The Churchill Factor - by Boris Johnson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

On the fiftieth anniversary of Churchill's death, Boris Johnson celebrates the singular brilliance of one of the most important leaders of the twentieth century. Taking on the myths and misconceptions along with the outsized reality, he portrays--with characteristic wit and passion--a man of contagious bravery, breathtaking eloquence, matchless strategizing, and deep humanity.

Fearless on the battlefield, Churchill had to be ordered by the king to stay out of action on D-day; he pioneered aerial bombing and few could match his experience in organizing violence on a colossal scale, yet he hated war and scorned politicians who had not experienced its horrors. He was the most famous journalist of his time and perhaps the greatest orator of all time, despite a lisp and the chronic depression he kept at bay by painting. His maneuvering positioned America for entry into World War II, even as it ushered in England's postwar decline. His open-mindedness made him a trailblazer in health care, education, and social welfare, though he remained incorrigibly politically incorrect. Most of all, he was a rebuttal to the idea that history is the story of vast and impersonal forces; he is proof that one person--intrepid, ingenious, determined--can make all the difference.

Review Quotes

"[The Churchill Factor] isn't another potted biography. . . . [Johnson] clearly admires his subject, and his book has a boyish, innocent quality that is also an essential part of Mr. Johnson's political appeal."
--The Wall Street Journal

"Buoyant, quick-witted and vastly entertaining." --The Economist

"A lively, and pertinent, introduction . . . Johnson has painted his portrait of Churchill with light, learning, and good sense, a wise aggregation of present and past." --The Weekly Standard

"Fascinating . . . [Johnson's] interpretation of [Churchill] is interesting on every page." --Freakonomics

"A bravura performance . . . Johnson has not only celebrated Churchill in this book: he has emulated him with comparable panache." --Financial Times

"A full-throated celebration of human greatness and perhaps the best (and certainly the funniest) . . . introduction to Churchill yet written . . . delightful and effervescent." --The Daily Beast

"Filled with vivid observations." --The Washington Post

"A characteristically breathless romp through the life and times of our greatest wartime leader, Winston Churchill . . . as high on entertainment as it is on providing an appraisal of the great man's achievements . . . Johnson's distinctive writing style is unlike any other used in the countless books that have been written on Churchill . . . It reads at times like a mixture of Monty Python and the Horrible Histories." --The Telegraph (4 stars)

"An interesting study of a truly fascinating historical figure . . . [Johnson] is a good, sound writer with a very distinct, unique voice . . . It is as if [he] were sitting with you on a long night in a pub over pints telling you everything he knows and think of Churchill." --Pop Mythology

"Johnson has knocked this project out of the park. With this book Johnson has not only managed to create the most readable non-fiction prose I have read all year, but he has managed to clarify myth, destroy recent revisionism and unearth new material. The book amuses and educates in equal measure with a deftness of touch and lightness of learning that is beyond most people. He has done this while holding down one of the country's busiest and most high-profile jobs." --Quadrapheme

"[The Churchill Factor] is both paean of praise and irreverent romp, with analysis of Churchill's smorgasbord of achievements . . . Its stress on the importance of political bravery, and doing what is morally right, rather than what the polls and press dictate, is a timeless message." --The Jewish Chronicle

"Combine[s] bathos with humour and a welcome clarity of historical argument . . . there is much to commend in this spirited, entertaining tale." --The Guardian

"The Churchill Factor would have been a worthy contribution without the political overtones. Like Sir Winston--who somehow published 43 books (and won the 1953 Nobel Prize for Literature) while not busy leading the defeat of Hitler--Mr. Johnson is a superb writer. Despite the heavy subject matter, The Churchill Factor is a light and quick read . . . [Johnson's] brisk style of writing . . . helps keep the book moving, challenging readers with occasional get-out-your-dictionary words and rewarding them with the odd belly laugh." --Globe and Mail

"Like all Johnson's work [The Churchill Factor] is beautifully written, particularly as, in this case, he rises to the linguistic standards set by his subject . . . it is clear that he not only admires Churchill enormously, but that he was also determined to make a really good job of a timely reassessment on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Churchill's death." --Saga Magazine

"Churchill's own energy--his indefatigable pursuit of excitement, glory, place and power--demands a writer of fizz and passion to do history justice. Johnson is that writer. --Mail on Sunday

"Irresistible . . . chatty, enthusiastic and as funny as you would expect." --The Spectator

"Riveting. It would be a fascinating read [even] without the Johnson Factor--[but] Boris is a superb, accessible writer, with an easy, good-humoured touch. . . . The result is entertaining, informative and teasing." --The Independent

"Readable, engaging and often funny." --Evening Standard

"While there are many accounts of Winston Churchill and his political savvy, one would be remiss to ignore this sprightly written volume. . . . Johnson's history of Churchill is well crafted, amply researched, and a pleasure to read." --Library Journal

"Reading about Churchill is always a delight, and Johnson is an accomplished, accessible writer."
--Kirkus Reviews

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