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The Last Lion: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932
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Plot Summary of The Last Lion: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932
"This is an account of the first 58 years of the life of Sir Winston Churchill, arguably the 20th century's greatest statesman. With wit and candor, Manchester chronicles Churchill's life, from his earliest days as the neglected first child of Lord Randolph Churchill and his American-born wife, Jennie, to his entry into the political "wilderness" over Indian Home Rule in 1932.

The first volume of this magnificent biography ends with Churchill being exiled to the "back benches" of the British House of Commons for his unpopular stand on a variety of political issues, and for his chronic habit of irritating nearly everyone with whom he came in contact. By 1932, the verdict was in: When Russian dictator Josef Stalin inquired about Churchill, a noted British wag laughed scornfully, then sniffed: "Churchill? Oh, he's finished!"

Manchester's portrait of his subject is balanced and objective. In addition to a wonderfully written chronology of Churchill's life, Manchester provides a fascinating overview of the times in which Churchill lived. The author's account of Victorian England - its culture, its mores, and its view of itself in the world – and the sections which describe Churchill's early years, make highly entertaining and absorbing reading by themselves.


"

Mike Powers, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Last Lion: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - politician
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Politician story? - Politician trying to reform
Period of greatest activity? - 1900+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Age: - 40's-50's
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - British
How sensitive is this person? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other people
Physique - quite fatty

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Century: - 1900-1920's

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Book makes you feel? - encouraged
Commentary on society? Yes
Commentary on - decency - capitalism - justice system
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story? - 0-25% of book
Most similar books to The Last Lion: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932
The Illusion of Victory – America in World War I by Thomas Fleming
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom by Conrad Black
Truman by David McCullough
The Last Lion: Alone 1932-1940 by William Manchester
Victoria and Disraeli by Theo Aronson


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William Manchester Resident Scholar Profiles

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