Churchill as War Leader: Right or Wrong?

By Richard Lamb

Winston Churchill is perhaps the most venerated Prime Minister in British history.

Known for both his candour and statesmanship, Churchill is still seen favourably by the British public – particularly towards his firm leadership through World War Two. But was Churchill’s wartime premiership really as successful as his popularity would suggest?

Richard Lamb takes an in-depth look at Churchill’s failures and successes during WW2. Lamb’s careful research shows the extent of Churchill’s own efforts to erase or even rewrite unfavourable mistakes in his own memoirs. Yet Lamb also paints a picture of a man with a formidable temper and intellect, who often changed his mind at the eleventh hour – both to his benefit and to his loss.

A compelling and well-written biography, Richard Lamb gives the most precise appraisal of Churchill and his position of wartime leader to date. With a wealth of sources and a fantastic eye for detail, Lamb’s ability to create both a fair and accurate assessment is unparalleled. For those with an interest in British politics, this is a must read.

A former Conservative MP, Richard Lamb has since written seven books on the history of his own times. His War in Italy was shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize, and his Montgomery in Europe won a Yorkshire Post First Prize. Five of his books were named Books of the Year in The Spectator.