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Review
| Churchill and War, by Geoffrey Best. London and New York: Hambledon & London, 2005. 353 pages. $24.95, cloth.
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| With Churchill and War, historian Geoffrey Best has written a book that enhances our understanding of Winston Churchill, twice prime minister of Britain and arguably one of the twentieth century West's most important political leaders. Numerous biographies of Churchill exist (Best himself is the author of Churchill: A Study in Greatness, 2001), as do works on aspects of his political and military careers. But this is the first to specifically address 'the centrality of war to Churchill's life' (Preface, x) and interpret his many decades of service through this lens. |
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Best clearly lays out in the Preface the central questions concerning Churchill that he wishes to address: "Where did his immense understanding of war come from? What did he learn in earlier years that was useful to him in later ones? What was his style as a commander in wartime? Was he as good a leader in the Second World War as he thought he was, and as his memoirs suggested?" (Preface, x). Answers follow in chronologically organized chapters, beginning with Churchill's early years and first military experiences, in Sudan and the Boer War. Two chapters detail World War I; and here the author casts a critical eye on Churchill's role in the 1915 Gallipoli debacle. After a brief summary of the interwar decades, Best devotes one-third of the book to Churchill's first term as prime minister (May 1940-July 1945), with careful attention to his roles as military strategist, diplomat, and home front moral builder. Churchill left office when voters turned their backs on the Conservative Party in the elections of July 1945. |
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Six years in opposition were followed by a second, less eventful term as prime minister (November 1951-April 1955) and a decade largely spent writing. Churchill died in 1965, aged 90. Two final chapters, entitled "A Mind For War" and "The Conduct of War," are thematic. Best reviews Churchill's voluminous writings and searches for what might be termed Churchill's 'philosophy' of war; toward this end he examines Churchill's stance on the use of poison gas and the bombing of German cities. How useful is this book for teaching about western or world history? As a possible course reading, it's best suited to courses with a focus on twentieth century Britain or significant Western political figures. But importantly, because Churchill and War is not a biography—it is a work that analyzes the significance of conflict throughout the British leader's long career—instructors will want to carefully examine their course goals and objectives before assigning this title. Also, author Geoffrey Best assumes readers possess a high level of background knowledge; especially with regard to British domestic politics and that nation's paths through the two world wars, a degree of knowledge not possessed by many lower-division college students. Certain well-prepared learners might benefit from this book, but Churchill and War is more appropriate for upper-division or graduate students in history examining modern Britain in general or Churchill in particular. The fact that the title is currently only available in a hardcover version makes selection even more questionable. All in all, caution is urged when considering this book for course adoption. In the right circumstances, though, it can be valuable. |
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On the other hand, both high school and college faculty members would find this interesting book, or parts of it, attractive for background reading, or the preparation of lecture material. Its chronological organization is a strength in this regard. Instructors could, for example, expand their treatment of World War II with Best's fine treatment of Churchill's dealings with President Franklin D. Roosevelt—seen from a British perspective—or the moral question of the strategic bombing of Germany. In sum, Geoffrey Best's Churchill and War is a readable and engaging piece of historical scholarship that views this important Western leader in a new light. It is a well-organized, insightful, and generally readable volume which fills an existing gap in the historical literature. Though a rewarding book to read, the book's usefulness for classroom applications is limited, and those secondary and college faculty seeking a book on Winston Churchill are encouraged to give consideration to other options. |
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| Concordia University, St Paul |
Thomas Saylor |
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