Letters for the Ages: The Private and Personal Letters of Sir Winston Churchill (Edited by James Drake and Allen Packwood)

Winston Churchill’s political career was full of peaks and valleys while he served many roles in Britain’s government for the majority of five decades. Churchill’s fame rose as a correspondent documenting his time in South Africa during the Second Boer War at the beginning of the 20th Century. Churchill’s prolific writing produced 40 books and also netted him a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. In addition to the known works Churchill put together, there is countless correspondence to his wife, family, allies, and adversaries that many do not know about. Allen Packwood and James Drake have curated a selection of Churchill’s letters, including some that have never been published publicly, in Letters for the Ages: The Private and Personal Letters of Sir Winston Churchill.

Through 100 letters, Packwood and Drake offer relevant context to the events that shaped the correspondence. The reader learns how Churchill’s wife, Clementine, was arguably his strongest sounding board and non-political personal advisor. Correspondence between the two was intimate, often with Clementine advising Sir Winston on how to manage the personal side of politics in order to guide the country through challenging times. Additional correspondence includes various politicians and military leaders.

These letters open a window into Churchill’s mind and personality, his views on the issues of the moment, and his evolution as a leader and consequential politician in 20th Century Great Britain. Both Packwood and Drake offer clear, objective commentary to incorporate important details to the letters in this collection.

MY RATING - 5

Churchill, Roosevelt & Company (Lewis E. Lehrman)

Lewis E. Lehrman’s Churchill, Roosevelt & Company covers the stories of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt but also pulls their advisers and lower level government officials in to weave the narrative of the Americans and British during World War II.  While the Churchill-FDR relationship was unique in its flow and ebb through both men’s leadership of their respective nations, the management of that relationship and the Allied War effort by individuals such as John M. Keynes, Lord Halifax, Anthony Eden, Harry Hopkins, and Generals Marshall and Eisenhower played a more critical, substantive role in ensuring the two countries collaborated in their efforts to defeat the Axis Powers.

Lehrman compares the two leaders’ styles in managing and dealing with the Soviet Union during and especially after World War II, and shows how both countries were able to use each other (and each other’s strengths) to their advantage. The author skillfully moves between the British and Americans, weaving in tails of espionage and intrigue along the way to add extra spice to the historical narrative.

Above all, Churchill, Roosevelt & Company reinforces a most powerful lesson that all of us should remember: Relationships matter. The book shows many examples of how government policy and decision-making was influenced by interpersonal relationships by second and third level diplomats and lower level government advisers. While Churchill and FDR garnered the headlines, the dirty work in the trenches required that personal touch that Churchill and FDR were not always able to maintain during the balance of the war effort.

MY RATING - 4

Elizabeth the Queen (Sally Bedell Smith)

Events related to Queen Elizabeth II and/or London have been in the news quite a lot lately, from the much-watched royal wedding in 2011 to the Summer Olympics in 2012. 2012 also marks 60 years on the throne, which was only surpassed by Queen Victoria. Even though there has just lately been a renewed interest in the monarchy, she has done her job and put duty above everything else since her ascension to the throne in 1952. Imagine the weight of your country (and the robes...and the crown) being put on your shoulders at the age of 25.

Sally Bedell Smith's Elizabeth the Queen is a thoroughly researched, 537-page biography. It begins with the story of her parents, famously depicted in the the award-winning movie, The King's Speech. The Queen grew up during World War II, repairing army trucks, never one to refrain from getting her hands dirty. When her father died, her reign began, and continued through 12 (and counting) prime ministers (the first being Sir Winston Churchill) and the many, many dramas of her children and family.

Bedell Smith wrote Elizabeth the Queen for 2012, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year. At times, it can read slowly, and some things were not really necessary to include (I don't need to read graphic details of the Queen watching horse intercourse.). Smith is also extremely flattering to the Queen and presents her in an always positive light, even though there have been controversies along the way. However, it is fascinating to read about the ins and outs of the Queen's life, from her sumptous events to her comfort in routines. This is a very worthwhile read.

MY RATING - 4