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Richard Steyn

Churchill's Confidant: Jan Smuts, Enemy to Lifelong Friend Hardcover – October 23, 2018

by Richard Steyn (Author)

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Brought together first as enemies in the Anglo-Boer War, and later as allies in the First World War, the remarkable, and often touching, friendship between Winston Churchill and Jan Smuts is a rich study in contrasts.

In youth they occupied very different worlds: Churchill, the rambunctious and thrusting young aristocrat; Smuts, the aesthetic, philosophical Cape farm boy who would go on to Cambridge. Both were men of exceptional talents and achievements and, between them, the pair had to grapple with some of the twentieth century's most intractable issues, not least of which the task of restoring peace and prosperity to Europe after two of mankind's bloodiest wars.

Drawing on a maze of archival and secondary sources including letters, telegrams and the voluminous books written about both men, Richard Steyn presents a fascinating account of two remarkable men in war and peace: one the leader of the Empire, the other the leader of a small fractious member of that Empire who nevertheless rose to global prominence.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Robinson
Publication date

October 23, 2018
Dimensions

6.25 x 1.13 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

1472140761
ISBN-13

978-1472140760
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Richard Steyn
88
Paperback
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Editorial Reviews

Review

An impressive study of two influential and contrasting characters―The Lady

Richard Steyn has painted a vivid picture of how Churchill and Smuts having started as enemies in the Boer War, became close confidants, friends and strong mutual admirers of each other's exceptional talents―Paul Courtenay, International Churchill Society

The importance of the relationship between Winston Churchill and Jan Smuts has received belated recognition in Richard Steyn's elegant new book. Smuts' role as Churchill's comrade, guide, and, in Steyn's depiction, wise critic, is rarely celebrated and often overlooked. In Churchill's Confidant, Steyn rescues it from the condescension of posterity, and enriches our understanding of both men with this cogent testament to friendship in public life.―Kenneth Weisbrode, author of Churchill and the King

About the Author

Richard Steyn, a graduate of Stellenbosch University, practiced as a lawyer before switching to journalism. He edited the Natal Witness in Pietermaritzburg from 1975-90, was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1985/86, and editor in chief of The Star from 1990-95. He served as Standard Bank's Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications from 1996-2001, before returning to writing, book reviewing and publishing.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Robinson (October 23, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1472140761
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472140760
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.13 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,424,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #759 in WWI Biographies
- #3,929 in Historical British Biographies
- #4,119 in World War I History (Books)

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4.5 out of 5

38 global ratings

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jose de castro

important reading

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

a well written book, important for "churchillians", and further knowledge of two remarkable personalities

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The Elite Book Group

Two great political leaders who changed history.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 12, 2018

Who would have thought that two men from such dissimilar backgrounds could forge a friendship that would change the world’s history? Richard Steyn has painstakingly gathered letters, telegrams not just between Winston Churchill and Jan Smuts but others as well to show us just how deep their partnership was during both the First and Second World Wars.

Winston Churchill came from an aristocratic background, where he was used to all the finer things in life. Although used to getting his own way from an early age, his ambition was present from the very beginning and his superiors had very little chance of keeping him under their control. He decided very early on in his army career to supplement his income by becoming a war correspondent. It was as a war correspondent that took him to South Africa. He was captured by the Boers and after he managed to escape he returned to fight the war with his exclusive and upper-class cavalry regiment, the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars

Jan Smuts was four years older the Churchill. He was born on a farm in the isolated area of Riebeek West. His parents were deeply Calvinist of Dutch origin. He was only sent to school at the age of twelve. He managed to not only catch up but to also surpass all his classmates. He graduated from Stellenbosch University and won the Ebden scholarship to attend Cambridge University where he studied law.

It was after the ill-fated Jameson Raid in December 1895 that Smuts lost his trust in Cecil Rhodes and decide to join the Boers in their fight against the English. President Paul Kruger very quickly realised that Jan Smuts would be his best representative in the negotiations with the “uitlanders” (men who came from all corners of the earth to seek their fortune in the Transvaal gold rush).

Jan Smuts was devastated by the British, under the leadership of Governor of the Cape, Alfred Milner, when they refused to negotiate with the Boer contingent when they met in Bloemfontein on 9 October 1899 and shortly after this, the Boers declared war of Britain.

Jan Smuts was twenty-nine when the war started. He “virtually singlehandedly” ran the administration of Paul Kruger’s government in Pretoria.

Smuts and Churchill first encountered each other after Churchill was captured. His escort took him to the tent of Commandant-General Joubert. Smuts happened to be visiting Joubert at the time. They were not introduced. However, Churchill made an impression of Smuts who described him thus, “Winston was a scrubby, squat figure of a man, unshaved. He was furious, venomous, just like a viper.”

They were to meet officially when Jan Smuts was in London for the British to grant permission to the South Africans for self-government. At the time, January 1906, Winston Churchill had “crossed the house” and had joined the Liberals. He represented the government as the Undersecretary for the Colonies. South Africa was one of Churchill’s primary responsibilities. Churchill had great respect for the Boer army. He wrote that “the individual Boer, mounted in suitable country, is worth three to five regular soldiers”

Their friendship and the respect they had for each other started at this meeting and was to continue through both world wars and through their roles in the establishment of first, The League of Nations (after WW1) and then The United Nations (after WW2).

What is so very clear in this book is that the world was “given” two men with vision. Men who could work together and had complete understanding of each other. Smuts, much to the hatred of the Afrikaner opposition party, took South Africa into the First World War because he realised that unless there was a combined force to stop the Germans, the balance of the world would be overthrown. He took a similar stance to send troops to help the allies during the WW2.

I shudder to think how the the world would look today if Winston Churchill was not at the helm during those long years of fighting. I also hate to think what would have happened to Southern Africa if Jan Smuts had not brushed his critics aside and stopped the Afrikaner Broedebond (brotherhood) from allowing the Nazis to take hold of the entire area from East Africa to what is now Namibia.

What is also astonishing that Mohandas K Gandhi who played such a pivotal part in India had started his legal career in South Africa and was one of the first people to fight against the system of keeping the white race “pure.” Both Churchill and Smuts admired his initiative for peaceful protest but neither particularly liked the man.

This is a book that anyone interested in not only the Boer War, but the role that South Africans took in the two World Wars, thanks to their leader, Jan Smuts.

I wonder if we will ever truly appreciate just how much Winston Churchill did for the freedom of world from what could have been worldwide capture by the Nazis and their allies. But what this book has also given me is the insight into not just these two formidable men in Churchill and Smuts but at the same time a man like Gandhi.

Will we ever again see three men with so much foresight and intelligence prepared to do whatever was necessary to preserve justice and (relative) peace for the world as a whole?

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

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Top reviews from other countries

Super Mario

An Important Reminder

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 9, 2020

Verified Purchase

I highly recommend this book. I don't know how many times whilst reading this book, I said to myself:" I didn't know that!" or "that's where that's from!". For me as a South African this book has been very enlightening. South Africa's contribution to the Commonwealth has greatly been dismissed or at least discounted over the last three decades by the status quo. An important reminder of General Jan Smuts - his brilliance and character. I enjoyed how the narrator impersonated an Afrikaans accent here and there. A must read!

Boydie

Fascinating

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

I found this book fascinating; I had no idea the influence and impact Smuts had had on the world, let alone South Africa. I find it hard that because of where each of their respective countries are in the world today, the recognition of one as a hero and statesman stands in such contrast to the other despite the comparable significance of the achievements discussed in this book. Absolutely worth a read.

Victor

Excellent book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 25, 2019

Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Two men found on opposite sides in the Boer War, who later became friends and confidantes in the Second World War. No doubt Winston Churchill listened to Smuts' advices and in many cases appreciated them. No doubt (in my mind) both men were giants which make this book worth reading. The hardcover version of this book is excellent.

weatherman

Great in depth study

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 23, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book gives a great insight into both Churchill and Smuts, and goes beneath the well known headlines

G MOFFATT

Two heroes in one book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 29, 2020

Verified Purchase

Purchased as a gift for an elderly friend who admires both the lives and friendship between these two historical giants.