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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
What surprised me most about this book was the humour. I expected the familiar story of our greatest leader's early life, I expected an insightful account of Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I expected a stirring tale of a young man who was a practical adventurer just as much as politician and author. I didn't expect to laugh out loud regularly for much of the story.
If you've seen the film "Young Winston", based on this book, you will be familiar with some of the events. Other programmes and books have adequately explained his war leadership and his contribution to many serious political issues. However, the films and documentaries I have seen fail to capture the mischievous spirit communicated through this book.
This a fascinating study of a bygone age, when Britain maintained a great empire, when most politicians took the title Lord, and when politics and army officership were sports for those of independent means. Interestingly despite his aristocratic bloodline Churchill's family was not particularly wealthy and some of the most poignant lessons stem from this.
Sometimes the sentiments in the book appear bloodthirsty or imperialistic, but you have to realise that at least part of the time Churchill is writing satirically, reflecting common values which you suspect he did not always share himself. When he is sincerely expressing his own serious ideals it is usually easy to detect.
These beliefs link both his skilful analysis of historical events, and Churchill's account of his own development. For example he explains the British government's failure to be magnanimous after the early victories of the Boer war as the reason that a relatively fast-moving and honourable conflict descended into "shocking evils" on both sides. The same failing is shown as a prime force in the leftward drift of Churchill's own politics.
Churchill was a great writer, but it's instructive to learn that his facility with English developed largely because he was judged early on to be too dim to cope with Latin and Greek. The classics loss was our gain, the legacy including both Churchill's great deeds and great writing.
The last chapter is slightly disappointing, with Churchill's early parliamentary career an anticlimax, and the story stops rather than ending on a major event. That apart, the pace, interest and humour are consistent throughout.
This book was written in 1930, when Churchill was already 56, but in the "wilderness years" before he regained high office and led Britain through the Second World War. It is interesting to speculate whether the book would have been very different if it were written either much earlier or later.
If you want adventure, read this book. If you want to understand a great man, read this book. If you want to do both and have a good laugh, read this book.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone with an interest in the life and ideology of Winston Churchill. From tiny acorns grow giant oaks - well, this your chance to witness the development of one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century written by the man himself. In addition to telling a compelling adventure story, this book radiates with vitality, wit, humour and intelligence. One of the best, if not THE best book I've ever read. Go on, buy it. You won't be disappointed!
Inspirational!
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book, written by the man himself, is VERY easy to read. It will give you an insight to the man and the events that occured in the first twenty five years of his long and eventfull life. I found this book funny/sad/exciting and 'warm', never dull. His writings in this book shows his thoughts and feelings of the time. I certainly recommended it
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A rather fascinating read.
I got hold of an original 'first-edition' copy of this fine book in a local library sale. On diving into it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, having grown up hearing about... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Denique Coelum
Naughty naughty
This is probably one of the best books I have read in quite some time. It is brilliantly written, and it is very interesting to read about incidents 'straight from the horses'... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Billy Ray Cyrus
so interesting
Churchill is, by fat, the most important man in XX century. He saved us from nazism and we must pay tribute to him. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jose Ignacio Jimenez-blanc
Churchill from Boy to Man
When I first picked up this book I was not sure what to expect. I, probably like most people, only really knew the Churchill through the war year and what I had been taught in... Read more
Published 14 months ago by DnB
My Early Life - Winston Churchill
An astounding autobiography that is a spell binding read. Don't think this is a book about just politics. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Paul Marsden
History lesson
I first read this book for my 'O' levels when I was 15 years old. I am now 66. I found the book very very boring at the age of 15, but always promised myself that I would read it... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jolly Olly
A classic
This is exactly what you would expect from an autobiography by one of the greatest characters history has ever seen. Read more
Published 17 months ago by M. G. Tokyo
Most interesting autobiograpical works I have read for a while!
Churchill was a funny, intelligent and well connected man with boundless energy for self improvement and enlightenment. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Mr. P. Doyle Jnr
Winston Churchill - My Early Life
I bought this book as a present for my Mum following a visit to Chartwell. With two young children in tow we weren't able to see much of the exhibition on the life of Winston... Read more
Published on 16 May 2010 by Mrs. Joanne Woodman
Winnies early life
A fascinating insight into the early life of the man who did so much for Britain during the second world war. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2010 by Lawrence Blanch
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