In Search of Churchill: A Historian's Journey

Martin Gilbert's landmark eight- volume biography of Winston Churchill is considered one of the greatest ever written. And the story behind it is every bit as fascinating as its celebrated subject. In Search of Churchill is the critically acclaimed tale of the author's thirty-year quest for one of the legendary leaders and dominant personalities of the twentieth century. This brilliant account is at once a striking portrayal of Winston Churchill as seen through the eyes of those closest to him and a rare, inside look at "the Agatha Christie side of the historian's art" (London Financial Times).

In Search of Churchill reveals the staggering extent of Gilbert's research, an epic undertaking that he began in 1962 as Randolph Churchill's assistant. From that auspicious beginning to the exultant moment when, some twenty-five years later, the author "reached the final file in the bottom drawer of the last filing cabinet," we witness the extraordinary process of countless interviews, of digging ever more deeply to dispel the myths and stereotypes, of alternately charming and cajoling those sources reluctant to confide.

Now, share some of the great moments in Martin Gilbert's pursuit, and meet an unforgettable cast of characters along the way: secretaries, assistants, diarists, correspondents, soldiers, politicians, civil servants; the eminent and the unknown. All had tales to tell, many appearing for the first time in this book.

Through these intimate recollections a remarkable pattern emerges. The impressions Churchill made on those he met, even as an adolescent, were indelible. From schoolmates to members of parliament, family friends to casual acquaintances, all were convinced he was unique —and a true man of destiny. Here, then, is an un-paralleled opportunity to view the complex character of the man behind the public persona—seen at his most unguarded moments.

Filled with intriguing anecdotes that could not be included in the formal biography, In Search of Churchill unfolds with vigorous enthusiasm and unbounded affection for its subject. It is must reading, not only for Churchill devotees, but for all those interested in the art of biography.

The critically acclaimed story behind the writing of one of the greatest biographies of the twentieth century

"The process of finding out about any historical character can be a surprising one. . . . In this book I share some of my experiences, in the hope that they may be of interest or amusement, and that something further will emerge from them of the character, struggles, and achievements of Churchill himself." —Martin Gilbert, from the Preface

Praise for In Search of Churchill

"Gilbert here gives us Churchill's vast humanity with the politics largely left out. Readers daunted by the 8,000-odd pages of the official life should start here. They will love it." —The Times (London)

"The work [Gilbert] has done puts all historians of the 20th century, and all students of Churchill, incalculably in his debt." —London Sunday Telegraph

"The portrait of Winston Churchill is . . . vivid and painted with an affection and humour that rarely appear in the official biography." —London Daily Telegraph