Da Capo Press Churchill: The Power of Words

決定版！チャ－チル語録

I haven't really delved very deeply into this book. I use it mainly to read speeches and writings pertinent to a particular moment in history and the book is organized extremely well for that purpose; the year on the top of the left hand page and his age on the top of the right hand page with the title of the subject at the start of an entry. I'm a moderate, although avid, Churchill historian; pitiful by some standards but vast in comparison to most Americans. In my view he was England's greatest statesman. A man of remarkable energy, vision, and wit. His use of the English language, disparaged by some literary scholars, I find immensely involving. Try to think of another 20th century personality quoted so widely and frequently; his ability to "turn a phrase" almost unparalleled. And one finds these pearls on almost every one of the 429 pages. For example on page 148 he discussed "the foul balboonery of Bolshevism" and the next entry on the same page is entitled "The Future Was Heavy With Foreboding." For me this work is best used as an excellent reference source. His "Never Give In" speech to Harrow School in 1941 should be required reading in the US Public School System. Of course omissions must occur when 429 pages cover the life works such a Titan. Pertinent to our country, when discussing (in his 6 volume compendium of WW II) the Battles of The Coral Sea and Wake Island which broke the spine of the Japanese Navy the wrote: "The annals of war at sea present no more intense, heart-shaking shock than these two battles, in which the qualities of the United States Navy and Air Force and the American race shown forth in splendour... the bravery and self-devotion of the American airmen and sailors and the nerve and skill of their leaders was the foundation of all." President Obama sent the bust of Churchill, a British Gift, a statuary resident in the Oval Office, back to England as one of his first acts in office... and that says so much about our obverse leader.

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in Winston Churchill, whether they are just beginning to learn about the great man or even if they have studied him in depth. While biographies are always useful, by reading his own writings, speeches, etc. for oneself, one gets an understanding of Churchill, one of the greatest figures of the 20th century, that is free of the inevitable biases or interpretations that an author brings to any such work. The book is well organized, with the year in the upper left of the left hand page, and Churchill's age at the time in the upper right of the right hand page. If the reader knows the approximate year of the speech or writing, this makes it easy to find. I bought this book as a gift, as learning about Winston Churchill is learning on so many levels. One learns not only lessons about history and politics, but about literature, writing and philosophy. When one reads Churchill's writings and speeches one cannot help but compare them to those of contemporary politicians and observe how the quality of discourse has deteriorated. Modern politicians stand out in contrast, more often than not, for their lack of knowledge and understanding not only of history, but of fundamental reality. Their poor language skills, both oral and written, are in stark contrast to Churchill's eloquence and literary prowess. While we cannot expect everyone to be a Churchill, when reading his words one cannot help but notice how drastically language standards have declined. This should motivate us all to work to improve the contemporary quality of language and communication. Churchill's pithy quotations "tell it like it is" and are loaded with common sense. They often contain timeless lessons about human nature itself. The student of Churchill learns a great deal and this book is an excellent starting point for someone who is just beginning this process. I bought this gift for just such a person and I am certain that it will not disappoint.

Inmejorable catálogo de episodios con la genialidad de un personaje tan fascinante. No lo he terminado aún, pero he disfrutado cada página. Merece ser libro de cabecera.

Very good read.