Churchill was Britain’s prime minister from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955 and led the nation through World War II. On May 13, 1940, he gave his first speech before the House of Commons, three days after Germany invaded France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. In his now-famous speech, he said, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” Lukacs, a history professor with more than 20 books to his credit, posits that beneath Churchill’s bravery lay his understanding of a looming catastrophe, still unimaginable to most: that it was probably too late, and that Adolf Hitler was close to winning the war. In this lucidly written history, the author tells of Churchill’s determination to succeed in defeating Hitler, his nine secret sessions with the War Cabinet, and the British army’s defeat at Dunkirk. Lukacs has captured this moment in history with meticulous precision. --George Cohen
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Review
"Foreign Affairs"
"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."
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
