronicle of the life and times of Winston Churchill during 1921. It was a make or break year for his political career after it seemed to end when he was demoted in the Cabinet after the 1915 Dardanelles invasion fiasco. In 1921 he was appointed as Colonial Secretary which brought him into dealing with the Middle East -- Iraq, the Palestine issue in relation to the Balfour Declaration. He did not limit himself to his cabinet portfolio much to the chagrin of the Foreign Secretary Lord Curzon when he "meddled" in Foreign Office affairs. He took on a role in the Irish problems too. Churchill never shied away from his opposition to the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. He had strong views on the British Empire and its role in the world.

In addition to his political life, readers learn about his personal life and his strong family ties. In 1921 he suffered the loss of his mother and his daughter Marigold. Both deaths deeply troubled him and he was supported throughout his grief by his wife Clementine and brother Jack. He liked to spend money and in 1921 he came into an inheritance which relieved many of his financial worries. Painting was his greatest avocation and there was a successful exhibition of his pictures in Paris. All in all, Churchill is shown as an energetic and multi-talented individual, albeit sometimes lacking in judgement.

This book an excellent introductory biography of Churchill. So many books have been written about him that it's difficult to know where to go first if you want to read up on him. This book is a good beginning because it's readable, informative, and a balanced account without being fawning or over-critical.

Recommended.
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The publisher provided a complementary advance reading copy of this book through Netgalley. The comments about it are my own.… (mais)