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In Search of Churchill: A Historian's Journey ePub download

by Martin Gilbert

Martin Gilbert Historical English

Author: Martin Gilbert
ISBN: 0471132292
ISBN13: 978-0471132295
ePub: 1776 kb | FB2: 1885 kb
Language: English
Category: Historical
Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 24, 1995)
Pages: 352
Rating: 4.8/5
Votes: 923
Format: mbr doc rtf mobi

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It's evident he finds the process a labor of love.

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A portrayal of the prime minister and a look at "the Agatha Christie side of the historian's ar. "First published in Great Britain in 1994 by HarperCollins Publishers.

During his excavation of his subject, Martin Gilbert has discovered many gems. In this book he holds some of the most gorgeous jewels up to the light for us to admire. 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 i. -The Times (London). The portrait of Winston Churchill i. .vivid and painted with an affection and humour that rarely appear in the official biography. London Daily Telegraph. In this book he holds some of the most gorgeous jewels up to the light for us to admire

During his excavation of his subject, Martin Gilbert has discovered many gems. The Spectator Gilbert here gives us Churchill's vast humanity with the politics largely left out. They will love it. -The Times (London) The portrait of Winston Churchill i.

Martin Gilbert - Churchill's Biographer. com User, October 6, 2007. I've been studying about Winston Churchill for more than 30 years. So much that has been written is repetitive or agenda driven, and sometimes I feel there isn't anything more to be said. Then I found this book by Martin Gilbert with insights into himself, Randolph Churchill and the many prominent people that knew Churchill intimately and as participants in his personal history.

Martin Gilbert began work on Winston Churchill's biography, initially as Randolph Churchill's assistant, in 1962 on his 26th birthday. It is also the story of those who have helped Gilbert along his way, as they had earlier helped Churchill on his.

In 1996, prominent Holocaust historian Sir Martin Gilbert embarked on a fourteen-day journey into the past with a.

In 1996, prominent Holocaust historian Sir Martin Gilbert embarked on a fourteen-day journey into the past with a group of his graduate students from University College, London. Their destination? Places where the terrible events of the Holocaust had left their mark in Europe.

Sir Martin John Gilbert CBE FRSL (25 October 1936 – 3 February 2015) was a British historian and honorary Fellow of Merton College, University of Oxford. He was the author of eighty-eight books, including works on Winston Churchill, the 20th century, and Jewish history including the Holocaust. He was a member of the Chilcot Inquiry into the UK's role in the Iraq War.

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

Andronrad

If you're a Churchill enthusiast like myself, this is an excellent book, perfect as an introduction for those intimidated by the thousand+ pages of "Churchill: A life" or the eight volumes of the official biography!
The book covers two areas unknown to us Churchillians: (A) Martin Gilbert's fascinating career as Churchill's official biographer, which began as a research assistant to Churchill's son Randolph, and (B) a number of different aspects of Churchill's life given the spot light here, such as Churchill's moral views on military ways, his painting hobby, his personal views of the Dardanelles, and his life as described by his secretaries and staff and the stories of how Martin Gilbert got in touch with them!
Another perk are Martin Gilbert's own stories of getting access to different archives hitherto closed, as well as finding letters referred to in the Churchill papers but where no copy exists, and also tracking down people mentioned in correspondence or people who knew Churchill.
Great read! No drawbacks!

Inth

This is the fifth book I've read by Sir Martin Gilbert in addition to volumes of "The Official Biography". He never fails. " In Search of Churchill: A Historians Journey" sheds light on the historians quest, including, the serendipity of finding historical goldmines and the disappointing searches yielding little or contradictory information. Moreover, he places emphasis on a tenacious authentication of resources and the necessary virtue of being thorough in any historical research. It's evident he finds the process a labor of love. Moreover, his humanity, and the humanity of the historical subjects he writes about with such balanced assessments and eloquence makes "In Search of Churchill" required reading for both Churchillians and aspiring historians.

Karg

I love anything Sir Martin Gilbert produced!

Cordaron

It is fascinating to read how the writer goes about getting information about someone who has written so much himself and has so very much written about him. Very enlightening very well written.

Zehaffy

A very personal account to the extensive biography of Churchill (several volumes) written by Martin Gilbert which took over 25 years. Mr. Gilbert started under the auspices of Churchill's son Randolph - who does come off at times as a tyrant (and sometimes benevolent).

There is considerable detective work involved in writing accurate historical research. Letters must be put in chronological order; events and characters within these letters are often mysterious and must be scrutinized to determine who they were and the role played.

At times one gets the impression that Mr. Gilbert paints too much of an aura of saintliness around the "Great Man" - but I suppose that is inevitable given his historical stature and the enormity of his written output. Even forgetting his political career - Churchill's literary, journalistic and artistic works are prodigious. As Gilbert states politics and politicians since Churchill's era have diminished somewhat in eminence.

Churchill was a leader unafraid to take decisions. There are personal portraits of the people who worked beside him - his secretaries and literary assistants. There are many interesting anecdotes that provide a real humanity to Churchill making him warm and approachable. Churchill valued individualism and self-initiative over a person's rank or title.

Indeed I found this book more personal then the official biographies of Churchill by Martin Gilbert, which seemed to me somewhat distant and overly factual with little analysis.

Shakataxe

I've been studying about Winston Churchill for more than 30 years. So much that has been written is repetitive or agenda driven, and sometimes I feel there isn't anything more to be said. Then I found this book by Martin Gilbert with insights into himself, Randolph Churchill and the many prominent people that knew Churchill intimately and as participants in his personal history. Churchill's influence on 20th century British history cannot be denied although many writers have tried to trivialize it or to demonize Sir Winston as a war monger.

Gilbert makes clear that none of that is true, and for me one of the most telling quotes from his book describes the true nature of Mr. Churchill. "My search made clear that despite the image of Churchill as a man eager to resort to force, his main theme in each decade had been to try to settle international disputes by negotiation." (Chapter 6) Gilbert is able to back up this statement with original documentations and personal testimonies that lesser reseachers would have neither the talent nor the inclination to gather and formulate into a life's portrait of a great man.

Frankly, this book has renewed my interest in all things Churchill, and I have purchased and am reading a recently issued book, "Troublesome Young Men," by Lynne Olson. Troublesome Young Men This book sets the stage for Churchill's rise to being a war tme Prime Minister and shows that he was not alone (albeit rather isolated) in understanding the nature of appeasement and the folly of negotiating with tyrants from a position of weakness. More importantly the book reinforces the fact that even when faced with enormous political pressures from those in power and a public that neither understands or just doesn't believe, that freedom is a concept that must be defended at all costs. We would do well to remember this lesson today post 9/11. Where (or better, who) are today's "Troublesome Young Men?"

Anyone with an interest in Winston Churchill and the history of the mid-20th century, will gain a much better understanding of that history by reading how Martin Gilbert came to be Churchill's biography.

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