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Review
"Foreign Affairs"
"Lukacs knows his story and tells it well."
"Lukacs knows his story and tells it well."
"City Journal"
"For his noble deeds and speech, the great English statesman surely deserves our gratitude and admiration. And it is to John Lukacs's credit that he allows us to appreciate this against the obfuscations of both the revisionist Left and Right....Lukacs is wonderfully attentive to the human element, to the difference that a single man made in shaping history."
"Forbes"
"A short book, packed with drama and incisive analyses."
"Christianity Today"
"World War II: We think we know it all, yet along comes a little book from a masterful historian that gives us a famous incident afresh, and in a way that sheds light on the whole terrible conflict. For readers of history on your gift list, this is a perfect choice--and be sure to set aside a copy for yourself."
"New York Review of Books"
"Anything Lukacs writes is worth reading."
"Washington Post Book World"
"Penetrating"
"Washington Times"
"Powerful and moving history... compact page-turner of a book."
"Deseret News"
"In this extraordinary book, John Lukacs, an eminent World War II historian, discusses what he considers an extraordinary speech."
"Roanoke Times"
"This "snapshot" of one the world's greatest leaders in the infancy of his ascendency to glory provides a valuable contextual understanding of the skills of one man who engaged Adolph Hitler in a war of wills and had the will to win."
Product Description
Bestselling historian John Lukacs traces the history of Churchill's pivotal first speech before Parliament - a speech that transformed both Churchill and the nation he had come to lead. On 13th May 1940, Churchill stood before Parliament to deliver his first speech as Prime Minister. Britain was embroiled in the first year of World War II; Neville Chamberlain's government had fallen three days earlier. Churchill needed to convince the nation that he was an able leader as he was fighting a war that was growing more destructive with each passing day. This is the pivotal event that bestselling historian John Lukacs mines in this taut, gripping book on the circumstances surrounding Churchill's speech. One of the world's experts on Winston Churchill, as well as 20th century European history in general, Lukacs is a master at excavating all lived experience of a particular historical moment, as he proved in his bestselling "Five Days in London". A riveting portrait of leadership in its confrontation with radical evil, when the ideals of Western civilization hung in the balance, Lukacs' book will be essential reading for fans of military and diplomatic history, Churchill aficionados and anyone interested in leadership.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am Japanese reader. I managed to finish my reading the book. Professor John Lukacs tells us about the determination of Prime Minister Churchill against Hitler and his regime. Professor Lukacs explain
the personality and the character of Churcill very well on the basis of his well analytical and investigative skills. It seems to me that Mr. Churchill is not an English man in the sense that he was
a thinker-like stateman rather than a realist.After I read the book, I have understood Japan's war leaders
completely misunderstood Churcill's motives. Churchill fought against Hitler to defend western and Chrischan
civilization. Our leaders adhered to the triple alliance of Japan, Nazi Germany and Italy in order to keep
the interests of Manchuria and China. Our leaders seemed not to consider Mr. Churchill and U.S. President
Roosevelt fought against Hitler and Japanese war leaders to preserve values of wester civilization.
Professor Lukacs explains the complicate elements of history very well. I will recommend the book
to our friends.
the personality and the character of Churcill very well on the basis of his well analytical and investigative skills. It seems to me that Mr. Churchill is not an English man in the sense that he was
a thinker-like stateman rather than a realist.After I read the book, I have understood Japan's war leaders
completely misunderstood Churcill's motives. Churchill fought against Hitler to defend western and Chrischan
civilization. Our leaders adhered to the triple alliance of Japan, Nazi Germany and Italy in order to keep
the interests of Manchuria and China. Our leaders seemed not to consider Mr. Churchill and U.S. President
Roosevelt fought against Hitler and Japanese war leaders to preserve values of wester civilization.
Professor Lukacs explains the complicate elements of history very well. I will recommend the book
to our friends.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Insight Through Context
26 July 2008
Format:Hardcover
Few men have used the English language with such grace and to such good ends as Winston Churchill. John Lukacs focuses on the key phrase in Churchill's first speech before Parliament as Prime Minister to provide some wonderful insights into both Churchill's thinking and the nation's state of mind as continental Europe crumbled before the onslaught of Hitler's armies and Britain began to realize it was the last, lone defender of the free world.
Churchill's speech was little appreciated at the time. In fact, the man was himself Prime Minister almost by default. Chamberlain was still the leader of the Conservative Party, Halifax probably could have had the post had he really wanted it since he was the first choice of King George VI, and it was only through Labour's insistence that they would not join a national government unless it was led by Churchill that the question was finally decided. One of the many telling details Lukacs reveals is that Chamberlain was wildly applauded when he entered the House to hear Churchill speak on May 13, 1940; Churchill's entrance was mostly ignored.
The speech was significant, Lukacs says, not so much for its poetry as for what it tells us about Churchill's vision of history as it shaped his leadership both throughout the war and afterward. Early on, Churchill recognized the power of Hitler's war machine and the strength of the German nation. He also had a truly terrifying vision of a world plunged into darkness by the very possible Nazi victory in Europe. The cold, black science of Fascism would mean the end of civilization, and Churchill knew that Britain was at the very beginning of a long, hard struggle whose outcome was far from certain.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love and Death in the Congo
Churchill's speech was little appreciated at the time. In fact, the man was himself Prime Minister almost by default. Chamberlain was still the leader of the Conservative Party, Halifax probably could have had the post had he really wanted it since he was the first choice of King George VI, and it was only through Labour's insistence that they would not join a national government unless it was led by Churchill that the question was finally decided. One of the many telling details Lukacs reveals is that Chamberlain was wildly applauded when he entered the House to hear Churchill speak on May 13, 1940; Churchill's entrance was mostly ignored.
The speech was significant, Lukacs says, not so much for its poetry as for what it tells us about Churchill's vision of history as it shaped his leadership both throughout the war and afterward. Early on, Churchill recognized the power of Hitler's war machine and the strength of the German nation. He also had a truly terrifying vision of a world plunged into darkness by the very possible Nazi victory in Europe. The cold, black science of Fascism would mean the end of civilization, and Churchill knew that Britain was at the very beginning of a long, hard struggle whose outcome was far from certain.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love and Death in the Congo
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Worth the read
18 May 2008
Format:Hardcover
Thankfully weighing in at only 147 pages, Lukacs looks at Chuchill's speeches during the desperate days of May and June 1940 , puts them in context, and gives us this Big Idea: only Churchill really understood what was at stake and that defeat would mean a new Dark Age. To fight on, even if defeated, would give hope and be a symbol for those hundreds of years later who might rise up and emerge from the darkness. Also of interest: why the way he treated Chamberlin after he was voted out and Churchill voted in made all the difference in preventing a peace at any price with Germany. Churchill was magnanimous to him, and Chamberlin appreciated it and so became an ally(albeit one who did not so much overtly support Churchill as one who did not obstruct his leadership). Lukacs quotes a bit of the speech that Churchill gave after Chamberlin died. I have read it before and it is powerful, the grasping of the gist of this truth: don't second guess, today's hero is tomorrow's goat, and back again. And then this gem:"The only guide to a man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions." Worthwhile read.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
The Power of Words
23 May 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This concise book goes beyond the actual speech of the title and allows for Professor Lukacs' informed and strong views about Prime Minister Churchill's bedrock thinking on the immense issues of civilization that were at stake in 1940.
I think this book will be most enjoyed by those readers having a fair prior understanding of the dismal political realities in Europe and America at the start of World War II.
I think this book will be most enjoyed by those readers having a fair prior understanding of the dismal political realities in Europe and America at the start of World War II.
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