In Search of Churchill: A Historian's Journey [Import] [Hardcover]

Martin Gilbert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 1995

Martin Gilbert's landmark eight- volume biography of Winston Churchill is considered one of the greatest ever written. And the story behind it is every bit as fascinating as its celebrated subject. In Search of Churchill is the critically acclaimed tale of the author's thirty-year quest for one of the legendary leaders and dominant personalities of the twentieth century. This brilliant account is at once a striking portrayal of Winston Churchill as seen through the eyes of those closest to him and a rare, inside look at "the Agatha Christie side of the historian's art" (London Financial Times).

In Search of Churchill reveals the staggering extent of Gilbert's research, an epic undertaking that he began in 1962 as Randolph Churchill's assistant. From that auspicious beginning to the exultant moment when, some twenty-five years later, the author "reached the final file in the bottom drawer of the last filing cabinet," we witness the extraordinary process of countless interviews, of digging ever more deeply to dispel the myths and stereotypes, of alternately charming and cajoling those sources reluctant to confide.

Now, share some of the great moments in Martin Gilbert's pursuit, and meet an unforgettable cast of characters along the way: secretaries, assistants, diarists, correspondents, soldiers, politicians, civil servants; the eminent and the unknown. All had tales to tell, many appearing for the first time in this book.

Through these intimate recollections a remarkable pattern emerges. The impressions Churchill made on those he met, even as an adolescent, were indelible. From schoolmates to members of parliament, family friends to casual acquaintances, all were convinced he was unique —and a true man of destiny. Here, then, is an un-paralleled opportunity to view the complex character of the man behind the public persona—seen at his most unguarded moments.

Filled with intriguing anecdotes that could not be included in the formal biography, In Search of Churchill unfolds with vigorous enthusiasm and unbounded affection for its subject. It is must reading, not only for Churchill devotees, but for all those interested in the art of biography.

The critically acclaimed story behind the writing of one of the greatest biographies of the twentieth century

"The process of finding out about any historical character can be a surprising one. . . . In this book I share some of my experiences, in the hope that they may be of interest or amusement, and that something further will emerge from them of the character, struggles, and achievements of Churchill himself." —Martin Gilbert, from the Preface

Praise for In Search of Churchill

"Gilbert here gives us Churchill's vast humanity with the politics largely left out. Readers daunted by the 8,000-odd pages of the official life should start here. They will love it." —The Times (London)

"The work [Gilbert] has done puts all historians of the 20th century, and all students of Churchill, incalculably in his debt." —London Sunday Telegraph

"The portrait of Winston Churchill is . . . vivid and painted with an affection and humour that rarely appear in the official biography." —London Daily Telegraph

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Gilbert became a research assistant to Randolph Churchill soon after Randolph began an official biography of his father. After Randolph's death, Gilbert became the official biographer and finished the eight-volume life of Churchill (Winston Churchill: Volume 1, LJ 10/1/66; Volume 8, LJ 10/1/88). The present work is both the story of his research and a look at the more personal side of Churchill than one finds in his official biography. Gilbert has done extensive research on this and other books, using a wide variety of sources. He discusses the work, pleasures, disappointments, and pitfalls involved in historical research. At a time of renewed interest in Churchill, this book serves a dual purpose: it adds to our knowledge of Churchill, and it will either encourage or discourage would-be future historians. Recommended for most libraries.?Marilyn Dailey, Natrona Cty. P.L., Casper, Wyo.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Readers familiar with Gilbert's stout and stupendously long official biography of the Great Man perhaps wonder what relieved his lifelong toil with his subject. Although much was tedious sifting through documents, Gilbert relates that his most gratifying task was tracking down various associates of Churchill who, by choice or historical neglect, were retired in obscurity. Most opened up, lending this book half its character as Gilbert relates reminiscences: by Churchill's battalion troops from the Western Front; by civil servants who surreptitiously gave him data on the arms situation in the 1930s; by his entourage of literary assistants, typists, and private secretaries; and by former prime ministers Macmillan and Wilson. The book's other half is Gilbert's autobiography, encompassing his life as a wartime evacuee to Canada, his hiring by Churchill's irascible but generous son Randolph, and his subsequent three decades of work on every conceivable aspect of Churchilliana. As the peerless documentary expert, Gilbert concludes with the perils of his position (responding to myriad offers of information) and its pleasures (supplying speechmakers with Churchill quotations). An interesting bundle of anecdotes to supplement Gilbert's monument Gilbert Taylor

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 10, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471132292
• ISBN-13: 978-0471132295
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,981,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sir Martin Gilbert is one of the leading historians of his generation. An Honorary Fellow of Merton College, Oxford - of which he was a fellow for thirty years - he is the official biographer of Churchill and the author of eighty books, among them Churchill - A Life and The Righteous: The Unsung Heroes of the Holocaust. For more information please visit http://www.martingilbert

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take a 30 year literary ride, July 13, 2000

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: In Search of Churchill: A Historian's Journey (Hardcover)

Biographers spend years, and in this case decades, to bring their work, their subject to us. The manner their books came about is generally shared in their acknowledgement, or a section thanking those people and institutions that were instrumental in helping create the work. Sir Martin Gilbert is one of the great Historians of our time, and his main work as a historian is certainly a man that is truly unique, a historic original, a man who's peers can be counted on one hand.

"In Search Of Churchill" allows the reader to get about as close as he can to the writing of a biography without actually being one of Sir Martin's assistants. His work documenting Churchill is about to cross into its fifth decade. Sir Martin began as an assistant to Sir Winston Spencer Churchill's Son Randolph in 1962. In 1968 he took the task on alone, and has carried it forth, and continues to do so to this day.

Alone of course is the wrong word, while he certainly has written thousands of pages of what many consider the greatest biographical work ever done, hundreds of others living, and others through the papers they left behind, have helped Mr. Gilbert on this lifetime task. Churchill has not been the only subject of this great biographer which is yet another testimony to this historian.

Churchill is a constant, he is quoted almost daily, his speeches are legendary, as are his quips, which were at times poked in fun, and at others ended the careers of their target. Mr. Gilbert works toward answering questions that may not have a definitive answer, but if there is an individual to put forth valid opinion, none are more qualified than he. Why is Churchill a figure of history that has not been relegated to the past's vague memory, why does he routinely appear on magazine covers in this Country and others on a yearly basis? What was it about this man that has spawned an International Churchill Society who counts thousands on Continents around the world as paying members? Why are their new books on this man written on a regular basis, and how many authors have their books in print a century after they were written. Great Author's works line the shelves, but writing was an avocation for this man in addition to his other talents.

Mr. Gilbert brings you along to "meet" people who worked with Mr. Churchill. As his life spanned from the 1870's to the 1960's those who knew him are legion. He was Prime Minister twice, held nearly every major Government position, won the Nobel prize, painted, and held the fort for the Western Democracies until help finally came. If such a man had not lived so large and so long he would almost be more believable as legend and or myth rather than the Statesman, warrior, orator, and one of England's greatest citizens that he continues to be, in some cases in memory only. He did have a head start, as his Mother was American, and perhaps that makes us in the USA feel we can claim him as partly ours.

The embassy in Washington D.C. has a statue of Churchill, in mid-stride he has one foot on American soil and one on the territory of the English Embassy. In life his influence, his determination, and sense of destiny spanned the Globe. Even in death he spans the 2 Countries he loved the most.

His like will never be seen again.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Myths and Lies debunked, November 19, 1997

By 

R.J. Peasley (New Territories, Hong Kong Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Churchill: A Historian's Journey (Hardcover)

Churchill has always been somewhat of an enigma; undoubtedly a brilliant politician who, more than any other figure in contemporary 20th Century History, helped shape the lives of millions. Much has previously been made of disasters associated with his decisions both militarily and politically. Through Mr. Gilbert's brilliant research and analysis, however, many of these are shown to have been fabrications or nothing other than spurious lies. Through these pages you learn that he was the "scapegoat" for the Dardanelles debacle and that he was a far more compassionate and human individual than some would have us believe. His treatment of social issues, including organised labour, was before its time and he was certainly not the "heartless" war-monger so often portrayed in this revisionist era. Surely the greatest historical debate would be to pitch Mr. Gilbert against the most articulate revisionist, Mr David Irving: I have no doubt, having read this excellent book, that Gilbert would secure a knock-out in the first round.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discovering the Real Winston!, December 7, 2002

By 

dougrhon "dougrhon" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In Search of Churchill: A Historian's Journey (Hardcover)

The life of Winston Churchill was so eventful and the available documents relating to his life so voluminous, that penning a complete and unabridged biography of Churchill is truly a lifetime task. So it has been for British historian Martin Gilbert, charged with the task of being Churchill?s official biographer. In this book, Gilbert recounts the events by which he came to become the most extensive living resource of Churchill knowledge and artifacts.

Gilbert came to his task in a roundabout way. Fresh out of Oxford in the early sixties, the young historian concedes he knew comparatively little about Churchill as the great man was not a highly regarded figure among the Oxford academy at that time. Churchill?s son Randolph had been hired by a publishing house to write the multi volume official biography of his father. Gilbert was hired as one of several research assistants. Expecting to stay with Randolph only a short time, Gilbert ended up working with him for more than half a decade. In the first part of the book, Gilbert describes the experience of working with the mercurial and difficult Randolph in putting together the first volumes covering Churchill?s early life. On Randolph?s death in 1968, Gilbert was asked by the publisher to take over the project. Gilbert agreed to do so and a lifetime task was set before him. In ensuing chapters, Gilbert describes his frustrations and pleasures at the enormous amount of written materials by or about Churchill. Perhaps no other historical figure has such an extensive archive. As recounted by Gilbert, his explorations of Churchill?s letters and papers taught him much, not only about Churchill?s impact on British and world history but about Churchill?s character. Yet as Gilbert states, no historical figure can be brought to life merely on the basis of written documents. Fortunately for Gilbert, at the time he did much of his research, in the sixties, many of the people in Churchill?s life were still alive to be interviewed. This includes many of his secretaries, a number of military and political figures with whom he worked and his wife and children. From decades of research, Gilbert emerged with a compelling portrait of a truly great character. A man, not without his faults but still a great liberal, a great democrat, a great leader and a great family man. The book is filled with anecdotes and quotes from Churchill. As one example, Gilbert discovered a letter of response from Labour Prime Minister Ramsey McDonald praising Churchill for his kindness and friendship. Gilbert never found the original letter Churchill wrote to McDonald but wonders what it could have said to elicit such a response from a man Churchill had referred to in open Parliament as ?the boneless wonder?.

Anyone who admirers Winston Churchill and Martin Gilbert must read this book. It is an absolute necessity to any Churchill library. Anyone who would like to learn a little about one of the 20th centuries truly great figures should read it as well.