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Finest Years: Churchill as Warlord 1940-45
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Product Description
Review
'One of the best books ever written about Churchill … Hastings's efficient, soldierly prose marches along at a brisk pace and carries the reader with it. He has drawn on copious original sources and consulted experts familiar with them, enabling him to cast fresh light on familiar episodes … a magnificent performance.' Sunday Times
'The book's portrait of Churchill is scrupulously fair and often deeply moving … in fact Hastings excels with all his character portraits, especially with Roosevelt and Stalin. Hastings is truly a master of strategy and high command.' Antony Beevor, Mail on Sunday
Product Description
Pre-eminent military historian Max Hastings presents Winston Churchill as he has never been seen before.
Winston Churchill was the greatest war leader Britain ever had. In 1940, the nation rallied behind him in an extraordinary fashion. But thereafter, argues Max Hastings, there was a deep divide between what Churchill wanted from the British people and their army, and what they were capable of delivering. Himself a hero, he expected others to show themselves heroes also, and was often disappointed. It is little understood how low his popularity fell in 1942, amid an unbroken succession of battlefield defeats. Some of his closest colleagues joined a clamour for him to abandon his role directing the war machine. Hastings paints a wonderfully vivid image of the Prime Minister in triumph and tragedy. He describes the ‘second Dunkirk’ in 1940, when Churchill’s impulsiveness threatened to lose Britain almost as many troops in north-west France as had been saved from the beaches; his wooing of the Americans, and struggles with the Russians. British wartime unity was increasingly tarnished by workers’ unrest, with many strikes in mines and key industries.
By looking at Churchill from the outside in, through the eyes of British soldiers, civilians and newspapers – and also those of Russians and Americans – Hastings provides new perspectives on the greatest Englishman. He condemns as folly Churchill’s attempt to promote mass uprisings in occupied Europe, and details ‘Unthinkable’ – his amazing 1945 plan for an Allied offensive against the Russians to liberate Poland. Here is an intimate and affectionate portrait of Churchill as Britain’s saviour, but also an unsparing examination of the wartime nation which he led and the performance of its armed forces.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
80 of 83 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What more is there to say about Churchill? There is certainly no shortage of books, biographies, autobiographies and histories written about Britain's wartime leader.
Hastings seeks to show how Churchill was so crucial to the eventual Allies' victory in World War II in spite of his well known faults.
Although largely a praising work, Finest Years does lay bare faults, such as his impetuous addiction to (usually disastrous) raids and smaller operations for Britain's over-stretched forces.
But overall Hastings finds that Churchill's personality, drive and charisma were crucial in securing overall victory.
He argues persuasively that it was Churchill, who, in the dark days of 1940, had the resolve to continue the fight when all other alternative premieres were advocating coming to an accord with the Nazis.
In a time when Britain and its Empire was viewed with suspicion and even hate by many Americans, his courting of their good opinions through well received visits was important in putting the case for entering the war across.
Churchill's strategic judgement, often criticised, is also praised - he saw very early that the only way to victory was by the US entering the conflict, and also, as a famed hater of Bolshevism, he swallowed his pride, endured many insults and double dealing, and supported the Russians.
Hastings puts forward an argument that it was only Churchill who was equipped to lead Britain to victory - and it is hard to argue with him.
I don't think it shows us an awful lot new, but Hastings brings his considerable judgement to bear on this time to excellent effect.
Hastings seeks to show how Churchill was so crucial to the eventual Allies' victory in World War II in spite of his well known faults.
Although largely a praising work, Finest Years does lay bare faults, such as his impetuous addiction to (usually disastrous) raids and smaller operations for Britain's over-stretched forces.
But overall Hastings finds that Churchill's personality, drive and charisma were crucial in securing overall victory.
He argues persuasively that it was Churchill, who, in the dark days of 1940, had the resolve to continue the fight when all other alternative premieres were advocating coming to an accord with the Nazis.
In a time when Britain and its Empire was viewed with suspicion and even hate by many Americans, his courting of their good opinions through well received visits was important in putting the case for entering the war across.
Churchill's strategic judgement, often criticised, is also praised - he saw very early that the only way to victory was by the US entering the conflict, and also, as a famed hater of Bolshevism, he swallowed his pride, endured many insults and double dealing, and supported the Russians.
Hastings puts forward an argument that it was only Churchill who was equipped to lead Britain to victory - and it is hard to argue with him.
I don't think it shows us an awful lot new, but Hastings brings his considerable judgement to bear on this time to excellent effect.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I guess like many readers of this outstanding book I approached it as a conventional piece of military history. Indeed it functions perfectly well at this level, but it is far more than an account of the war years. It is, more than anything, the story of an individual's single-minded dedication to a cause, and his capacity to carry others with him to the eventual successful outcome, in spite of every possible set back, including his own increasing exhaustion, failing health and the often less than reliable support which he could have expected from his associates. It is a story of human endeavour and indeed human frailty at the very top of the league. An additional accolade is that it was read by my wife (who is not a 'military history buff' with equal enjoyment.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Much has been written about this era and Hasting's book reveals little that is new. However, his take on this critical era, both for Great Britain and the world, is more polarized than most and sets out views on many individuals and, in particular, the quality of the British Army and its leadership, that will be of great interest to those who take the long view on that conflict and the British part in it. It particularly emphasizes how much effort Churchill put into getting the USA into the war, which he rightly assessed as unwinnable by the British Empire on its own.
His views on some subjects are somewhat over simplistic, for example those on VC holders generically and the Fleet Air Arm, whose performance was above that which he rates, given the difficulties this nascent element of the Royal Navy had of poor aircraft, inadequate carriers and Admirals who did not understand the importance of the arrival of airpower on maritime operations, both strategic and tactical.
His analysis at the end, including the sadness Churchill experienced towards the end of the war, when the control of the wide scope of events had passed from him to Roosevelt and Stalin, is acute. It also sets out part of the tale of how the British Empire, fighting a war of ideology for the liberty of the world, lost the fruits of the peace.
His views on some subjects are somewhat over simplistic, for example those on VC holders generically and the Fleet Air Arm, whose performance was above that which he rates, given the difficulties this nascent element of the Royal Navy had of poor aircraft, inadequate carriers and Admirals who did not understand the importance of the arrival of airpower on maritime operations, both strategic and tactical.
His analysis at the end, including the sadness Churchill experienced towards the end of the war, when the control of the wide scope of events had passed from him to Roosevelt and Stalin, is acute. It also sets out part of the tale of how the British Empire, fighting a war of ideology for the liberty of the world, lost the fruits of the peace.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting and Informative
I bought this book as I am interested in the World War II. Up until I read it I was only aware of the legend of Winston Churchill through his speeches and what was written about... Read more
Published 5 days ago by Ayrshire Davy
Top notch stuff.
Most enjoyable. For anyone experiencing the beginnings of a proper interest in WW2 from a British perspective this book is an ideal start. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Brim
And you thought there was nothing more to say about Churchill!
I approached this book hoping for a balanced view of Churchill's leadership in WW2. My hopes were fully realised and more. Read more
Published 3 months ago by OK Cole
A Remarkable Book about a Remarkable Man
Hastings' meticulous biography of Winston Churchill covers only the war years, the five years from 1940 to 1945, yet still runs to just under 600 pages. Read more
Published 3 months ago by davidscott429
Seemed almost as long as the war at times
Although I greatly admire Max Hastings' journalism, I found this hard work and surrendered halfway through. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Yorker
No contents no page numbers where am I
Like most Kindle books there are no contents and no page numbers, so you haven't a clue where you are, or how to choose a thrilling chapter. Read more
Published 8 months ago by D. J. Walter
finest years
Veteran war reporter, journalist both for broadsheets and middle-brow popular press, veteran military hisrorian, one cannot fault Hastings' credentials. Read more
Published 14 months ago by a flynn
Churchill, his triumphs and failings.
Given the scope; both of it's subject and the timeframe covered, Max Hastings did well to keep the size of his book to a manageable 664 pages. Read more
Published 15 months ago by HuddyBolly
Magnificent - Hastings at his very, very best
This is without doubt the best book I have read for a long time. I have read other books on Churchill but this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Read more
Published 18 months ago by G. Thompson
Majestic
Wonderful book. The sort of book that will stay with you for years after you have read it.
After finishing it I immediately ordered another of Hasting's books.
After finishing it I immediately ordered another of Hasting's books.
Published 18 months ago by Study Shortcuts and Exam Tips from Oxford Grads
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