April 5th 2022
Churchill’s Shadow. An astonishing life and a dangerous legacy. Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Churchill’s Shadow. An astonishing life and a dangerous legacy. Geoffrey Wheatcroft. 2021. ISBN 9781324002765. From the first to the last page, I was riveted by the authors take on Churchill. Very well researched, annotated and with a plethora of authors notes this looks to be a definitive review of what turns out to be a very flawed man. His impact on world affairs is shown to run through many events well subsequent to his death and not to the wisest decisions. He also comes across as quite a disagreeable racist even for his times. His stance in 1940-41 when Britain was in its depths is shown to be his sole redeeming part to play. Before that and after his major decisions had serious flaws which cost too any lives. I had always held up his serious writing proclivity as a mark of greatness, now I learn that he only wrote his own speeches while hiring hordes of ghost writers to write his books. as well he was the richest author of his time, dodging taxes and what not to gather in the spoils. I had had not realized the thrall that the US politicians held him in (and still do). Roosevelt disliked him and most things British, which meant he held off getting into WWII until the Japanese forced their hand. Thus, the dangerous legacy holds true. As well the author holds that Churchill directed his writers to rewrite/record history as to how he thought it should be not how it was. A lengthy but useful book for political scientists and historians
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Category: History
