A riveting new biographical study of the political and personal friendship - and rivalry - between Lloyd George and Churchill
Lloyd George and Churchill: Rivals for Greatness
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'Outstandingly full and balanced survey of the political and personal relationship between the two great wartime leaders, spanning five decades.'
-- Journal of Liberal History Spring 2008 Dr J.Graham Jones
'Toye's intelligent and assured book reveals that friendship and power do not mix.'
-- The Independent
-- Journal of Liberal History Spring 2008 Dr J.Graham Jones
'Toye's intelligent and assured book reveals that friendship and power do not mix.'
-- The Independent
Book Description
The two most significant British political figures of the twentieth-century, Churchill and Lloyd George were political rivals but personal friends. Between them their ministerial careers spanned seventy years and two world wars. Althought they could not have been more different temperamentally, and often disagreed violently about politics, theirs was 'the longest political friendship in the life of Great Britain' and Churchill was the only person outside his family to call Lloyd George 'David'. Richard Toye's book is a dynamic account of their relationship. Drawing on diaries and letters, some never before published, (there are more than 1,000 pieces of correspondence between the two men), he explores their long-standing friendship and rivalry, the impact they had on each other's careers, and the fate of their respective reputations, arguing that Lloyd George's major achievements have been undeservedly overshadowed, in part as a consequence of Churchill's later mythmaking. It is a major work from a brilliant young historian.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Gtj Charmley
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
The traditional view of the unlikely friendship between Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George is that of 'David and Winston', political friends and rivals who, while they might have disagreed, never fell out. As Lloyd George's great grandson has put it, 'the friendship which changed history'. Toye challenges this view, at the same time pointing out that, at various times, it was convenient for the two men to create the myth. What emerges is a picture of two men, very different in temperament, who, while they got on personally, were political rivals, both having their eyes on the Premiership, and willing to undermine each other in order to get it. The most fascinating part is that dealing with Churchill's wartime premiership, which we are now much more aware was hardly the triumphant progress some have portrayed it as. The statement that Llooyd George embraced defeatism, and may even have seen himself as a British Petain is sadly only too likely, given other material which has come to light in recent family memoirs.
Toye rightly does not over-egg the pudding. Clearly the men were friends as well as colleagues, but he captures the complexity of political friendship over decades.
Toye rightly does not over-egg the pudding. Clearly the men were friends as well as colleagues, but he captures the complexity of political friendship over decades.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By dannunzio19
Format:Paperback
This is an extremely well researched study of a peculiar friendship and a great rivalry. It is very interesting and informative but be warned: this is not an easily read piece of popular history and, whilst I would not wish to criticise a book on account of it being scholarly, when one considers the personalities of the two men involved I was left feeling that an opportunity to produce a more entertaining read was missed.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Lloyd George and especially Churchill are very familiar figures from Britain's recent history but their relationship is an under-explored area and Toye's book does much to fill the gap. It's well written, well researched and flows smoothly, though a reader will find it easier if he or she already has a good background knowledge of early 20th century British politics.
It will inevitably be seen as a 'revisionist' work as there's a structural bias to Lloyd George, given that he was the senior partner in their relationship throughout their time in the Liberal government together - when their working relationship was inevitably closest - and even after 1922, Churchill was firstly out of his element at the Treasury and then in the wilderness while Lloyd George had all the kudos of a former Prime Minister, and a war-winning one at that. It was the 1940s before Churchill became the senior partner, by which time Lloyd George was almost retired. Toye seems aware of, and content with, that balance.
The relationship itself is a fascinating one, between two characters who had much in common: charismatic, energetic, highly ambitious and far from trusted by their colleagues. In fact, Toye really charts two relationships: the actual one and the public image of it, the two not always coinciding. Unlike the myth they were both happy to play up, there were times when their political differences did cause their friendship to suffer.
The wartime premierships of the two men cast such a bright light over the their careers that other, very significant aspects can easily fall into shadow. For anyone interested in many of those events, as well as of the fascinating and perhaps unique friendship between these two titans, this is very much worth a read.
It will inevitably be seen as a 'revisionist' work as there's a structural bias to Lloyd George, given that he was the senior partner in their relationship throughout their time in the Liberal government together - when their working relationship was inevitably closest - and even after 1922, Churchill was firstly out of his element at the Treasury and then in the wilderness while Lloyd George had all the kudos of a former Prime Minister, and a war-winning one at that. It was the 1940s before Churchill became the senior partner, by which time Lloyd George was almost retired. Toye seems aware of, and content with, that balance.
The relationship itself is a fascinating one, between two characters who had much in common: charismatic, energetic, highly ambitious and far from trusted by their colleagues. In fact, Toye really charts two relationships: the actual one and the public image of it, the two not always coinciding. Unlike the myth they were both happy to play up, there were times when their political differences did cause their friendship to suffer.
The wartime premierships of the two men cast such a bright light over the their careers that other, very significant aspects can easily fall into shadow. For anyone interested in many of those events, as well as of the fascinating and perhaps unique friendship between these two titans, this is very much worth a read.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
great men - so so writing
This is an extremely well researched account of the lives of two of the greatest figures of the first half of the the 20th century. Read more
Published 5 months ago by markr
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two Political Titans
This is an interesting approach to the lives of two politicians, about whom there have been innumerable books. Read more
Published 18 months ago by P. J. Connolly
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Book about two of Britain's Greatest Prime Ministers.
Lloyd George & Churchill by Richard Toye is an excellent work about the relationship between these two larger than life figures. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2010 by HBH
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The Goat and the Bulldog
This for the most part very readable analysis of the surprising and complex "friendship" between two major political figures keeps to the point and, unlike many historical accounts... Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2010 by Antenna
4.0 out of 5 stars
A joy for anyone with a love of 20th century history
This is a fascinating insight into the relationship between the two most influential politicians of the first half of the 20th century. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2009 by Mr. Ad Meredith
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