
Churchill
March 11th, 2010
I liked Paul Johnson’s Churchill before I ever started reading it. The four cover photos of the great man taken from various phases of his life remind you that this is no ordinary life being documented - world class journalist, soldier, statesman, and artist are all alluded to in the photos. And of course, just to see the two names “Churchill” and “Paul Johnson” on the same cover should be sufficient enticement to dive in.
This is a slim volume - under 200 pages. Many have attempted to write exhaustive biographies, but what Johnson offers us is more like a sketch - all the outlines are there, but many of the details are left to the imagination. I especially appreciated Johnson’s various summaries of aspects of Churchill’s life, e.g. ten reasons to answer in the affirmative the question whether Churchill singlehandedly saved Britain in WWII, or five lessons to learn from the life of Churchill.
Paul Johnson has a well-deserved reputation as a master of historical analysis. His book credits include Modern Times and A History of the American People. This volume on Churchill can do nothing but enhance that reputation. The very next book I want to read is Johnson’s very latest: Jesus: A Biography from a Believer.




. Deeply rooted in the
chant tradition, but with a fresh new sound, Brian’s music reflects both his classical training as a composer and his deeply held Christian faith.




