The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Alone 1932-1940

Customer Reviews:

Brilliantly Written European History - 1932 to 1940.......2007-09-16

The Last Lion, Alone covers the history of Europe from the time Hitler first came to power in Germany to the time that Hitler invaded the Low Countries and World War II began. During this period Churchill, who continually fought against the appeasement policies of Chamberlain, rose from Back Bench irrelevance to become Brittan's Prime Minister.

The history of this period is a gripping saga of one man's malicious attempt to dominate Europe and another man's noble efforts to stop him - a classical case of good vs evil - told as an almost unbelievable story in the words of a master story teller.

Grab a bottle of Scotch and have at this book!.......2007-07-03

William Manchester informs and entertains in this excellent historical account of the critical years leading up to WWII, juxtaposing the appeasement practices of predecessors Baldwin and Chamberlain with the unwavering belief in the principles of freedom held by Churchill. The book (along with Manchester's first volume) gives terrific insight into the transition from the glory days of the British Empire to the Post WWI apathy that beset the British public. As well, the work provides delightful commentary on the characters surrounding Churhill's life including his colorful mother Jennie, his wife Clementine and his nemesis Adolf Hitler.

Churchill was begging...........2006-10-06

After the fall of France in June 1940, Winston Churchill was begging USA President Roosevelt for military aid (in fact, all sorts of support was then needed) as no one knew what would the 'fate' of the French fleet was going to be.
Churchill kept reminding the American president that Britain would not surrender even if left alone.
Churchill was defiant despite the fact that the two 'key' American ambassadors, in France and Great Britain, were pro Hitler (or at least they were not anti-Nazi).
Joseph Kennedy (USA Ambassador to GB) openly cautioned his fellow Americans against entering the war because the 'allies' would soon be beaten.
However, I would have liked to see more comments about the position and reaction of the king - king George VI.
Was he indifferent?
We should remember that Hitler had been addressing the King as the man whom the British Government circles have loathed, and as the only 'hope' for a reconciliation between the Third Reich and GB.
In this context it is true that Churchill was indeed ALONE

absolutely a delight to read.......2006-01-26

I was adrift when I finished this volume.
grasping at pathetic things to read for a while - nothing satisfied - Manchester can set the stage, his historical background is so rich that you'll find yourself spouting about it to your friends.

You'll learn more from this book than a two semester course in 20th century history.

Churchill himself is the lead player in a panapoly of exciting elements. But manchester never lets the reader forget the place in history - the man was a masterful writer.

solitary courage.......2005-12-29

No better profile of Churchill 1932-40 exists. Whetted with acrimony and disdain, Churchill is ultimately proved right (and his real task commences).

This is a work of the first order. `The Last Lion' (1874-1932) is also worthy.

Gilbert (worth reading) pales in comparison.

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Alone, 1932-1940

Average customer rating:

Shocked
Churchill's true finest hour; this book will give you a better appreciation of Winston's greatness, courage, and foresight
The Hobo Philosopher
The 3rd book in the series is coming...
will the 3rd volume ever appear?

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Alone, 1932-1940
William Manchester
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0385313314
Release Date: 1989-09-03

Customer Reviews:

Shocked.......2007-09-28

This book was given to me by my father, who is a huge fan of Winston. I was absolutely shocked and amazed by the information that this book brought to light. I was taught, so little about WWII! I was amazed. I savored this book. I would recommend and have recommended this book to anyone, who would listen. Prepare to be amazed by the man and confronted with the real realities of Britain before and during the first declarations of war.

Churchill's true finest hour; this book will give you a better appreciation of Winston's greatness, courage, and foresight.......2007-09-10

For some inexplicable reason, the second (and unfortunately final) volume of William Manchester's biography sat on my shelf unread for some time. I think because the book spans the years 1932 to 1940 -- and does not cover most of World War II -- I skipped the book over, figuring that Winston's best and most important years were his war years. After reading "Alone", I realized immediately how wrong I was: if anything, Manchester's incredible book demonstrates that Churchill's so-called "wilderness years" out of power were his finest hour. Unquestionably, Churchill provided resolute leadership to Great Britain -- as well as the rest of the Allied world -- during the War. But he perhaps demonstrated even greater leadership while out of power, when he was quite literally the only European statesman who was repeatedly warning the world of the dangers of Nazi Germany and calling for rearmament to stand up to Hitler. Thus, "Alone" is not just about Churchill and his greatness, but also a powerful historical record of the dangers of appeasement in the face of tyrants.

This book goes beyond being a simple historical biography. Manchester's writing is delightful and seamless, literally depositing you into Churchill's time and Churchill's life. It maintains and builds a tenseness throughout the book as the world moves closer and closer to war despite Churchill's warnings, which if heeded, could have averted the conflict many times over. The work is meticulously researched and crafted, and flows perfectly. Perhaps most of all, reflective of the title, Manchester captures how completely and totally alone Churchill was during the 1930s. Aside from a very small coterie of loyal friends, Churchill alone rose in opposition to appeasement in the House of Commons and elsewhere hundreds of times as Hitler consolidated his power, practically begging his nation's leadership to stand up to the Fuhrer.

I suppose that one sign of a great work is that it moves you in some way, and evokes great emotion as you read it. The most striking asset of this book is how angry, shocked, and prideful I was as I read it. I shook my head in disgust at least 100 times as I read Manchester's descriptions of the putrid, almost treasonous behavior by Prime Ministers John MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, and of course Neville Chamberlain as they repeatedly ignored Churchill's warnings and countless pieces of evidence showing that Hitler would not be appeased. Manchester's sections on the Munich Crisis and Britain and France's literal sacrifice of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis is particularly noteworthy; the Chamberlain government literally served the nearly defenseless nation on a platter to the German war machine despite a pledge from the British to defend them if invaded. Much of the book in fact summarizes the folly of His Majesty's Government's appeasement policy, and Churchill's many warnings against the policy. Fascinatingly, appeasement was heartily endorsed by nearly the entire British media establishment, which repeatedly refused to air Churchill's views and other dissenting voices. Indeed, as Manchester well demonstrates, the government and media literally crafted its policies and made important appointments, with pleasing Hitler being the sole objective. While hindsight is of course 20-20, reading these sections was completely maddening to me, and made me want to scream many times over.

I hesitated writing a review of this book because I know it is impossible to do full justice to Manchester and this fantastic book. I just wanted to express how much I enjoyed the book; it completely lives up to its reputation as perhaps the finest Churchill biography and easily the most accessible. I, like millions of other readers, am greatly saddened that illness and other tragedies kept Manchester from completing the final volume of his intended trilogy. Treat yourself to this book: it will give you greater appreciation of Winston Churchill's greatness, courage, and foresight, and probably an even greater hatred of appeasement and diplomatic cowardice.

Five big stars.

The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-08

This was the first William Manchester book that I ever read. I found it inspiring. After reading it, I promised myself that I would read everything that Manchester has written. To date I've read several but I still have a few to go. Mr. Manchester is another one of those historians that makes studying and learning History easy. I had no idea what a character Winston Churchill really was. Manchester recreates a real true to life human being, with faults, idiocincracies, humor, courage, and some great phrasing. After reading both volumes of Manchester's on Churchill, I then wanted to read Churchill himself. From a writing perspective Churchill was great - but Manchester was better. Today I am a fan of both men. They were both heroic in their lives and fascinating in their prose.

The 3rd book in the series is coming..........2007-08-22

I did a little research on this and thought I'd post what I found. William Manchester, sadly, died in 2004 before he could complete the 3rd book. But before he died he arranged for a journalist, Paul Reid, to write the rest of the book - now apparently scheduled for release in 2008.

Here is a blog posting I found from johninnorthcarolina.blogspot.com :

The Churchill Series - May 17, 2007

(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

As almost all of you know, William Manchester, one of the most popular of Churchill's many biogrphers, died while working on the third volume of The Last Lion, the first two volumes of which, Visions of Glory and Alone, topped best seller lists and remain in print.

But there will be a third volume after all. It's working title is Defender of the Realm. Paul Reid, a friend of Manchester's is working with Manchester's notes and drafts to complete the book in time for release in 2008.

One of those asked to review proofs of Defender of the Realm reported to others via email receiving the following from Reid:

I have finished Parts One (1940) and Two (1941) and will be through Parts Three, Four and Five by mid-2007. Publication is set for sometime in 2008. Bill's notes and interviews run to thousands of pages, enough to fuel at least three more volumes.

My job, therefore, is to pace this final volume. About half of it will cover 1940 and 1941, about forty-percent the remainder of the war and about 10-15 percent the post-war years. Bill saw the post-war years (or at least the last decade) as a long "afterward". Having been guided by Bill the last year of his life, and having in hand the pages he wrote (to the fall of France) I think I have a good feeling for the pace he set and where he was going.

The pages Bill finished are, as was usual with William Manchester, marvelous, full of suspense and foreshadowing, a real tale beautifully told.

Among many things he made clear to me was his desire that this book be an enjoyable read for younger people, people under 40 years of age who did not grow up with stories of the War percolating through their household.

will the 3rd volume ever appear?.......2007-07-28

Rumor has it that Mr. Manchester is too ill to complete the planned 3rd volume of the Churchill biography. If true, that would be a colossal loss. For anyone interested in history and personality, you must read this series about Churchill. Our present age (despite its problems) pales in comparison with the epochal historical times of Churchill. Two world wars, a global depression with tens of millions of people out of work, the rise and fall of fascism, the rise of Communism, the rise of Russia and USA as the superpowers --- all happened in a short span of 50 years. And Churchill was in the midst of it all. I hope the world will never relive period like that again, and that future generations will be content to read about it and not to re-enact anything remotely like it.

Average customer rating:

THE LAST LION: WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL ALONE 1932-1940
WILLIAM MANCHESTER
Manufacturer: LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ON7UWE

Average customer rating:

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill; Alone: 1932-1940
William Manchester
Manufacturer: Laurel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932

ASIN: 0440500478
Release Date: 1989-09-03

Average customer rating:

The Last Lion - Winston Spencer Churchill, Alone, 1932-1940
William Manchester
Manufacturer: Laurel / Dell Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RIP8OS

Average customer rating:

THE LAST LION WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL, ALONE 1932-1940

Manufacturer: Dell Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQT4Z0

Last Lion, The: Winston Spencer Churchill Alone 1932-1940 - Volume 2

Average customer rating:

Last Lion, The: Winston Spencer Churchill Alone 1932-1940 - Volume 2
William Manchester
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OU7YI2

The Last Lion, Volume 2: Winston Spencer Churchill Alone 1932-1940

Average customer rating:

The Last Lion, Volume 2: Winston Spencer Churchill Alone 1932-1940
William Manchester
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K9WKN6

Average customer rating:

THE LAST LION, WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL ALONE 1932-1940

Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H2KI9Y

Average customer rating:

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Alone 1932-1940
William Manchester
Manufacturer: LITTLE BROWN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UCF6G6

Book Description

The Prophet Unarmed, first published in 1959, is the second volume of Isaac Deutscher's extraordinary Trotsky trilogy, which the Guardian has said 'will rank among the great political biographies of our time.' It is a self-contained account, drawing for the first time on Trotsky's archives in Harvard, of the great struggle between Stalin and Trotsky that followed the end of the civil war in 1921 and the death of Lenin. From the story of Trotsky's fierce opposition to Stalin's policies emerges a dazzling portrait gallery of important Soviet leaders with, at its center, Trotsky, the man of ideas, the Marxist philosopher and literary critic. The book provides an original assessment of the defeat that led to his expulsion from the Communist Party, his exile, and his banishment from Russia in 1929.

Customer Reviews:

a sweeping and penetrating masterpiece.......2006-08-08

This second of three volumes in Deutscher's biography is an astonishing and captivating achievement. Deutscher weaves together character study, drama, and historical narrative to give an authoritative account of Trotsky's mortal struggles to uphold democracy and internationalism in the Soviet Union against Stalin's bureaucratic and totalitarian machinations.

Deutscher's deft handling of the facts, personalities, ideas, and situations of the time is simply unparallelled, and makes for a tremendously enjoyable and informative read.

Essential material for anyone exploring the question of where socialism went wrong in the 20th century, and the dilemma of authority and freedom in mass movements.

Lacks a presentation worthy of its content.......2005-05-18

Any reprint of this classic work is better than none. And of course Deutscher grasps the gist of the matter as Trotsky's "middle" period is concerned : the fact that he was unable to lauch a decided bid for power aganst Stalin when he had still a chance to do so, but then managed to recover enough influence - almost solely by means of his intellectual acumen - to wage a brilliant but doomed in advance defensive political campaign in the late 1920s. Be as it is, if marxism is going to recover from the long reactionary eclipse of the last 30 years, it will have to pay attention to musch of what Trotsky said and wrote in the period covered by this work.

Exactly because of that, I've to complain about the quality of this new Verso edition. Typos abound; the cover is good, but the paper used for the regular pages is of low quality - a highly absorbing, and I suppose perhaps of high acidity, variety of paper, something I discovered when my copy was exposed to humidity and became soaked like a sponge. Also, there lacks and introductory essay and a glossary. Frankly, I think Verso should value more having this work in its publishing list.

Armed only with Marxist theology.......2005-03-09

This is clearly the least successful of the three Trotsky books by Deutscher. Only a theologian could enjoy the ins and outs of Marxist theory as Trotsky sought to understand why he had lost out to Stalin and whether he might regain his position. While Trotsky was indeed unarmed except for theory and theology, Stalin was armed with bureaucratic and state and party power. Stalin knew better than Trotsky how to win a fight but he also knew that Trotsky was a better Marxist and he appropriated Trotsky's program of peasant collectivization and the subjection of the working class to needed primitive socialist accumulation and rapid industrialization.

Trotsky was Right.......1999-02-28

This is a fascinating book detailing the fall from grace of the Soviet Union's number 2 man in the revolution: Leon Trotsky. After Lenin's death, Stalin, Zinoviev, and Kamenev, the ruling triumverate, did all that they could to eliminate this popular figure from the political arena. Deutscher does a great job illuminating one of the the major ideological conflicts in the Soviet Union during the 1920's: socialism in one country advocated by Stalin and permanent revolution supported by Trotsky. Deutscher's arguments make a strong case for Trotsky's position, since without a communist revolution in a more industrially advanced country, Soviet socialism faced the danger of becoming heavily bureaucratic and deformed. The other major difference between Stalin and Totsky was about the course of inustrialization in the Soviet Union. Trotsky warned about the danger of the New Economic Policy (NEP) slowly restoring capitalism in Russia. In Stalin's battle for power with Trotsky, he originally supported the NEP and a slow course of industrialization. When he finally defeated Trotsky (which begins the final book of Deutscher's trilogy) he almost completely stole Trotsky's program of rapid industrialization for the USSR. The question that the reader is left with is: would idustrialization in the USSR have been more peaceful under Trotsky than Stalin? Would we be talking about millions of dead Soviet citizens today and would the communist movement around the world still be a factor if Trotsky, not Stalin, would have won the power struggle in the 1920's. It's obvious that Deutscher is a big supporter of Leon Trotsky. Its hard not to be: he almost single handedly organized the Red Army with no military background which repelled foreign intervention during the Russian Civil War. He was matched only by Lenin as the supreme Marxist intellectual of the time. A supreme orator, he was the consumate revolutionary and internationalist. This trilogy is by far the best Trotsky biography to date. Any one interested in the Russian revolution or the Communist movement must read these books.

Brian Wayne Wells, Esquire, reviews "Prophet Unarmed".......1998-05-10

This is the second volume of a three-volume sympathetic biography of the great Russian revolutionary, Leon Trotsky by Isaac Deutscher. This is Deutscher's most famous work.

In this second volume the author gets about telling the story that he really wants to tell. Rather than a balanced tale of the life of Trotsky, the author really want to concentrate on the conflict between him and Joseph Stalin. This volume is where that tale begins in earnest.

Nonetheless, Deutscher's style of writing grabs the reader's interest and holds her/him to the subject. This is a worthy addition to any library of any reader interested in Soviet history.

Average customer rating:
The Prophet Armed. Trotsky: 1879-1921; The Prophet Unarmed. Trotsky: 1921-1929; The Prophet Outcast. Trotsky: 1929-1940. Three Volumes.
Isaac Deutscher
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000J0LZUU

Average customer rating:
THE PROPHET UNARMED - TROTSKY 1921-1929.
Isaac. Deutscher
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKQ9EM

Average customer rating:
The Prophet Unarmed Trotsky: 1921 - 1929 Vol. II
Isaac Deutscher
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KA4TJI

Average customer rating:
The Prophet Unarmed-Trotsky: 1921-1929 (Volume II)
George steiner
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000P18M4K

Average customer rating:
The Prophet Unarmed. Trotsky: 1921 - 1929. Volume 2.

Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I374SU

Average customer rating:
The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky 1921-1929
Isaac Deutscher
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NPY4BS

Average customer rating:
The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky 1921-1929. Volume II
Isaac Deutscher
Manufacturer: Vintage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IRV5X6

Average customer rating:
The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky: 1921-1929
Isaac Deutscher
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0195010949

Book Description

This second volume tells of the struggle between Stalin and Trotsky and ends with the latter's banishment from Russia.

Trotsky [3 Volumes; Set]: I. The Prophet Armed: Trotsky, 1879-1921; II. The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky, 1921-1929; III. The Prophet Outcast: Trotsky, 1929-1940

Average customer rating:

Trotsky [3 Volumes; Set]: I. The Prophet Armed: Trotsky, 1879-1921; II. The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky, 1921-1929; III. The Prophet Outcast: Trotsky, 1929-1940
Isaac Deustscher
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S9BTQM

Book Description

Manitoba has been at the crossroads of many of the important debates and events in Canadian history. From the early fur trade to the Riel Rebellion to the Winnipeg General Strike, Manitobans have frequently played crucial roles in Canadian and sometimes world history.

Until now, there has been no comprehensive, contemporary source for information on the many Manitobans who have left their mark on history and society. The Dictionary of Manitoba Biography fills this gap, with biographical sketches of over 1700 Manitobans who have made an impact in politics, the arts, sports, commerce, agriculture, and society during their lives. It is an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and general readers interested in Canadian history. Particular emphasis has been placed on reflecting Manitoba's ethnic and social diversity, and on including men and women who were notable in their own day but have now been forgotten. Many entries also refer the reader to additional references for further reading.

More than a reference book, Dictionary of Manitoba Biography is also a fascinating work of history in its own right, which presents the full and colourful scope of over 300 years of people in Manitoba history and social life, from premiers and mayors to nightclub owners and sports heroes.

Pioneers and early citizens of Manitoba;: A dictionary of Manitoba biography from the earliest times to 1920

Average customer rating:

Pioneers and early citizens of Manitoba;: A dictionary of Manitoba biography from the earliest times to 1920
Manitoba Library Association
Manufacturer: Peguis Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0919566014

Dictionary of Canadian biography v14, 1911-1920.: An article from: Manitoba History

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Canadian biography v14, 1911-1920.: An article from: Manitoba History

Manufacturer: Manitoba Historical Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Canadian | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Prairie Provinces | Regional Canada | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Reference | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Manitoba History, published by Manitoba Historical Society on March 22, 2000. The length of the article is 774 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Dictionary of Canadian biography v14, 1911-1920.
Publication: Manitoba History (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2000
Publisher: Manitoba Historical Society
Issue: 39 Page: 50

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Dictionary of Manitoba biography.: An article from: Manitoba History

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Manitoba biography.: An article from: Manitoba History

Manufacturer: Manitoba Historical Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Canadian | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Prairie Provinces | Regional Canada | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Reference | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Manitoba History, published by Manitoba Historical Society on March 22, 2000. The length of the article is 1477 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Dictionary of Manitoba biography.
Publication: Manitoba History (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2000
Publisher: Manitoba Historical Society
Issue: 39 Page: 45-7

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books