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Title: The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Alone 1932-1940
ISBN: 0316545120
Author:
William Manchester
Publicate Date: 1988-10-28
Publish: 1988-10-28
List Price: $50.00
Average Customer Rating: 5.0
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $24.45
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $2.29
Amazon Merchant Price: $31.50
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Astounding, appalling, inspiring-- amazing
I just finished reading this book and its predecessor, and am griefstricken at the fact that Manchester died before completing the third volume. These books are amazing. As I read them I was reminded of a review concerning (I think) Tuchman's bio of Stillwell, which went something like: "This is more than a book, it is an education."
The writing is insightful and balanced throughout, and replete with background information that puts it all in perspective. Manchester clearly admires Churchill greatly and lauds his genius, yet is not blind to his character flaws or occasional errors. He does not shy away from making judgments about the appalling lengths to which Baldwin and Chamberlain went to appease Hitler and prevent Britain from preparing for the upcoming war, but he also shows the cultural context and competing priorities that informed their actions. Both books are incredibly readable; I've been completely absorbed in them since reading the first page. I highly recommend them both.
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2: Churchill
Finest biography on Churchill ever written. A pity Manchester died before completing the third book of the trilogy.
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3: Brilliantly Written European History - 1932 to 1940
The Last Lion, Alone covers the history of Europe from the time Hitler first came to power in Germany to the time that Hitler invaded the Low Countries and World War II began. During this period Churchill, who continually fought against the appeasement policies of Chamberlain, rose from Back Bench irrelevance to become Brittan's Prime Minister.
The history of this period is a gripping saga of one man's malicious attempt to dominate Europe and another man's noble efforts to stop him - a classical case of good vs evil - told as an almost unbelievable story in the words of a master story teller.
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4: Grab a bottle of Scotch and have at this book!
William Manchester informs and entertains in this excellent historical account of the critical years leading up to WWII, juxtaposing the appeasement practices of predecessors Baldwin and Chamberlain with the unwavering belief in the principles of freedom held by Churchill. The book (along with Manchester's first volume) gives terrific insight into the transition from the glory days of the British Empire to the Post WWI apathy that beset the British public. As well, the work provides delightful commentary on the characters surrounding Churhill's life including his colorful mother Jennie, his wife Clementine and his nemesis Adolf Hitler.
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5: Churchill was begging....
After the fall of France in June 1940, Winston Churchill was begging USA President Roosevelt for military aid (in fact, all sorts of support was then needed) as no one knew what would the 'fate' of the French fleet was going to be.
Churchill kept reminding the American president that Britain would not surrender even if left alone.
Churchill was defiant despite the fact that the two 'key' American ambassadors, in France and Great Britain, were pro Hitler (or at least they were not anti-Nazi).
Joseph Kennedy (USA Ambassador to GB) openly cautioned his fellow Americans against entering the war because the 'allies' would soon be beaten.
However, I would have liked to see more comments about the position and reaction of the king - king George VI.
Was he indifferent?
We should remember that Hitler had been addressing the King as the man whom the British Government circles have loathed, and as the only 'hope' for a reconciliation between the Third Reich and GB.
In this context it is true that Churchill was indeed ALONE
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