Churchill's Shadow
An Astonishing Life and a Dangerous Legacy
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Churchill's Shadow
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Keeble
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
A critical but fair political biography of Churchill that zooms in on crucial moments in his life and career that help us understand the man in his many contradictions.
While in A. J. P. Taylor's words, Churchill was 'the saviour of his country', he was also a deeply flawed character, whose personal ambition would cloud his political judgement - and, as a result, he was often plain wrong. But the book's central argument goes beyond biography - it argues that Churchill has cast a dark shadow over post-war British history and contemporary politics - from the 'Churchillian stance' of Tony Blair taking the country to war in Iraq, to the delusion of a special relationship with the United States, to the fateful belief in British exceptionalism: that the nation can once again stand alone in Europe.
Wheatcroft takes a radically different approach to other hagiographies of Churchill. This is a biography that doesn't just tell the story of his life but the equally fascinating one of his legacy, focusing on how Churchill was viewed by contemporaries and those who came after.
This book is both a biography of the man and a fresh and revealing account of post-war politics seen through his legacy.
©2021 Geoffrey Wheatcroft (P)2021 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Churchill's Shadow
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Neil Hancock
- 13-07-24
Good but snarky
I must say i enjoyed the audio book, appart from the times i felt the author wrote like a snarky adolescent which could get a bit annoying. Its not a book of hero worship and better for it, but perhaps not the best first book to read on the man.
the reading was excellent
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ed
- 26-09-22
An impressive critique of the Churchill myth!
A fascinating listen and a necessary counterweight to all Churchill hagiography. Narrator performance superb!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paul Wj Wakeham
- 15-01-24
The way that people and Americans in particular have been taken in by Churchills writings,
I found nothing to dislike with this book, A really well written narrative! Highly recommend
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 05-02-22
Excellent throughout
A critical look not just at Churchill, but at Churchillians, and the unfortunate effect that his legend has had on Britain and the world
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 23-10-21
Comprehensive
Apparently thorough and well balanced, although unfortunately misinformed about aspects of Churchill College, right at the end, the only aspects about which I have first hand knowledge.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 01-09-21
Churchill’s shadow
A fascinating and detailed analysis of Churchill, warts and all - no hagiography that’s for sure…..
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 27-08-21
Excellent
Excellent book with first rate narration to match. Thoroughly honest assessment of Churchill’s life and lasting influence.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 20-09-23
Long and tedious litany of criticism
Anything that can be used to criticise Churchill, important or trivial, justified or not, supported by evidence or not, explicit or implicit, you will find in this book. And the author’s confident statements about what Churchill ought to have done in various high pressured situations are given with the benefit of comfortable hindsight.
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3 people found this helpful