PRIME

The making of the Wizard of Oz is a wonderful book to anyone who has grown to love the Wizard of Oz. You don't even have to be an obsessive fan of the movie like myself to enjoy it. It is extremely well researched. If information is not known the author says it so and does not attempt to recreate history as some nonfiction works do.

Perhaphs what makes the 1939 movie so wonderful is learning all the behind the scenes things that went into making it. This book gives respect and a knew sense of understanding as to what movie making was like in the biggest studio of that time. It is written so that it doesn't need to be read front to back. You can start in the special effects section and finish in the chapter about the script, or the music, or the directors (did you know there were four?).

Did you know that the movie had the work of 10 writers or do you know how the surrender dorothy scene was done? Well, in this book you find out his and thousands more did you know facts to impress friends. I recommend this to anyone who has watched the Wizard of Oz. And if Oz didn't win an academy award for best picture in 1939 than that was because the academy didn't have this book to help choose.

If you're a die hard fan of this classic film then you'll want to read this well-researched "making of" tome. The book is filled with all sorts of wonderful trivia tidbits but most of all it gives an insightful review of those behind the camera in a way I've yet to find in other "OZ" related books. The one and only shortcoming of this book is to be found in the number of pictures, in my opinion there could have been more, otherwise it's a behind the scenes look that most OZ fans won't be disappointed with.

It doesn't matter unduly if you didn't grow up watching MGM's 1939 color movie "The Wizard of Oz" in re-release or on TV. You might think that a "Munchkin" is what used to be called a "doughnut hole." You may think of Judy Garland only as Liza Minnelli's mother, and avoid prewar movies like the plague. Maybe you didn't feel that shock of recognition that "Cora the Coffee Lady" in Maxwell House TV commercials was none other than Margaret Hamilton, the green-faced Wicked Witch of the West.

Of course, if you love "The Wizard of Oz" you've love THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ all the more. I just read this book for the second time (the first upon its initial publication), and was astonished and pleased by how well it has held up. Author Aljean Harmetz has crafted a book relevant not only in terms of one particular "prestige" movie off the Hollywood assembly line; but indeed her insight, research and friendly presentation make the book stand as a metaphor of all Hollywood filmmaking during the height of the Studio Era, ca. 1940. Perhaps the late Irving Thalberg was one of the few Hollywood insiders who could "keep the whole equation of pictures inside his head," but Ms. Harmetz opens up this world for us, and shows us both its realism and its wonder.

We return to an era in which studio moguls were as eccentric and powerful as today's software barons, when studio hands were nonunionized yet intensely loyal to their studios, when no movie studio even thought about a future containing broadcast TV, when movie stars were better known than Presidents or Kings, and when Technicolor would give you any color except the one you wanted. Nonetheless, solving the creative problems inherent in bringing L. Frank Baum's novel "The Wizard of Oz" to the screen was seen as an invigorating set of challenges to be met and conquered.

Back then, MGM had a real "can-do" attitude. So no one had
ever created a moving tornado for a film? After two tries the MGM tech people got it right, and the depiction of that horrendous twister so set the tintype for what a tornado ought to look like that it persists in our collective consciousness today, despite today's ubiquitous video cameras.

There were no tape recorders. How, then, to raise or lower voices artificially for dubbing? This book tells how. What happened when Buddy Ebsen almost died from an allergy to aluminum dust he had worn as the (originally intended) Tin Man? Why was Margaret Hamilton burned severely and ignored, yet Billie Burke turned an ankle and was whisked off the set in a white ambulance? Why did the film need four directors and half a dozen screenwriters, yet was fondly recalled as a labor of love by practically everyone except a prematurely embittered Judy Garland? Was the film the great commercial and critical success you might think it would be? And, by the way, what about those Munchkins' alleged sexual proclivities? Excellent answers provided by excellent research present a fully-formed world view, warts and all.

THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ would be a wonderful companion to the new restored DVD version of the film, which is so crisp you can count the gingham checkers on Dorothy's blue dress (which was actually violet, to fool the Technicolor process). How were the ruby slippers made? What about that poppy field? Read on. Some critics have said that Harmetz's later work is not as excruciatingly well researched as THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ, but I don't care. This book and the movie are not only as much fun as ever, but a great education in the good old/bad old days of the Hollywood "Dream Factory." Don't miss it!

One of the best political satires ever written. This is Book Two regarding the political career of Jim Hacker. Have you every wondered why political schemes never seem to have any practical value? You simply must read this book and find out why that is. Some of the outstanding short stories have been mentioned by other reviewers here, but the Athiest Bishop simply cannot be recommended enough. However, the diplomatic incident over the puppy is probably my favorite. I also loved how a chain smoker becomes Minister of Health. Also, pay attention to Bernard's character thoughout the stories, as one can never be sure what side he'll be on from beginning to end. Cheers to the authors! It doesn't get any better than this!

If you enjoyed the "Yes Minister" and "Yes Prime Minister" books, be sure to read John Mortimer's "Rumpole of the Bailey" series.

It is suitable for both popular and fine taste. I'm sure you'll have a more-than-pleasant reading experience and a more-than-enough understanding of the hypotetical political leader's hypotetical idiotic behavior in a hypothetical political system of a real English-speaking country. Although it is seemingly a novelized British drama, the printed version of "Yes Prime Minister" makes excellent use of the edge of novel to tell the story. The expression of individual's opinion of a event surely presents how single-minded or even absent-minded the characters are. Even more interesting, there are handwritten notes of the subjects, newspaper cutting of their events, and script of media interview which fully demonstrates the moronic ideas and performances of James Hacker as well as the tactical handling of his boss by Sir Humphrey Appleby. And the intervention, most of the time in a literary perspective and untimely, by Benard Wooley further makes the team more a laughing stock.

If you ask my opinion, in the fullest of time, by means of thorough investigation of both the pros and cons, and not to put too fine a point, it is justifiable to a certain extent to consume a certain amount of time to literally, if not semanticaly to digest the information and mark the word by a person who is in this review using the perpendicular pronoun, I.

Were the "Yes Minister" and "Yes Prime Minister" series NOT part of television immortality, this book would STILL succeed, stand out in its own right as one of the classic political satires.

The authors' conceit is that we are in the year 2050 (or so), and Sir Humphrey's dithering protege, the ineffectual Bernard, is now an eminence grise who has taken it upon himself to compile the diaries of the legendary PM Jim Hacker. Hacker, whose populist, extreme-middle-of-the-road politics make him more a John McCain figure than a Tony Blair, does score the odd coup, as when he foils a nasty invasion of a former British colony. But by and large he is at the mercy of Humphrey Appleby and his bureacratic machine. As he tells he diary, Government has the engine of a Volkswagen and the brakes of a Rolls-Royce. This and other universal truths ensure "Yes Prime Minister" will endure for the ages, and it is a pity this work is out of print. My favorite moment is where Hacker, on the verge of ascending the "greasy pole" of parliamentary politics to become PM, campaigns against a European directive seeking to standardize the recipe for sausages. "I am up to my neck in this Euro-sausage business," he remarks. "Not literally, we hope - Ed" is the parenthetical aside.

Robert Blake's biography of Disraeli is now nearly 40 years old (it was first published in 1966), yet it retains a freshness seldom equalled in any type of biography, let alone a political one.

Disraeli is one of the most compelling figures in British history, certainly nineteenth century political history. Yet as Blake points out, he was actually in power for very little of his career, and at a late stage in his life at that. The paradox is explained by the socio-political characteristics of the age. Blake does that with great skill, avoiding the danger of turning a biography into a general history.

"Disraeli" is a fascinating study of a complex and interesting individual. Yet this book is also a must for anyone wanting to understand political development in Victorian Britain, and in particular Conservative Party history.

G Rodgers

During the high tide of the Victorian era, the political life of the nation was dominated by two men, Disraeli and Gladstone. Gladstone is an obvious choice for one of the top statesmen of the era, he was elected four times to the premiership. Disraeli was not quite so fortunate. However, given the short period of time that he was in office he accomplished a great deal. He brought the tories back from the dead, passed a reform bill and managed to acquire the Suez Canal. At the Congress of Berlin, Disraeli's command of the situation even impressed Bismark (not exactly a slouch in these sorts of things). Not bad from a rather foppish young man who specialized in "Silver Fork" novels (a fictional version of lifestyles of the rich and famous in the 19th century).

Blake's book is the best one on the subject of Benjamin Disraeli. The complex story of the novelist turned politican is brought out in all of its facets. Disraeli was probably one of the most interesting people to be prime minister (after perhaps Churchill and Walpole) and Blake's book shows the reader how he did it.

Blake's Disraeli is not only flawless in its interpretation of Disraeli but also in its style. It is a work by which all other biographies must be judged. Simply put, it is the perfect biography.

Now in a newly revised and significantly expanded second edition, Classic Sitcoms: A Celebration Of The Best In Prime-Time Comedy by television history expert Vince Waldron provides tv sitcom fans with a complete episode-by-episode summary and guide to ten of the all-time best television sitcoms, as chosen by forty-five top TV critics. "I Love Lucy"; "The Honeymooners"; "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "All In The Family", "M*A*S*H", "The Bob Newhart Show", "Taxi", and "Cheers" are presented with insightful behind-the-scenes notes and anecdotes from the stars, writers, and producers. Complete credits, basic episode storylines, and tallies of Emmy awards and yearly ratings make Classic Sitcoms a superb and highly recommended resource for TV fans and trivia buffs alike.

If you're a Nick at Nite/TV Land couch chive, this is the book to keep on the sofa at all times. I can't say more.

Rather than another nostalgia-derived look at fondly remembered but essentially lame sitcoms, this book reflects critics' picks of the very best examples of the genre, then examines them with the seriousness and insight they deserve. The author is an expert on the subject--he also wrote the definitive work on the Dick Van Dyke Show--and he treats each of the ten shows, from I Love Lucy to Cheers--with thoroughness and affection. This book will enhance the viewing experience of any television fan.

We've all heard about the alleged "robber barons." For decades the world's successful wealth creators - from Rockefeller to Gates - have been brushed with that smear. But Dr. Locke shows that the smear just can't stick. The wealth creators aren't the dishonest, short-range, conniving bullies we've long been told. Instead, they're both productive AND moral.

To his credit, Dr. Locke doesn't accept the prevailing view that rational self-interest is evil - or that humble self-sacrifice is noble. That's what makes this book special - in addition to Locke's ability to cut to the essential aspects of creativity in business.

I found Dr. Locke's survey of the great wealth-creators to be as unique as the subjects he studies. Guided by an objective standard for gauging productive prowess, Locke identifies a handful of the most crucial personality traits held in common by history's great business creators and leaders. One of my favorites is "love of ability in others." Successful employees at every level of business will be familiar with the envy and resentment they often get from their bosses. Locke shows that those aren't the successful bosses, that it takes an enormous ego (and self-confidence) to seek out and promote the best employees one can find.

In Dr. Locke's book we learn what's never yet been taught about the productive giants of yesterday and today. Better still, we're given a reality-based, time-tested, and objective yardstick for identifying the giants of tomorrow.

Want to make a bundle in business? Locke says you must develop an independent vision, an active mind, competence and confidence. You must be an activist (not a mere "idea man") and be passionate about your work. You must practice the virtues of rationality, honesty, integrity, independence, justice and self-interest (self-preservation). You must buck conventional opinion, which holds that rational greed is practical, but morally suspect. Locke shows us that rational greed is practical precisely because it's moral. Immoral approaches to business tend, in contrast, to dissipate wealth.

Locke doesn't just advise us. In bringing alive the achievements of the wealth creators, in citing their successes and quoting their own philosophies, he lets the creators speak to and inspire us. Here, Locke AND Rockefeller advise.

This book deserves the rapt attention of entrepreneurs, business leaders, board members, venture capital firms, executive recruiters and business students. It's not just a history lesson. It's a principled "how-to" book with a moral-philosophic base that permits the user to feel he can create ever more wealth and - equally important - feel proud of the wealth he's created.

During the recent SR Conference in Richmond, Va., I bought at random in the SR store a copy of Dr. Edwin Locke's book:

"The Prime Movers"

Traits of the Great Wealth Creators

However, I must confess, that the moment I started to read this book, I got hooked. It reads almost like a detective story, and I couldn't let it down.

For businessmen, this is a revelation.For non- businessmen or women it is a fascinating book, explaining and summerizing what is not only important for business, but how it concerns also your own well being.Objectivists will highly enjoy the clarity and logic of the ideas presented.This is a spirit uplifting book.

From the foreword by John Allison, CEO,, BB&T, Inc., making emphasize on the progress of the last 250 years compared to the previous 25.000 ones, to the basic ideas which made this development possible, to the article "Hatred of the Good", by E. Locke and appendix B by L. Peikoff "Why Business Need Philosophy", this is a a unique and outstanding book. Dr.Locke keeps the reader highly motivated to rush from one chapter to the next one.

This delightful book, based solely on Objectivist premises, is a wonderful reading experience.

I wonder, if Dr. Locke considers this book his masterpiece.

Horst Jepsen, businessman (a proud one)

How does one make money morally?

This book is far and away better than books by or about a single CEO because it looks at many leaders and clearly shows what is fundamental, discarding the rest. The same principles needed to run a successful company and build wealth apply whether one runs a modest store or a gigantic enterprise (or even a modest department in a large company). In today's culture most people would rather cut down and sling dirt at those at the top. It is therefore very refreshing to read why they should be admired and how to follow in their footsteps.

This manga trilogy contained in one volume chronicles relationships between humans and genetically engineered people called Unicorns. In the title story, Regg lost his great love Addy in a tragic avalanche on a distant planet, so when her replacement clone arrives on the research station, he is conflicted because this Addy does not have the memories of the woman he loved, and yet he still loves her. In "4/4 (Quatre-Quarts)", young Mori is flunking out of the ESP training program until he meets the mysterious Unicorn girl called Trill. He's drawn to her, but she affects his powers, making them erratic and dangerous. When Mori discovers the secret Trill's guardian is hiding, he finds himself at a crossroads that could destroy his relationship with Trill. "X + Y" takes place years after "4/4" and finds Mori much older and working as a scientist. He meets another Unicorn named Tacto, and is quickly attracted to the young man, but uncomfortable with the notion of same-sex relationships. As the two young men puzzle out their own relationship and find ways to work together as scientists, they also unravel Tacto's hidden history. "A, A¹" is a fantastic romance manga that explores some intriguing questions about love, gender, and sexuality.

This manga is the best I've read in a while! The stories are unforgettable, and I highly recommend this manga to everyone who loves love stories. This is not a waste of money, and this is coming from someone who is quite careful on what she buys. BUY THIS NOW!! =D!

While most manga, even if you buy a 500 page perfect collection, is read and tossed in about 10 minutes, this is quite different. Of course this doesn't take any longer to read, it's just that the stories within touch a nerve and stay in your head for quite some time. The art and the writing are both equally beautiful. So instead of throwing money away on the next volume of Inu Yasha and forgetting about it 5 minutes later, try this. I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised.

This is a first rate account of the history of Israel told through a compelling and modest voice of one of its most important founders. This book greatly deserves a new printing and extensive circulation.

Golda Meir's autobiography is simply and powerfully written. Her account of her childhood in Russia and youth in the USA is straightfoward and unsentimental and shows the early roots of one of the most dedicated and ethical leaders of the century. While free of self-aggrandizement her gifts as a speaker and reprentative of the Jewish people are clearly presented (through speech excepts), and her account of the development of the state of Israel and its first 30 years.

This is a first-hand account of the history of (modern) Israel, and the part Golda Meir played in it. It is amazing to see how a young Jewish girl from Kiev, USSR, makes it to the highest office in the new nation of Israel.

When I read accounts like this, it just infuriates me when I realize how much hatred the world has had, and still does have, for the Jews, and how much the Arabs will stop at nothing to destroy them. Make no mistake. . . while some of the Arab people may want peace, the Arab leadership does not. This is obvious when you look at this history of the region. The only times the Arab leadership has really pursued peace are the (5!) times they've gotten their tails kicked severely after attacking Israel.

The dedication of the Jewish people comes alive in this book. Many gave the utmost sacrifice in contribution to the founding and preservation of the Nation.

I recommend this book for anyone who is curious about the founding of Israel. One warning: Golda Meir (as were many of the founders of Israel) was an ardent Socialist; this was definitely evident in her book, and was a bit hard for me to stomach at times.

This was a very good history book as well as a touching novel. You are able to trace the life of Golda Meir from her days as a school teacher in Milwaukee to her days as prime minister of Israel. Through this book you are also exposed to a great deal of Israeli history. This book also gives you insight into some of the great leaders as well as the great events that helped to shape the nation of Israel. It was especially entertaining to read her opinions of David Ben Gurion and Moshe Dayan. The Yom Kippur war also makes for interesting reading. All in all this is an interesting book that you will certainly enjoy reading.

It's past time that someone put some thought and effort into a book of this nature. We've had "Science Fiction TV" guides before, and they've uniformly been written by authors whose axes could be heard grinding away throughout as they slagged shows they disliked and drooled over shows they (often unaccountably) were fans of. Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia have done a good job of research and writing here, with few and minor mistakes. The chapter on "Battlestar Galactica," which is accurate and contains a good deal of information, much of it from new interviews done especially for this book, is worth the price of admission alone. If you're a fan of science fiction on TV, this book, in spite of its price, should be on your bookshelf. Very highly recommended.

This book represents the pinnacle in terms of a blend of behind-the-scenes insights and anecdotes combined with basic reference data. The multitude of interviews that went into the text give the material a depth that the more common coverage of sci-fi shows rarely attains. Like other books by McFarland, it's pricey, but I can think of none that give the reader better value for their dollar.

What makes this guide especially fascinating are the numerous candid in-depth interviews with the producers and writers of these shows, giving much insight into the creative process and the trials and tribulations of creating innovative television shows. There are countless behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have, I am sure, never seen print before. I thought I knew a lot about certain shows, but this book contained info that was new to me; and even reading the articles about shows I never watched (and the entries on each show are long and detailed) I could scarcely put the book down. This book serves as a reference, but it is more than that; it has a wealth of fascinating insights into the television industry itself.

This is a comprehensive and entertaining guide to US network and cable TV series. It contains so much information (e.g. cast lists, synopsis, trivia, air dates) and will keep any TV fan reading till past midnight! An excellent book - I'm looking forward to the 7th edition.

I've owned every edition of this book and it just keeps getting better and better. Now they even include all the 'minor' networks (A&E, Nickelodeon, BET, ...) and some of those networks' first run shows. Every prime-time show through the 1998 season is covered with cast lists and air dates. The appendices have expanded the yearly ratings to include the Top 30 shows. About the only thing missing would be highest and lowest rated episode of each show, and that might be asking for too much.

The best ever!! Tried to stump the book with obscure TV shows and everyone was listed. Goes by alphabetical order and with calendars of all the years from 1946 to the 2003. You'll never forget who appeared in what. Alot of detail on each show. As soon as I looked thru it, I was sorry I hadn't had this book for years. The best TV reference book you can have.

Martin Gilbert is a prodigious writer and a fine historian. In Churchill: A Life, Gilbert presents an encompassing view of Great Britain's most dynamic historical figure. Little need be said in this review about Churchill, a man larger than life, as that life has been voluminously recorded. However, Gilbert has provided an account that is eminently readable, fascinating in detail, thoroughly engrossing, and bottom-line, simply a pleasurable experience.

As a biographical subject, Churchill has certainly received more negative analysis than Gilbert proffers, but Gilbert takes great care to explain where unwarranted criticism of Churchill's actions and beliefs are, in themselves, errant. Surely, Churchill's politics, in a career that spanned nearly a lifetime, will provide at least some fodder for anyone. By and large, however, Churchill was exactly the prescription required to pull Great Britain through the horrors of World War II.

Not since Truman, by David McCullough, have I enjoyed a biography this much. I recommend the book highly as it deserves, every bit, a rating of five stars.

The 90 year life of Winston Churchill is so eventful and important, it is difficult to chronicle in a single volume. Indeed, Churchill's official biography, of which Martin Gilbert was a major author and collaborator, consists of eight volumes. That said, the average reader, interested in the facts of Churchill's life and times, does not have time to read multiple volumes. Thus, a top quality single volume work becomes imperative.

This is not simply a condensation of the eight volume work but is rather a new work in its own right, which draws on the eight volume work as a major source. Gilbert also relies heavily on Churchill's own archives, the archives of his wife Clementine and the materials of important persons in Churchill's life such as Lady Asquith. As with all of Gilbert's books, this volume is thorough, authoritative, factual and slightly prosaic. One advantage though is that the book is liberally filled with Churchill's actual written and spoken words. Churchill's words are never dull and liven up the text considerably.

The book follows Churchill's life in chronological order from his birth in 1874 through his death in 1965. Although all aspects of his life are touched on, Gilbert's emphasis is on Churchill's public role. The reader unfamiliar with Churchill will be amazed at the number of events of British history in which Churchill played a primary part. In his early twenties, Churchill saw action as an officer and then as a journalist in a number of British colonial wars. Most notably, he was taken prisoner by the Boers during the Boer war, from which he escaped. Originally elected to Parliament as a Conservative during the reign of Victoria, Churchill soon broke with the Tories over the issue of tariffs, which Churchill adamantly opposed. Joining the Liberals, Churchill soon rose to high office. Together with David Lloyd George, Churchill was a major figure in the passage of numerous social and labor reforms. By 1911, Churchill was named First Lord of the Admiralty, where he prepared the British Navy for the conflict with Germany that he sensed was coming. Churchill's career stalled during the First World War when his sound plan to capture Constantinople via Gallipolli, was undermined by the military men charged with carrying it out, Churchill was forced to resign the Admiralty and ultimately saw action as the commander of a Brigade in France. He returned to the cabinet as Minister of Munitions prior to the war's end. After the war, Churchill served as Colonial Secretary where he supported the Zionist movement for a Jewish homeland in Palestine and had much to do with the issuance of the Balfour declaration. He never wavered from his position that a Jewish homeland in Palestine was not only just but that it served British interest. In this, as in so many other areas, Churchill stood largely alone. In his role as Colonial Secretary, Churchill essentially created the modern Arab nation states including Egypt, Jordan and Iraq among others.

Churchill also served as Home Secretary where he worked out the settlement with Michael Collins and Sin Fein that created the Republic of Ireland. Churchill moved away from the Liberals as they began to lose ground to the Labour party who he adamantly opposed. For a number of years Churchill was essentially an independent supported by the Conservatives. He was finally invited back into the Conservative fold, serving in the opposition shadow cabinet of Stanley Baldwin in the late 1920's.

Churchill again broke with the Conservatives over the party's policy favoring centralized Indian home rule. This was an issue over which all parties were largely in agreement yet Churchill was adamant in his opposition. He believed that the end of the British Raj in India would lead to the Hindu persecution of lower castes and slaughter between Hindu and Muslim nationalists. History has, of course, proven him right and gradual independence might have saved millions of lives. At the time, however, he was subjected to the worst ridicule and ostracized.

Churchill's stance seemed to spell the end of his career. All through the thirties, he maintained his seat in Parliament yet was never asked to serve in a government. He was ignored, in succession by Ramsey McDonald (head of a Labour/Conservative coalition), Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain. His warnings about Hitler, the threat from Germany and Britain's growing weakness were utterly ignored. Only when the war began in September 1939 was Churchill invited back into the Admiralty and into the War Cabinet by Chamberlain. Finally, in 1940, when Chamberlain was forced to resign, Churchill was asked by the King to take his place. At 65, in the hour of Britain's greatest peril, Churchill was Prime Minister and the head of a national unity government determined to defeat the Nazi menace. Gilbert spends a disproportionate amount of space on these vital five years. At the age when most people are retiring, Churchill with enormous vitality was traveling the globe in support of the British war effort.

Upon Germany's defeat, in July 1945, Churchill was promptly turned out of office and the Socialists took over. He continued to lead the Conservative party in opposition and was returned to power in 1952. At first, an outspoken critic of Stalin's Soviet Union (he coined the phrase "the iron curtain") Churchill came to favor a political resolution of differences between the West and the Soviets. Finally, retiring as Prime Minister and head of the party in 1955 at the age of 81, Churchill's final words of advice to his successors was to "stand with the Americans."

Winston Spencer Churchill is one of the pivotal figures of the twentieth century and one of the greatest men of all time. This book does justice to his greatness. For a much greater insight into Churchill's character and personal life, I recommend the two books in "The Last Lion" series by William Manchester. This book is clearly superior to the recent biography by Roy Jenkins. It is the finest one volume biography available.

It is difficult to comprehend the enormous challenges faced by Britain in the late 1930's- essentially alone against the Nazi aggression, save for a weakened and demoralized France, with the United States in an inexplicable isolationist phase, content to let Europe burn. In this context, the rise of Winston Churchill to Prime Minister can be seen as something of a miracle- one of those rare instances where the man fit his times perfectly. To that end, without his influence, it is easy to imagine revisionist history, with Europe divided between right-wing German and leftist Soviet spheres. How can one small island establish its force and might into this cause and thus preserve the ideals of freedom and democracy?
The answer, as given by Mr. Gilbert, is Sir Winston Churchill himself, and there is not much which can be argued on this point. If you only read one biography of a 20th century figure, then you should make it this book. Besides Adolph Hitler (to which I recommend Ian Kershaw's excellent two-volume biography), there can be no more influential figure of the last century.
And, besides, what a life! As Gilbert's biography makes clear, Churchill was never one to shun from action. There are multiple instances of Churchill, both young and old, tempting fate, either in battle or in his passion for flying. With bombs and bullets flying it seems Churchill was at peace, secure in the knowledge that God had a greater fate in store for him.
Gilbert, the official biographer of Churchill, has done a masterful job of condensing his multi-volume work into a readable 1,000 pages- it will go very fast, believe me.
All in all, the best in historical biography. Highly recommended.