Churchill (Profiles In Power)

Much has been written about Churchill, much of it by Churchill himself. The huge wealth of evidence, the length and complexity of the career, the scale of the biographies -- these are daunting in themselves. Moreover, although Churchill was arguably the greatest Briton of his times, he seems a strangely remote figure to the late twentieth century. All the more welcome, therefore, is this latest succinct contribution to the Profiles in Power series: it brings Churchill back into focus for a modern readership, and, in the process, provides a vivid picture of the political landscapes through which he moved.

His is an especially fascinating subject for a Profile, not simply because of the intrinsic importance of his career but also because of the unpredictable way it oscillated between triumph and tragedy. Few aspirants to power have prepared themselves more single-mindedly for success; yet, for all Churchill's early achievements, the highest office seemed likely to elude him. Despite his brilliance, he seemed flawed and untrustworthy to many of his prewar contemporaries.

The Second World War transformed Churchill's standing: in the dark days of 1940 he became a national hero, whose indomitable self-confidence was itself a powerful force for the survival of Britain. Yet out of that victory came defeat: by 1955, eclipsed by the USA and the USSR, Britain seemed to be losing everything he had struggled so hard to preserve.

For all Churchill's immense achievements, therefore, Keith Robbins's incisive review of his career is ultimately a study in failure. Yet it shows this awkward genius, in defeat as well as victory, to have been truly the symbol and mirror of his age: for Churchill's lifetime (1874-1965) spans the climax and disintegration of the British Empire, and his triumphs and tragedies as a statesman are inseparable from those of the nation as a whole.

Written with wit and elegance, Churchill offers insights and rewards that far exceed its modest dimensions. It is an admirable addition to a series of growing reputation.

Keith Robbins was educated in Bristol and at Magdalen and St Anthony's Colleges, Oxford. He has taught at the University of York, Glasgow University, and the University of Wales, Lampeter, where he is now Vice-Chancellor. He is the author of numerous books on British and world
history.