Overview

'I would choose this account over and above the rest. It is a fabulous book: full of perceptive insight that conveys all the tragedy, triumph, humour and intense drama of Churchill's time as wartime leader; and it is incredibly moving as a result' James Holland, Literary Review In this vivid biography, #1 bestselling historian Max Hastings tells the story of how Churchill led a nation through its darkest hour. A moving, dramatic narrative of crisis and fortitude, Hastings offers one of the finest biographies of one of Britain’s finest men.  When Churchill took power as Prime Minister in 1940, it was with the unprecedented support of the nation. People rallied behind their new commander in extraordinary fashion, but thereafter, as Hastings argues, there came a deep divide. Churchill was a hero, a dogged worker dedicated to steering the country through the war. He expected more from the British people than they were perhaps able to deliver. Taking us on an intimate, stirring journey through the war years, Hastings tells a story of triumphs and tragedies. In Churchill, who was to become a paragon of leadership in tough times, he finds both folly and nobility. In the British nation as it faced its greatest challenge, he takes us through moments of both weakness and tremendous strength. 'One of the best books ever written about Churchill … He has drawn on copious original sources and consulted experts familiar with them, enabling him to cast fresh light on familiar episodes … A magnificent performance' Sunday Times 'The book's portrait of Churchill is scrupulously fair and often deeply moving … In fact Hastings excels with all his character portraits, especially with Roosevelt and Stalin. Hastings is truly a master of strategy and high command' Antony Beevor, Mail on Sunday

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9780007263684

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Reviews

'One of the best books ever written about Churchill ! Hastings's efficient, soldierly prose marches along at a brisk pace and carries the reader with it. He has drawn on copious original sources and consulted experts familiar with them, enabling him to cast fresh light on familiar episodes ! a magnificent performance.' Sunday Times 'The book's portrait of Churchill is scrupulously fair and often deeply moving ! in fact Hastings excels with all his character portraits, especially with Roosevelt and Stalin. Hastings is truly a master of strategy and high command.' Antony Beevor, Mail on Sunday Praise for 'Nemesis' ' Nemesis is a triumph!provocative, insightful !.impressive!!Put all these elements together - the ambition, insight, sureness of touch - and you have a book of real quality.' Sunday Times 'Spectacular!Hastings makes important points about the war in the East that have been all too rarely heard!excellent!compelling!searingly powerful.' Sunday Telegraph 'As Hastings brilliantly describes, conditions for fighting men on both sides were appalling!the fire-bombing of Tokyo and the decision to drop the atomic bombs were influenced by the urge to get this business over with , but the argument, as Hastings explains so well with his usual exemplary judgement, is far more complex.' Financial Times 'He writes with colour and decisiveness!His depiction of Japanese intransigence, brutality and self-delusion and the cultural chasms between East and West are particularly vivid' Sunday Telegraph

'One of the best books ever written about Churchill ! Hastings's efficient, soldierly prose marches along at a brisk pace and carries the reader with it. He has drawn on copious original sources and consulted experts familiar with them, enabling him to cast fresh light on familiar episodes ! a magnificent performance.' Sunday Times 'The book's portrait of Churchill is scrupulously fair and often deeply moving ! in fact Hastings excels with all his character portraits, especially with Roosevelt and Stalin. Hastings is truly a master of strategy and high command.' Antony Beevor, Mail on Sunday Praise for 'Nemesis' ' Nemesis is a triumph!provocative, insightful !.impressive!!Put all these elements together - the ambition, insight, sureness of touch - and you have a book of real quality.' Sunday Times 'Spectacular!Hastings makes important points about the war in the East that have been all too rarely heard!excellent!compelling!searingly powerful.' Sunday Telegraph 'As Hastings brilliantly describes, conditions for fighting men on both sides were appalling!the fire-bombing of Tokyo and the decision to drop the atomic bombs were influenced by the urge to get this business over with , but the argument, as Hastings explains so well with his usual exemplary judgement, is far more complex.' Financial Times 'He writes with colour and decisiveness!His depiction of Japanese intransigence, brutality and self-delusion and the cultural chasms between East and West are particularly vivid' Sunday Telegraph

Author Information

Max Hastings is the author of twenty-six books, most about conflict, and between 1986 and 2002 served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, then editor of the Evening Standard. He has won many prizes both for journalism and his books, of which the most recent are All Hell Let Loose, Catastrophe and The Secret War, best-sellers translated around the world. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, an Honorary Fellow of King’s College, London and was knighted in 2002. He has two grown-up children, Charlotte and Harry, and lives with his wife Penny in West Berkshire, where they garden enthusiastically.

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